Corfu facts for kids

Corfu
Corfu; Κέρκυρα
	; Pontikonisi (background) and Vlacherna Monastery (foreground) seen from the hilltops of Kanoni
	Location
Time zone:	EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Elevation (min-max):	0 - 906 m (0 - 2972 ft)
Government
Country:	Greece
Periphery:	Ionian Islands
Mayor:	Konstantinos Nikolouzos
Population statistics (as of 2011 )
	Municipality
- Population:	102,071
- Area:	610.9 km² (236 sq mi)
- Density:	167 /km² (433 /sq mi)
	Codes
Postal:	490 82, 490 83, 490 84, 491 00
Telephone:	26610, 26620, 26630
Auto:	KY
	Website
	www.corfu.gr

Corfu (or Kerkyra) is the seventh-largest Greek island. It is in the Ionian Sea northwest of Greece. The island has a total area of 1,540 km² (590 sq mi). In 2001, 109,537 people lived on the island. Corfu city is the largest city on Corfu.

History

In ancient times, Corfu was a colony of ancient Corinth. This colony was one of the causes for beginning the Peloponnesian War. Later, the island became a part of the Roman Empire. It was also a part of the Byzantine Empire. The island has been controlled by many countries. In the thirteenth century, the Venetians took control of the island. They controlled it until 1797. During this time, the Ottomans attacked the island two times. They attacked in 1537 and again in 1716. Under Napoleon's rule, the French took the island. They lost control of it to the Russians and Turks in 1799. Control of the island was given back to the French in 1807 and in 1815 to the English. In 1864, the United Kingdom gave Corfu, with the other Ionian islands, to Greece. In the nineteenth century, the Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sissi, built a palace on the island. The palace is known as Achilleion. The name of the palace comes from a statue of an ancient hero, Achilles.

Tourism

Tourism is a very large part of the economy of Corfu. It is one of the most touristic islands in the Mediterranean Sea. Every year, many tourists visit the island. Corfu has many forests and olive trees. It also has many beaches. There are many other places of interest on the island. The city of Corfu has an appearance from an older time. It has many Venetian, Napoleonic, and Georgian buildings. The town is an UNESCO monument. A very important place is Achilleion. It was the palace of Empress Sissi. The rest of island has many villages, beaches and famous castles.

The island is also well known for entertainment. There are many places which have entertainment. These include bars, night clubs and cafes. The part of the island which is full of places of entertainment is Kavos. Kavos is popular with English tourists.

