• Corfu beaches

guide to Kerkyra hotels in CORFU

If you can afford it, and if you can bear the crowds, KERKYRA or CORFU TOWN is as good a holiday centre as you will find anywhere in Greece. Venetians, French and British have all had a hand in developing the town and the results are impressive and attractive, especially since 1994 when public buildings were cleaned up for a EU summit. This is a large town with 40,000 inhabitants (and who knows how many at the height of summer) but it is an expensive one, particularly in the main tourist areas.
Kerkyra town is dominated by double forts. The 13th century Neo Frourio (New Fort) with its dungeons, cellars and impressive turret battlements is much more interesting than the 6th century Paleo Frourio (Old Fort). The focus of Kerkyra town is the Spianada, a public square and park - one of the biggest in Europe - where evening crowds stroll as children play. It is rather spoiled since parts were turned into a car park and there is a bizarre cricket field where matches are still played.

North of the square is the French designed and arcaded Liston, built to resemble the rue de Rivoli in Paris and packed with elegant cafes and restaurants. It also costs a packet to eat there and the food is not always great. Nearby is Georgian Palace of St Michael and St George which houses the wonderful Museum of Asiatic Art, one of the largest and best collections in the world.
In fact Corfu is noted for its weird collections. The Ionian Bank houses a Museum of Banknotes and there is even a Serbian War Museum (the Balkan Wars of 1915-17, not the recent one). The Byzantium Museum is housed in a restored 15th century church and there is a Solomos Museum dedicated to the island's poet. Also of note is St. Spiridon's Church, home to the island's patron 'mummified' saint, located behind the Liston. The church is impressive and well worth a visit

Kassiopi, sidari, Kavos, Paleokastritsa, Agios Gordios, Gouvia, Dassia, Messonghi, Acharavi,