CORFU ISLAND

Corfu was not given the name of the Emerald Island for no reason. The greenest of all the Greek islands, Corfu's natural beauty is hidden under a cloak of emerald green, with a mountainous skyline plunging into the bluest of blue waters.
Elegant architecture, sun blessed beaches, enchanting nightlife and fine cuisine all play their part in attracting visitors from all over the world. With a welcome as warm as the sun, the renowned reputation the Greeks possess for their unique and instinctive hospitality makes any visitor feel more than at home. The island has something to offer everyone. Corfu Town itself is a contrasting combination of old and new existing side by side in perfect harmony.
There is an abundance of sand, shingle and pebble beaches lining the 200 km coastline, leading to clear waters ideal for swimming and water sports.
Take a little time to explore the island and you will be rewarded with some of the most spectacular scenery on offer by any destination. A trip into the heart of the island will give you an insight into Corfiot village life. Time, in some places, seems to have stood still and everyday life carries on pretty much as it must have done for hundreds of years.
Even though the island is constantly developing to cater to the demands of today's tourist, Corfu has still managed to retain its beauty and charm throughout time. The majority of the island remains untouched and as captivating as it has been for centuries.

The history of the island is lost in the depth of the legend. It is certain that Corfu has been inhabited since the Palaeolithic Age as archaeological finds in various parts of the island prove.
Because of its geographical position, in the area of the central Mediterranean Sea close to both Greece and Italy, it has always been of a great strategic importance.
That's why its history has been a chequered one under a long succession of foreign rulers from antiquity to 1864, when all the Ionian Islands were united with Greece. Romans, Venetians, French and British became rulers of Corfu during the centuries.
The marks of all that different people and their cultures can still be found today on the island.

Corfu Town (Kerkyra) is a principal port and the largest town in the Ionian Islands. It is built between two Venetian castles, having its own unique atmosphere. It is a thriving mass of shops and businesses, set amongst a captivating and charming assortment of elegant buildings, churches, imposing fortresses and narrow alleyways leading to hidden squares. The tall buildings with the 'volta' (arches), the 'cantounia' (narrow flagstoned streets), the 'mouragia' (sea-walls) are showing all a clear Italian influence.
One of the most beautiful walks in the town is around the Esplanade (Spianada square), one of the biggest squares in Europe which is the hub of the Corfiot's life. Here you can walk around or sit in one of the many cafe bars underneath the arches of the 'Liston', a name probably derived from a similar promenade in Venice. Liston was built during the imperial French occupation and is reminiscent of the larger 'Arcades' of the Rue de Rivoli in Paris.

In Corfu there is a long musical tradition going back to the time when the Seven Islands were a Venetian domination.
The Venetians introduced opera in Corfu. They converted the local 'Loggia' into a theatre (the first on Greek soil in modern times) where opera performances started in 1733 and continued for several years after the union with Greece. This theatre was called the San Giacomo. In 1903 it was converted into City Hall and a larger theatre was built - this was bombed and destroyed in World War II.
During the British Protectorate, the musical tradition was carried on by Nikolaos Chalikiopoulos-Mantzaros who founded the first modern school of music on Greek soil. A large number of musicians were trained by Mantzaros. Among them was Spyros Xyndas who composed the first Greek opera.

Nikolaos Chalikiopoulos-Mantzaros is the composer of the Greek National Anthem, setting to music in 1830 the 'Hymn to Liberty' by the poet Dionysios Solomos. Mantzaros composed 24 symphonies and other religious and secular music but he devoted most of his time to teaching. The house where Mantzaros lived still stands on St. Basil Street in Corfu town.