Images for kids

Bay of Agios Georgios in northwestern Corfu
Othoni island
Lazaretto Island
A relief of Dionysus Bacchus at the Archaeological Museum of Corfu.
The ruins of the Temple at Kardaki, built about 700 BC
The lion of Menekrates at the Archaeological Museum of Corfu
Pontikonisi island is home of the monastery of Pantokrator (Μοναστήρι του Παντοκράτορος). The Greek word Ποντικονήσι (pontikonissi) means “mouse island”; the white staircase of the monastery resembles from afar a mouse tail
The northern side of the Venetian Old Fortress at night. The Great Cross can be clearly seen as described in the Palaio Frourio section of this article
The Byzantine castle of Angelokastro in Corfu, located at the western frontier of the Empire, was instrumental in repulsing the Ottomans during the first great siege of Corfu in 1537, in the siege of 1571 and the second great siege of Corfu in 1716 causing the Ottomans to fail at penetrating the defences of Corfu in the North. Consequently the Turks were never able to create a beachhead and to occupy the island
Outer perimeter of the Gardiki Castle which provided defence to the southern part of the island
A Russian Gun from the Russian-Ottoman occupation of Corfu in the beginning of the 19th century, Paleokastritsa
The Maitland Monument in Corfu town, built to commemorate Sir Thomas Maitland
Serbian soldiers in Corfu during WWI
Bay of Garitsa
Italian soldiers taken prisoner by the Germans in Corfu, September 1943
Douglas' column at the suburb of Garitsa. Built to commemorate Howard Douglas
Palaio Frourio south elevation. The Venetian built moat is on the left and the Doric style St. George's Church built by the British can be seen in the background on the right
View of the Neo Frourio
View of the Palace of Saints Michael and George (Palaia Anaktora). The gates of St. Michael and St. George are on the left and right respectively. The gardens are to the right of the arch of St. George. The statue of Sir Frederick Adam, a British governor of Corfu, is at the front
The Garden of the People at the Palace of St. Michael and St. George (Palaia Anaktora) with the Ionian Sea in the background
The old castle of Corfu city
Map of Corfu
The harbour of Corfu in 1890
Old Corfu town as seen from the sea
Statue of Achilleús Thnēskōn (Achilles Dying) in the gardens of the Achilleion
Achilles as guardian of the palace in the gardens of the Achilleion. He gazes northward, toward the city. The inscription in Greek reads: ΑΧΙΛΛΕΥΣ i.e. Achilles. It was commissioned by Kaiser Wilhelm II
View of the Kaiser's bridge
The Ionian Academy is the first academic institution of modern Greece. The building is now fully restored after the WWII Luftwaffe bombings
Ioannis Kapodistrias' ancestral home in Corfu town. Nowadays hosts the Translation Department of the Ionian University
The Gorgon as depicted on the western pediment from the Temple of Artemis, on display at the Archaeological Museum of Corfu
Corfu library at Palaio Frourio
The bell tower of the Saint Spyridon Church can be seen in the background among the busy kantounia of the city centre. On top of the stores are apartments with balconies. It is from these type of balconies that Corfiots throw botides, clay pots, to celebrate the Resurrection during Easter festivities
The Music Pavilion in Spianada Square (Ano Plateia) with Palaio Frourio in the background. The philharmonics use it regularly for their free concerts
Nikolaos Mantzaros, major representative of the Ionian School of music
Nobile Teatro di San Giacomo di Corfù was the first theatre and opera house of modern Greece. Today it serves as the Corfu City Hall
The Municipal Theatre of Corfu, which in the early 20th century replaced the legendary Nobile Teatro di San Giacomo. This photograph shows the theatre prior to the 1943 Luftwaffe bombardment and its subsequent destruction during WWII
The new municipal theatre
Street of Lefkimmi town
The famous beach at Canal D'Amour, Sidari on a windy day. At the entrance of the bay there is an opening in the rock at the right (centre left of picture) that continues to the other side, a natural tunnel. This sea channel gave the beach its name: Canal D'Amour, French for channel of love
Ioannis Kapodistrias International Airport
The Flying Dolphin hydrofoil ferry near Corfu harbour. Vido island is in the foreground with the Albanian coastline in the background.
Koum Quat liqueurs, produced in Corfu
Count Ioannis Kapodistrias (1776–1831), first head of state, governor of independent Greece and founder of the modern Greek state
Venetian blazon with the Lion of Saint Mark, as frequently found on the New Fortress walls
Panoramic view of Corfu (city) from the New Fortress
Detail of the south wing of the entrance at Kassiopi Castle
View of Kasiopi village from the castle
Cape Drastis at the northwest tip of Corfu island
Chalikiopoulou Lagoon (or Lake Chalikiopoulou), south of Corfu town
Venetian arsenal, Gouvia
Old tower, Corfu town
Panorama of the Old Town of Corfu
Venetian quarter, Corfu town
Odós Ipeirou in Corfu old town
Historic building in Evgeniou Voulgareos street
View of St. George's Temple at the Old Fortress
Mon Repos
Gardens of Achilleion
Statues at the Achilleion terrace
Villa Rossa, landmark of Corfu city
Pelekas village
Kaiser's Bridge in Corfu ca. 1918
Workers on Corfu. The image shows the Old Fortress. First World War