The Invasion of Corfu
From Nero to Nicolas Cage, the invasion of Corfu goes back to Roman
times and through to Hollywood today!
People have been so enchanted by Corfu that they have been
visiting and settling there for thousands of years. Madonna has beenspotted house-hunting on the island, continuing a long tradition. The Roman
Emperor Tiberius had a villa in Kassiopi, and the Emperor Nero visited the town
as well. Today you might see a nightclub called Caesar's, but it doesn't quite
date back to Roman times.
Sidari
You might also look at Sidari and see a modern holiday resort,
but there were known to be people living here in 7,000 BC, no doubt enjoying
the sun and the sea every bit as much as we do today, though of course the waterpark
hadn't yet been invented. Even older than that, back in about 40,000 BC,
Palaeolithic people were living in the area around Gardiki Castle, the oldest
known remains on the island.
Since the first settlers arrived, wave after wave of people
have coveted Corfu. The first known invasion was by the Corinthians in 734 BC,
and they had more than package holidays in mind. They were fought off by the
Corfiot people who defeated them in what was the first recorded sea battle in
Greek waters, in 644 BC.
Some Cool Corfu Souvenirs
Paleokastritsa Luggage Tag
Corfu Cypresses Capri Leggings
The Invasion of
Corfu: The Romans
No sooner had the Corinthians been shown the way home than
the Spartans arrived, in 375 BC. Then the Romans turned up on the shoreline, in
229 BC. The Romans were at least invited in, as the Corfiots sought their help
to get rid of Illyrian invaders.
Having got rid of the Illyrians, the Romans obviously liked
it on Corfu as they stayed for almost 600 years, during which time some of
their Emperors and other dignitaries built villas here. It was also a popular
spot for those who could afford it to come on holiday, so the island's first
tourists go back about 2,000 years.
Later invasions by the Goths and Vandals didn't do much for
the tourist trade, and the pizza parlours probably went out of business. In the
11th century it was the turn of the Normans, who took Corfu to use as a base
while they tried to expand their empire into the Balkans, but in 1147 they were
turfed out of Corfu by a coalition of Corfiot, Byzantine, and Venetian troops.
The Invasion of
Corfu: The Venetians
In 1214 the Despot of Epirus invaded, Epirus being a country
made up of what is now southern Albania and northern Greece. In 1267 it was the
King of Naples' turn to rule the island, and in 1386 the Venetians took over.
It is the Corfiots' proud boast that they were the only part of Greece not to
be conquered by the Turkish armies, though it has to be said that the Turks are
just about the only nation not to have conquered Corfu at some stage.
Our Pick of Greek Islands Guides
The Invasion of
Corfu: The British
In 1797 the French took the island, and in 1814 the British
took over for their turn, which lasted 50 years. Finally in 1864 Corfu gained
its independence and became a part of the modern Greek state. Since then there
have only been a brief invasion by the Italians in 1923, and again in 1941 when
they controlled the island for three years alongside German forces.
Modern Times
In more recent times the island has had mainly peace and prosperity,
with tourists as welcome guests. A million of them arrive each year between
Easter and the end of October, when the season is in full swing. There is also
a sizeable overseas community, mainly British and German, who live on the
island all year round. Others have homes on Corfu which they use for part of
the year.
Nicolas Cage fell in love with Corfu, which he visited after filming Captain Corelli's Mandolin on the nearby Ionian island of Kefalonia, and has subsequently been seen house-hunting here. So too have Richard Gere and Madonna. It seems the only invasion these days is from Hollywood.
Other Corfu Pages
Greece Travel Secrets has its list of favourite places where you can eat in north-west Corfu, including in Paleokastritsa, Pelekas, and Ayios Stefanos.
Corfu Town is the capital of Corfu and of the Ionian Islands and has museums, two forts, several museums, churches, and many other attractions.
Greece Travel Secrets picks where to stay in northern Corfu with budget and luxury hotels in Sidari, Daphnila Bay, Kontokali, Ipsos, Barbati and more.
This Southern Corfu drive starts and ends in Moraïtika, taking in hill villages, secluded beaches, lovely views, and a visit to Gardiki Castle.
Mount Pantokrator is the highest mountain on Corfu and it’s easy to drive to the top for spectacular views of Albania, Corfu, and even sometimes to Italy.
The Korission Lagoon on the west coast of Corfu is also called Lake Korission and has abundant wildlife, especially birds, and one of the best beaches on Corfu.
Greece Travel Secrets picks the best time to visit Corfu, with a monthly summary of the weather, plus hotel prices and special events to help plan a visit.
This Mount Pantokrator drive takes you to the top of Corfu’s highest mountain with wonderful views to Albania, mainland Greece, and around Corfu.
Information for travelers on Corfu Food and Drink including restaurants and tavernas, Corfiot specialties, desserts, wine and other Greek drinks like ouzo.
Corfu’s wildlife includes rare and colourful birds, snakes, lizards, fireflies, and insects, with plenty of places to watch the wildlife like lakes and lagoons.
Greece Travel Secrets’ pick of where to stay in southern Corfu including hotels in Moraïtika, Paramonas, Messonghi, Agios Georgios, and near Benitses.
Corfu’s marine life includes dolphins, loggerhead turtles, and rare Mediterranean monk seals.
This guide to southern Corfu’s beaches and villages includes busy resorts, quiet beach, hill villages and the southernmost tip of Corfu at Cape Asprókavos.
There are three islands off the northwest coast of Corfu, Erikouusa, Othoni and Mathraki, popular with day-trippers from resorts like Sidari.
The First Corfu Beer Festival took place in Arillas in North West Corfu and celebrated the beer of Bavaria and of Corfu, in the Ionian islands of Greece.
Sidari is a popular holiday resort on the north coast of Corfu with beaches and unusual rock formations as well as plenty of places to eat and to stay.
This drive to Palaiokastritsa starts at Corfu airport and takes you across the Ropa Plan and through hill villages before returning to Corfu Town.
The best things to do on Corfu include visiting Palaiokastritsa, a day trip to Albania, seeing the Achilleion Palace, and the museums in Corfu Town.
Kassiopi is a popular tourist resort on the northeast coast of Corfu with a sandy beach, Byzantine fortress, old church, and lots of places to stay and to eat.
Donna Dailey of Greece Travel Secrets visits Albania by boat from Corfu Town, staying overnight and seeing archaeological sites with Sipa Tours.
Southern Corfu has busy beach resorts like Benitses, historical buildings like the Achilleion Palace and Gardiki Castle, and wildlife at the Korision Lagoon.
The Corfu Trail runs from the southernmost point of Corfu at Cape Asprokavos and winds for 220km (137 miles) to the northernmost point near Andinioti Lagoon.
Northern Corfu is the most diverse part of the island, with Corfu's highest point, Mt Pantokrator, and beach resorts like Sidari and Palaiokastritsa.
The history of Corfu and cricket goes back to 1823 when the island was under British rule, which left them with a legacy of loving both cricket and ginger beer.
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