Sightseeing in Corfu island - what to see. Complete travel guide

The Emerald Isle of Corfu has long been known for its luxury resorts. It owes its unofficial name to its vast cypress forest, beautiful lemon trees and numerous orange trees. This charming island is famous not only due to its natural attractions, as it has numerous historical monuments that will certainly impress fans of excursions.

The old Angelokastro fortress is a permanent symbol of Corfu; it's a bright monument of the Byzantine Empire. The castle was never captured. It is located on a high hill and is visible from different corners of the island. The fortress is a large-scale architectural complex surrounded by the centuries-old forest. The highest and most beautiful building of architectural complex is the Church of the Archangel Michael.

History lovers will enjoy visiting the ancient town of Kerkira . It has being under the control of the Venetian Republic for more than four centuries. One of the most beautiful structures of the town is St. Spyridon church. Its construction was completed in 1589. The walls of the church house priceless religious artifact, the relics of the patron saint of the city, St. Spyridon. For many years, the church remained an important center of pilgrimage; people brought a huge amount of generous offerings there. Today, halls of the church are decorated with precious accessories, some of which were donated to the church by members of the royal family. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

In the immediate vicinity of Corfu there is a priceless landmark, Achillion Palace . It was built in the second half of the 19th century for the Austrian empress. The palace has managed to retain a significant portion of its original decoration. Every element in the interior is a priceless museum piece. Spacious rooms are decorated with luxurious furniture, tapestries and paintings by great masters. Not only the palace, but its neighborhood is notable too. The lush garden features exotic plants, landscape compositions and sculptures in antique style.

Mount Pantokrator certainly deserves attention among natural attractions. It is the highest point of the island, rising to 906 meters. A narrow winding trail goes to the top and passes through incredibly picturesque places. The mountain top offers spectacular panoramic views over remote areas of the island, as well as the coastline of Italy.

One of the most unusual Corfu attractions is Monastery Vlacherna . It can be found on a miniature island connected with Corfu by a footbridge. The building occupies almost the entire island. The snowwhite monastery building surrounded by sky-blue waters looks just amazing. Another ancient monastery is on the Pontikonisi . The island is entirely covered with dense thickets of trees, among which the 11th century Pantokrator monastery can be found. The monastery is situated on the highest point of the island; a white narrow staircase, which resembles a mouse tail from afar, goes to the building. That's why Pontikonisi is often called 'the mouse island.'

The majority of travelers visit Corfu Island with one desire – to relax on the picturesque beaches. The majority of coastal areas with official public beaches are distinguished by excellent ecological indexes. Several Corfu beaches have a Blue flag label. The island has an unusual location – its shores are washed by two different seas - the Ionian Sea and the Adriatic Sea. Sand and pebble beaches are the most typical for this area. Travelers who prefer warm water will be delighted with the beaches on the eastern part of the island. However, these beaches are usually quite crowded so vacationers in search of peaceful and private atmosphere, as a rule, like beaches on the western part of the island more.

Corfu is a paradise for everyone who is keen on diving. The island has great conditions for diving and snorkeling. In total, there are more than 30 diving sites near the island, so both beginners and experienced divers will easily find a suitable area. Beautiful coral reefs, underwater caves, and rocks – the underwater landscape of this region is beautiful and diverse. Experienced divers also like the nearby island of Kolovri, the underwater part of which has a very complicated structure.