|
AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO CORFU as seen in the Daily Mail
The History of Corfu
With a certain delicate irony, Corfu’s first settlers, during the early Stone Age, were from Illyria – modern Albania. During the time of the Ancient Greek city-states, Corfu became a major naval power, but the following centuries saw it playing the part of a pawn in the militant chess game that swept across the board of the Mediterranean. Three hundred years under Roman protection brought a foretaste of the distant future, for the Romans adored Corfu, and built summer villas there. Eventually Corfu spent 400 years under Venetian rule, then it was the turn of the French and Russians, and finally, in a power move by Britain, Corfu became a British Protectorate from 1814 until 1864, when it reverted back to the newly established Greek nation, itself at last free of Turkish rule.
Each period of rule has left its mark on the island, its people and its way of life.
Beaches
Long beaches of golden sand garland Corfu’s western and northern shores, but for sheer diversity and captivating beauty it is hard to beat the northeast, where the grey limestone crags of Mount Pantocrator drop down through slopes thick with olive trees and finish at the water’s edge in a series of perfect beaches. The longest, Barbati, is a kilometre in length, the smallest is barely two paces in width and has no name, but is a favourite with those exploring this ravishing coast by boat. These northeastern beaches are quiet, incredibly clean (most of them have earned Blue Flag awards), and breathtakingly beautiful. At places such as Kaminaki, Nissaki, Kalami, Kerasia and Avlaki, there are waterside tavernas where lunches are always leisurely, dinners are always romantic, and children are always welcome.
Corfu Town
A visit to the island of Corfu is not complete without a morning or evening in the evocative atmosphere of the town. A visit to the vibrant and noisy outdoor produce market, could be followed with lunch out of doors overlooking the beautiful square where cricket is still sometimes played, at the Aegli, for example (tel: 26610 31949). At night, the town is a glittering sight; monuments artfully lit and shop windows sparkling. Here you may sample excellent Italian cuisine at La Cucina (tel. 26610 45029) or go Greek in Garitsa, a charming suburb of the town, where you enter the spotless kitchen of Yannis and take your pick of a selection of succulent local dishes (tel. 26610 31066). Elegant, chaotic, endlessly fascinating, the town is intimate and friendly. Smart cafes such as the one on the Cavalieri Hotel (tel. 26610 39336) rooftop, or on the magnificent Liston, make it easy to acquire a taste for the very Corfiot habits of gossip, people-watching and sipping coffee.
Family activities
Few holiday destinations are as family-friendly as Corfu. Well-organised water sports include an excellent introduction to dinghy sailing at the Avlaki Sailing School in northeast Corfu and expert water-skiing tuition, both available to children as young as 5. Beginners are sympathetically guided at horse-riding centres such as Trailfinders (tel 26630 23090). Two waterparks, Aqualand (tel. 26610 52963) in the centre of the island, Hydropolis (26630 64700) at Acharavi, offer all the latest rides and adventures. For something different, take the ferry (1 euro per person) to the traffic-free island of Vido, opposite the town of Corfu, for a fairy-tale day of walking in shady woods peopled with tame rabbits and pheasants. Any child with a budding interest in history will get a thrill from a visit to one of the town’s two fortresses, or to the castle of Angelocastro, high above the sea on the west coast.
|
