Corfu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Corfu Κέρκυρα
Pontikonisi (background) and Vlacherna Monastery (foreground) seen from the hilltops of Kanoni
Flag
Corfu Location in Greece
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Ionian Islands
Regional unit	Corfu
Area
• Municipality	610.9 km2 (235.9 sq mi)
Highest elevation	906 m (2,972 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Municipality	102,071
• Municipality density	167.083/km2 (432.74/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	490 82, 490 83, 490 84, 491 00
Area code(s)	26610, 26620, 26630
Vehicle registration	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

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  Bay of Agios Georgios in northwestern Corfu

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  Othoni Island

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  Lazaretto Island

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  A relief of Dionysus Bacchus at the Archaeological Museum of Corfu

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  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.

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  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.

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  Outer perimeter of the Gardiki Castle which provided defence to the southern part of the island

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  A Russian gun from the Russian-Ottoman occupation of Corfu in the beginning of the 19th century, Paleokastritsa

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  The Maitland Monument in Corfu town, built to commemorate Sir Thomas Maitland

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  Bay of Garitsa

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  Italian soldiers taken prisoner by the Germans in Corfu, September 1943

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  Douglas' column at the suburb of Garitsa. Built to commemorate Howard Douglas.

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  The harbour of Corfu in 1890

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  Old Corfu town as seen from the sea

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  Statue of Achilleús Thnēskōn (Achilles Dying) in the gardens of the Achilleion

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  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.

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  View of the Kaiser's bridge

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  The Music Pavilion in Spianada Square (Ano Plateia) with Palaio Frourio in the background. The philharmonics use it regularly for their free concerts.

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  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.

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  The Garden of the People at the Palace of St. Michael and St. George (Palaia Anaktora) with the Ionian Sea in the background

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  Kardaki Temple

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  The full pediment of the temple of Artemis

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  The ruins of the Heraion in Palaiopolis

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  Tomb of Menekrates

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  The Lion of Menecrates, found near the tomb and thought to belong to the cenotaph

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  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.

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  View of the Neo Frourio

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  The Byzantine castle of Angelokastro in Corfu with the Ionian Sea in the background

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  Gardiki Castle

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  Main Gate of Kassiopi Castle

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  The Ionian Academy is the first academic institution of modern Greece. The building is now fully restored after the WWII Luftwaffe bombings.

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  Ioannis Kapodistrias' ancestral home in Corfu town. Nowadays it houses the Translation Department of the Ionian University.

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  The Gorgon as depicted on the western pediment from the Temple of Artemis, on display at the Archaeological Museum of Corfu

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  Corfu library at Palaio Frourio

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  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.

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  Nikolaos Mantzaros, major representative of the Ionian School of music

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  A marching band from Austria, a frequent visitor, through the Corfu landmark of Liston [it]. In the background is the western arch of the Palace of St. Michael and St. George.

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  The music lab of the Ionian university located at the old fortress

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  Nobile Teatro di San Giacomo di Corfù was the first theatre and opera house of modern Greece.

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  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.

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  The new municipal theatre.

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  Street of Lefkimmi town

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  The 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.

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  Ioannis Kapodistrias International Airport

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  The Flying Dolphin hydrofoil ferry near Corfu harbour. Vido island is in the foreground with the Albanian coastline in the background.

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  Koum Quat liqueurs, produced in Corfu.

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  Count Ioannis Kapodistrias (1776–1831), first head of state, governor of independent Greece, founder of the modern Greek state, and distinguished European diplomat

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  Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, consort of the British monarch

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  Venetian Old Fortress, Map 1573

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  Venetian blazon with the Lion of Saint Mark, as frequently found on the New Fortress walls

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  Panoramic view of Corfu (city) from the New Fortress

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  Detail of the south wing of the entrance at Kassiopi Castle

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  View of Kasiopi village from the castle

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  Cape Drastis at the northwest tip of Corfu island

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  Chalikiopoulou Lagoon (or Lake Chalikiopoulou), south of Corfu town

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  Venetian arsenal, Gouvia

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  Old tower, Corfu town

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  Panorama of the Old Town of Corfu

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  Venetian quarter, Corfu town

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  Odós Ipeirou in Corfu old town

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  Historic building in Evgeniou Voulgareos street

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  View of St. George's Temple at the Old Fortress

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  Mon Repos

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  Gardens of Achilleion

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  Statues at the Achilleion terrace

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  Villa Rossa, landmark of Corfu city

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  Pelekas village

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  Kaiser's Bridge in Corfu c. 1918

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  Workers on Corfu. The image shows the Old Fortress. First World War

See also

In Spanish: Corfú para niños