Corfu - Apartment rentals and
villas in Corfu for holiday accommodation in Greek Islands. Rental cottages apartments
and villas in Corfu owned privately
Mountains.
Over 200km of coastline. Royal connections. Sunshine. The second-largest of the
Ionian Islands was one of the first Greek destinations to embrace mass tourism.
Yet Corfu has far more to offer than just sun, sea and souvlaki. It is located
just west of the Greek mainland and the southern coast of Albania. Shaped like
a sickle, with its hollow side facing inwards, the island is about 65 kilometres
long and 32 kilometres across at its widest point. There are 217 kilometres of
coast, although anyone venturing inland will find that the interior has at least
as much to offer as the shore. Much of Corfu is mountainous. At 906 metres above
sea level, its highest peak, Mount Pantokrator, is visible from most places on
the island.
These
days, Corfu caters for everyone, including those who prefer to travel independently
or who want to elude busy resorts. Resident Janet Balaoura has seen the island
change in the years since she first moved there, and remembers the bad press resulting
from the over-development that took place in the Eighties. "It's seen a lot
of changes," she says. "It's coming back now. It's a beautiful island
– I love it with a passion."
Some
resorts, including Sidari on the north coast and Kavos on the east, still cater
predominantly for mass tourism. First Choice (0871 200 7799; www.firstchoice.
co.uk) and Thomas Cook (0870 010 0437; www.thomascook.com) are among the many
companies offering package holidays to resorts all over the island.
Villa
accommodation is popular in the north-east of the island, where the mountainous
coastline and beautiful bays offer spectacular settings for secluded houses. Among
the operators that are offering properties in this area is James Villas (0800
074 0177; www.jamesvillas.co.uk), a family-run business which has a number of
attractive villas on the island. Most of the properties sleep six people, although
some are larger.
One
of Corfu's best-known budget options is the Pink Palace (00 30 26610 53103; www.thepinkpalace.com)
at Agios Gordios beach in Sinarades. The rose-coloured building sprawls across
the hillside, and offers dormitory accommodation from €18 (£15), and
double rooms from €27 (£22.50) per person; these rates include breakfast
and a three-course dinner, as well as free transport from ferries, planes and
buses.
For
those who just want a taste of the place, Corfu is a destination on a number of
cruises, including the 10-night tour "Around the Ionian Sea" operated
by easyCruise (0871 210 0001; www.easycruise. com). Cabins are available from
£210 for the trip; meals and travel to and from Athens are extra. The ship
docks at 10am, and remains in the harbour until 5am the following morning, giving
passengers plenty of time to explore a little of the island, or to enjoy the charms
of Corfu Town, the only Corfiot settlement of any real size. Corfu Town is towards
the south of the island; both the international airport and the port are a short
walk from the old town.
Corfu
Town is a thriving metropolis in comparison with most other Greek island "capitals",
and is also very attractive. The town was a target for several foreign armies
in the course of its long history, and the two fortresses which now protect its
harbour were built by the Venetians, who ruled the island for four centuries and
whose influence continues to give the town an Italian feel. From the old fort,
or Palaio Frourio (open 8.30am-3pm daily; admission €4/£3.35), there
is an impressive 360-degree view over the town and the coast beyond it.
Just
behind the fortress is the Spianada, a pleasant green space that incorporates
a cricket pitch, a legacy of the early 19th century, when the British conquered
the island. Running along the Spianada is the Liston, an attractive avenue part-shaded
by trees, partly covered by arcades. With its many restaurants and cafés,
it is a perfect spot from which to watch the world go by – although resident
Alexandros Ardonidis advises caution before you order. "If you sit somewhere
for lunch, check the prices first and double-check the bill afterwards,"
he warns. A few blocks back from the Liston is Corfu Town's best-known landmark,
the dark red bell-tower of St Spiridon church; the area all around is a mixture
of quiet squares, intriguing alleyways and lively shopping streets.
Corfu
island - Unparalleled
beauty - Perfect Greece vacation in Kerkyra
Mountains.
Over 200km of coastline. Royal connections. Sunshine. The second-largest of the
Ionian Islands was one of the first Greek destinations to embrace mass tourism.
Yet Corfu has far more to offer than just sun, sea and souvlaki. It is located
just west of the Greek mainland and the southern coast of Albania. Shaped like
a sickle, with its hollow side facing inwards, the island is about 65 kilometres
long and 32 kilometres across at its widest point. There are 217 kilometres of
coast, although anyone venturing inland will find that the interior has at least
as much to offer as the shore. Much of Corfu is mountainous. At 906 metres above
sea level, its highest peak, Mount Pantokrator, is visible from most places on
the island. 
One
of Corfu's best-known budget options is the Pink Palace (00 30 26610 53103; www.thepinkpalace.com)
at Agios Gordios beach in Sinarades. The rose-coloured building sprawls across
the hillside, and offers dormitory accommodation from €18 (£15), and
double rooms from €27 (£22.50) per person; these rates include breakfast
and a three-course dinner, as well as free transport from ferries, planes and
buses. 
Just
behind the fortress is the Spianada, a pleasant green space that incorporates
a cricket pitch, a legacy of the early 19th century, when the British conquered
the island. Running along the Spianada is the Liston, an attractive avenue part-shaded
by trees, partly covered by arcades. With its many restaurants and cafés,
it is a perfect spot from which to watch the world go by – although resident
Alexandros Ardonidis advises caution before you order. "If you sit somewhere
for lunch, check the prices first and double-check the bill afterwards,"
he warns. A few blocks back from the Liston is Corfu Town's best-known landmark,
the dark red bell-tower of St Spiridon church; the area all around is a mixture
of quiet squares, intriguing alleyways and lively shopping streets.