Garitsa area, Corfu

One of the most picturesque areas in Corfu town is Garitsa area. It is a green spot starting from Alexandras Avenue to Anemomylos place at the end of Garitsa bay.






The main church in this area is the church of Iasonos and Sosipatrou, which has old beautiful murals inside and a special architecture. It is certainly a sight worth seeing. Many ceremonies still take place at this church which is very popular among the residents.










The bay of Garitsa has always been the favorite promenade for the Corfiots who stroll along the seafront almost all the year round. Summer evenings are especially suitable for a stroll at Garitsa as the sea breeze is cooling and welcome. The tavernas along the inner side of the bay, in the green park, offer a restful and delicious evening out from spring to autumn.

KERKYRA, the green paradise.

We’re back to Kerkyra, which is the greenest of the Ionian islands.

If you come for a visit, don’t omit the following:

The old town:

Wander along the narrow alley ways and old houses, the market and the squares.

The old castle:

A rocky peninsula with a castle which offers a spectacular view.

The church of Saint Spyridon:

Visit the protector Saint of the island. You can see His relics in a silver coffin.

The museums:

The archaeological museum with statues and findings of excavations on the island.

The Asiatic museum : a collection of rare antiquities unique in Greece.

Achilleion palace:

The palace of Sissy of Austria.

Palaiokastritsa village :

Explore the rocks and caves and visit the old Monastery.

THE OLD CASTLE

The castle was built in the 6^th century to protect the city from the Barbarian attacks. It was during the end of the Byzantine period that Kerkyra suffered from the constant invasions so that the entire population was transferred to the rocky peninsula in order to be safe.

Nowadays the castle houses an old church, archaeological exhibits and cafes, and is a place of cultural events. From the top of the castle the visitors can have an overall view of the city, especially of the bay and the old part of the town which look fantastic.

(See the castle on top of the page).

Welcome to my place!

Hello everyone, and welcome to my blog!

I live on the beautiful island of Kerkyra (Corfu for the non Greek) which is next to Italy. Here's some information about the island, just to make sure you learn a bit about my place before we start our trip.

What is Kerkyra like?

Vast olive groves, tall palm trees along the sandy beaches, orange and lemon orchards amidst the groves, and mount Pantokrator on the north with scattered white-washed villages and tall church towers among the green, and the lingering in the air smell of wild herbs.

There you can admire ancient ruins and findings, numerous chapels and temples, museums and art displays for every taste; you can join local feasts and religious ceremonies, listen to band concerts, and watch international ballets and operas almost all year round.

Kerkyra is an exotic island with a European flavor, combining a taste of local and European culture. Several civilizations brought together, that is Kerkyra. You can see their mark everywhere, yet, you can feel that the island keeps its own unique flavor of local tradition.

The myth, the old and the new

The myth says that the people of Pheakes lived on the island during the years of Ulysses’travels. Their latest king Alkinoos with his queen, Ariti, had several sons and an only daughter called Nafsika. She was the one who found Ulysses on the shore one day and then the king helped him go back to his own kingdom, Ithaca. But god Poseidon , the god of the sea, was very angry with Ulysses and he turned his boat into stone, in order to punish him-that is what the local people say to justify the huge boat-like rock in Paleokastritsa bay.

Recent excavations in the town have revealed ancient sites that date back to the 5^th century while there are ancient churches and other buildings all over the island.

Referring to modern history, the domination of the Venetians which lasted 410 years, of the French and of the British, left a definite mark on the aspect of contemporary Corfu. The island economy is based mainly on Tourism, as there are still unspoilt, beautiful landscapes and natural scenery all over the island.

Nowadays, the visitors can explore the whole Kerkyra and enjoy not only its natural beauty but also the numerous and unique sights the long tradition of the island has to offer.