Corfu

Kanoni is one of the most photographed areas in Corfu island. It took its name from an old cannon that stands on top of the hill. At the bottom of the hill, you will find Vlaherna Monastery where you can enjoy the sunrise while immersing yourself on the infinite blue of the Ionian Sea.

This palace was built as a summer residence for the British governor of Corfu in 1826, but soon became a school of fine arts while its park opened to the public in 1833. Empress Sisi of Austria stayed here in 1863 while in 1864 it operated as the summer residence of Greece’s King George I. The palace was then named “Mon Repos”. In 1921 Prince Philip, husband of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, was born.

Strongly influenced by the Venetians, the French and the English, Corfu town is a brilliant base for exploration. Get lost in the narrow cobblestone alleys, the so called “kandounia”, visit museums, walk down the famous Liston promenade and stroll around the huge Spianada square. Moving away from Corfu Town, you’ll discover picturesque seaside villages, tiny verdant islets and wild natural landscapes.

The Achileion Museum was built as a summer palace for Empress Sisi of Austria. It is built in Neoclassical Pompeian architectural style, surrounded by statues. Its imperial gardens are set on the top of the hill, offering a superb view over to the Ionian Sea.

This tiny green island is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Corfu and is accessible by a 5min boat ride from Kanoni.According to mythology, this rocky island is the ship of Ulysses that was stoned by god Poseidon. In the center of the Mouse Island, there is only one building, a 13th-century church of Pantokrator. This church celebrates every year on the 6th of August.

Spend hours just walking up and down along thousands of small paved streets, looking around to discover the old town secrets. Every single building and street will appear like an open museum, but the joie de vivre of the local people will remind you that the old town is also full of life and full of surprises.

The waterfall of Nymphes is a mystical natural wonder you cannot miss. Legend has it that this attraction used to beckon Nymphs (beautiful Greek mythological creatures), who would huddle to this village, and bathe to its crystal clear waters.Take a dive at its pristine waters and you will sure understand the legend behind it.

With its fair steady winds (especially during the summer season), yachting or sailing can be an amazing activity for you and your loved ones. Explore a variety of beaches, many impressive reefs, underwater caves and old shipwrecks.There are a number of operators that offer yachting tours and adventures on the island, our concierge will be happy to organize this for you.

Corfu is indeed a great location for trekkers and keen walkers. Not only does it have lush and beautiful landscapes, but it also has a handful of uphill trekking trails. The Corfu Trail, for instance, is a challenging 222-kilometer trek that covers the island’s full length. In this trekking trail, hikers will get to pass through the lush foliage of the island as well as drop by the iconic Perithia, the oldest village on the island.

In Spianada square and Liston, the local philharmonic orchestras accompany the Epitaph playing funeral marches, the most famous of which is Amleto, and create an atmosphere of devout concentration on Holy Saturday. A few hours later, the joyous news of the resurrection replaces the grievous sounds of the philharmonic orchestras with noise, voices and countless botis (pots) thrown from the balconies. Don’t forget to keep a piece of a broken botis as a memento and, according to tradition, in order to have good luck for the rest of the year.