Corfu (city) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Corfu Κέρκυρα
Old Fort, Corfu City, as seen from the top of the New Fort.
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Ionian Islands
Districts	4
Area
• Total	41.905 km² (16.180 sq mi)
Highest elevation	10 m (30 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population (2001)
• Total	39,487
• Density	942.298/km² (2,440.54/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	491 xx
Area code(s)	26610
Vehicle registration	ΚΥ
Website	www.corfu.gr

Corfu (Greek: Κέρκυρα - Kérkyra) is a city in north-western Greece. It is the capital and main town of the island and prefecture of Corfu. The city (pop. 28,185 in 2001) is a major tourist attraction, and has played an important role since the 8th century. The city has become known as a Kastropolis (Castle City) because of its three castles. In 2007, the old town of the city was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Climate
Layout
Architecture
Images for kids
See also

Climate

Corfu city's climate is Mediterranean. The summers are warm with moderate humidity, and temperatures reaching 33 Celsius. The winters are mild and temperatures around on or above 10 Celsius.

Layout

The town of Corfu stands on the broad part of a peninsula. The old city having grown up within fortifications, where every metre of ground was precious, is a labyrinth of narrow streets paved with cobblestones, sometimes tortuous but mostly pleasant, colourful and sparkling clean. There is promenade by the seashore towards the bay of Garitsa, and also a handsome esplanade between the town and the citadel called "Liston" where upscale restaurants and European style bistros abound. The name Liston came from the English "List on" meaning the list of the vendors' fare, in other words the menu. In opinion Corfu is the best veiw out of all the islands of Greece.

Architecture

The old fortifications of the town, formerly so extensive as to require a force of from 10,000 to 20,000 troops to man them, were in great part thrown down by the English in the 19th century. In several parts of the town may be found houses of the Venetian time, with some traces of past splendour, but they are few compared to the British Neoclassical housing of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Based on the ICOMOS evaluation of the old town of Corfu, it was inscribed on the World Heritage List. The ICOMOS experts have noted that "about 70% of the pre-20th century buildings date from the British period" and that "whole blocks were destroyed" in the Old Town by the World War II blitzes; these were "replaced by new constructions in the 1960s and 1970s". The urban fabric was classified as being predominantly of the Neoclassical period.