Achillon Palace in  Corfu

The Achilleion was the residence in the summer of the Austrian empress Elisabeth.After Elisabeth had visited Corfu in the sixties on several occcasions for health reasons, she became very interested in Greek mythology.

She travelled to Greece on a regular basis. After the tragic death of her son Rudolf she decided to start a living on Corfu. The classical building was designed by the Italian architect Rafaele Carito and was decorated both inside and outside with neo-classical statues. Sisi herself named the house after her favorite classical hero Achilles.After Sisi had died her daughter Gisela inheritted the palace and she sold it to the German emperor Wilhelm II. After the 1st World War the palace became part of the Greek state.

Nowadays the Achillion is a museum. There are several remains from the times of Elisabeth and of Wilhelm II that can still be seen. Remarkable are the differences between the Achilles figures that Sissi and Wilhelm II had placed in the palace. Sisi choose the dying Achilles trying to get the arrow out of his heel. Wilhelm II placed an enormous Achilles standing proudly like a hero, strong and unbeaten.

Pantocrator Mountain in Corfu

The Pandokrator mountain is one of the most famous attractions on the island. From this mountain you can admire  a splendid view of the bay towards Corfu town, Albania and some of the smaller iskands.

On the slopes of the mountain orchids and other flowers grow, and you can find butterflies and many sorts of birds of prey, like falcons, hawks, eagles and vultures.You can also climb the mountain from the village of Pirgi of from a side road halfway between Kassiopi and Acharavi.

It is not an easy road. It is adviced to make the last part of the journey by foot. On the top of the mountain there is an old monastery and a radiotower. Besides all of this there are plenty of turtles, snakes and lizzards on Corfu. To reach the top of Pantokratoras mountain you have to pass Spartilas & Strynilas villages.

Palia Perithia in Corfu

Palia Perithia village  is worth a stop - the views along the way up are nice and the old ruined town is very interesting to see.This village  at one time had around 1000 inhabitants and was built as a secure refuge from pirates who often raided towns closer to the coast.

Old Perithia is an abandoned village on the side of   Pantokrator mountain, that in the  last years  has become a place of  interest  for Corfu. It is a ghost town that has been abandoned and today is still there uninhabited.Nature consists of an entire valley of astonishing beauty.Grass, trees and flowers of all colors, constitute the background to these devastated and some renovated, houses of the village.

Monastery of Paleokastritsa

The main focal point of Paleokastritsa is the monastery located on the headland.

Built in the 17th century, it attracts several tourists who can experience a true traditional Greek church that has remained untouched for hundreds of years.

For those interested in seeing how the other half lives, there is the Paleokastritsa Marina, which is home to some of the most extravagant yachts, owned by both Greek and wealthy visitors alike.

A lovely place to visit for outstanding views is the ancient ruin of Angelokastro perched high on a rock overlooking the sea and the beautiful bays of Paleokastritsa.

Korision Lake in Corfu

Korision Lake is  protected by Natura 2000.

On the south west of Corfu Lake Korission is separated from the sea by a strip of sand dunes, again Egrets, Waterfowl, Harriers, Kingfishers Warblers, Hoopoe and a great variety of migrants can be sighted here during the spring and autumn migration.

Vidos island in Corfu

Vidos island is a lovely place for walking and relaxing.

There is a lot of green.You can reach there by boat in 5 minutes.

There is a perfect restaurant and one cafe- bar to enjoy your drink.

There is also two small beaches for swimming.The  boat service is used to be  at the Old Port, every hour.

Mon repos - Palaiopoli  in Corfu

According to historians, the ancient city of Corfu had originally been there. It was built by Commissioner Adams for his wife, although she soon vacated the palace when her husband was sent to serve in India and it became a rarely used summer house for all the governors.

During the British occupation a school for clergymen was located there. After the union of the Ionian Islands with Greece, King Georgios I took pocession of the area and named it Mon-Repos.At Mon Repos one can see a beautiful view from the hill of Analipsi, the ruins of the ancient city and the basilica of Palaiopoli. The beach at Mon Repos is lovely, attracting many tourists in the summer.

Along the decades, the ownership of the palace was argued between the Greek government and the former Greek royal family.

The ex-king Constantine of Greece thought Mon Repos was his property, because it used to be his summer residence during his reign.

However, the Greek government would not accept this claim and was considering this residence a greek state's ownership.

Kanoni -Pontikonissi

Kanoni is situated south of the Palaiopoli peninsula. It was named Kanoni (cannon) after the battery of artillery established by French in 1798.

One of the battery's cannons still stands at the tourist kiosk. In front of Kanoni is the Monastery of Vlaherena, linked to the mainland by a cement dock and built in the 17th century.

From there one can visit Pontikonissi. According to the legend, this was the ship of Phaiakes which, after taking Ulysses to Ithaki, was petrified.At the tip of the Kanoni peninsula a footpath descends to the Vlacherna Monastery, a tiny island linked to the shore by a causeway.

The causeway is the mooring point for a number of small boats which will take you to Mouse Island (Pontikonissi) where you can visit the Byzantine Church of Pantokrator.