Corfu Town
Corfu Town is the capital of
Corfu and the capital of the Ionian region. It is built on the east coast of the island on a peninsula, dividing the city into two sections. The new part of the city is characterized by large squares and large avenues.The old part of Corfu is one of the most picturesque parts of the world with the characteristic old cobbled streets known to all as the ''kantounia'' of Corfu.
It is a cosmopolitan city that exudes a sense of nobility, with main attractions the large
square Spianada, which is the largest square in the Balkans, the Old and New Fortress, the Town Hall (San Jacomo Theater), the Canoni, the
Mon Repo and the Museums Byzantine and Post-Byzantine history. The patron saint of the city is Agios Spyridon, whose indestructible relic is housed in the homonymous church. A church with very special characteristics that every year thousands of people visit it.
Browse the
Old Town and its cantounia with the bougainvillea’s, visit the historic churches and discover hidden squares between Venetian blocks of houses. Climb to the
Old Fortress to see the view of the city and finally enjoy your coffee at the famous
Liston, a point of reference and sociality for locals and visitors. This array is the same as the one on the Riboli.str (opposite the Louvre museum) in Paris. The oldest and most charming neighborhood of the old town is Cabelllo, where you will walk in narrow alleys with tall buildings, carved wells, picturesque squares and ornate balconies.
At the northern edge of Spianada stands the Palace of Saint Michael and George, an impressive building of the British occupation, which today houses the
Municipal Art Gallery and the unique
Museum of Asian Art. The city of course provides all kind of modern services to visitors combining the today with the past Venetian architecture.
Easter in Corfu is unique celebration that you have to experience even for once in your life for a number of reasons: the custom of throwing "botidon" where from the balconies of the houses and the streets the residents throw the canoes full of water for to make a big noise and to expel the evil, the "Lazarus Carols" in Campello, the reconstruction of the earthquake that followed the Resurrection of the Lord, the grandiose philharmonic of the island singing mourning marches and the fireworks in the evening of Anastasis in the crowded square. Together with many other unique customs in the world, they make the city one of the best destinations worldwide.