I set out to walk the Corfu Trail but an inflamed hip joint kept me from doing so. Luckily I reserved a couple of days in Corfu Town (also known as Kerkyra) before starting the – interrupted – journey. And glad I did! I visited the major highlights in the town’s surroundings and in Kerkyra itself.

Capital of the Ionian Islands

Imbued with Venetian grace and elegance, historic Corfu Town stands halfway down the island’s east coast. The name Corfu, meaning ‘peaks’, refers to its twin hills, each topped by a massive fortress built to withstand Ottoman sieges. Sitting between the two, the Old Town is a tight-packed warren of winding lanes, some bursting with fine restaurants, lively bars and intriguing shops, others timeless back alleys where washing lines stretch from balcony to balcony. It also holds some majestic architecture, including the splendid Liston arcade, and high-class museums, along with no fewer than 39 churches. The Old Town is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Kaiser’s Throne

Just before quitting the Corfu Trail and returning home I travelled to mountain village Pelekas. At the top of the village you will find a lookout point called the Kaiser’s Throne, named after the German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II who purchased Achilleion palace in 1907 and spent his summers in Corfu. Although residing in the Achilleion Palace on the East coast he liked to drive to Pelekas to watch the sunset. The 360 degree panoramic view from the lookout point is stunning. Although famous for its sunset views, it also affords fantastic views all day long. The beautiful Levant hotel nearby is a lovely spot for a drink or bite to eat.

More info on Corfu on the lovely website of Real Corfu.

 

 

Kerkyra (Corfu city)

 

Kanoni – The Monastery of Vlacherna

Mon Repos – The villa and its gardens are being used as an archeological museum

 

 

 

 

Old Fortress

 

 

 

 

 

 

Achilleion – Sisi’s Palace

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Palace of St. Michael and St. George

Faliraki

The Liston is a long building running alongside the Esplanade. With its beautiful vaulted galleries, archways and hanging lanterns the Liston was constructed in 1807 during French rule, it was designed by the French Engineer Lesseps, to be a copy in miniature of the rue de Rivoli in Paris. The origin of the name Liston has several explanations: many former Venetian cities have a square of that name, coming from a Venetian word meaning evening promenade, but it can also refer to the closed-list aspect of an up-scale area reserved to the nobility registered in the Libro d’Oro. The Liston is now home to a range of coffee shops and restaurants.

 

Byzantine Museum

 

 

 

Views from the New Fortress

The New Fortress

 

 

Downtown Kerkyra

Donzelot

Pelekas

The Kaiser’s Throne

 

 

 

Downtown Pelekas, mountain village