Greece > Ionian Islands - Corfu > Corfu (Kerkyra)
Corfu (Kerkyra)
N 39°37.398', E 19°55.475'
2023-05-21
https://visit.corfu.gr/
Our rating: 8.20
Overall rating: - Rate this place - 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Kerkyra or Corfu is the administrative center and the largest city on the island of Corfu. A city with a very long and interesting history, and gorgeous Greek, French, Italian and English architecture. As a photographer I enjoyed the city very much and recommend it.
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Parking is a total disaster, in fact, it's hard to find a worse place to park a car in Europe. There are no underground parking, the center is one-way traffic and only one parking lot, on a large lawn 39.624861, 19.925139 , which is the central square "Spianada" or "Esplanade".
Tourist map of Kerkyra ©@
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
We were with a child and finding a good playground on the island is also a trouble. There are two playgrounds in the center of Kerkyra, one near the green lawn (39.624722, 19.925444 ), not particularly good.
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
The second one is near the harbor (39.626417, 19.918306 ), but getting to it is a challenge, considering everything is parked.
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
It would not be easy to see everything in the center in one visit, we came several times. At first we walked along the waterfront. From the parking lot we went straight to the wonderful Garden of the People park (39.625222, 19.925389 ). For a long time the park was closed to the common people and was only accessible to the nobility, but now you can walk there freely. In front of the entrance to the park stands a beautiful, pink church (Holy Church of the Virgin Mary Mandrakina, XVIII).
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
There is also the City Palace, built between 1819 and 1824 as the residence of the High Commissioner of the island. The commissioner, by the way, was the ruler of the historical country Ionian Republic (wiki ), which existed from 1816 to 1864.
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
The park itself is very nice.
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
The park offers a beautiful view of the so-called Faliraki beach with a cozy restaurant. However, you can't go down from the park and if you want to get there, you have to walk a bit.
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Then we walked along the promenade to the other end of the central square.
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
From this spot there is a view of the other side of the fortress and an interesting temple, which is now a church.
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
There is also a beautiful Music Pavilion in the park, a place for local festivals.
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Then we walked around the old town. Some photos were taken early in the morning, so the streets were empty. This is the very center and the most famous street of Liston - Eleftherias. It was built during the second French occupation in 1807-1814, and the Rue de Rivoli in Paris was taken as a model.
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Great place to hang out at the restaurants. There is a large lawn next to it, so if you are with kids they can play there.
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Jean-Paul Belmondo in Corfu.
The Burglars (1971) ©Yurii Buriak
The old town is quite large and you can walk around for a long time.
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
James Bond in Corfu (39.62524, 19.9225 )
For Your Eyes Only (1981) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
And the third time we visited the fortress. The main attractions of Kerkyra are the fortresses of Paleo-Frurio (XII-XVI cc.) and Neo-Frurio (XVII cc.). For proper light the first one should be visited in the morning, the second in the evening. We visited only Paleo-Frurio and can recommend it, as the fortress itself is impressive and the views are the best.
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
The fortress was founded in the 8th century by the Byzantines, later completed by the Venetians and the English, so there are quite a few styles intertwined here.
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
The fortress, by the way, is huge. We spent at least 30 minutes just to get to the top observation deck.
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Views of the city.
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
And here is the New Fortress in the distance, built in 1576 by the Venetians to strengthen the defensive power. By the way, two huge fortresses at such a close distance, in the center of the city, is quite a unique phenomenon, I don't remember anything like it.
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Corfu (Kerkyra) ©Yurii Buriak
Getting there: parking at 39.624861, 19.925139 or 39.626583, 19.917722 . If you cannot park there then the nearest parking lot is 39.626028, 19.913222 . Taxis from the airport are licensed and quite expensive (https://www.corfu-airport.com/corfu-airport-taxi/ ). Airport bus schedule (https://www.corfu-airport.com/corfu-airport-bus/ ).
Tags, Greece: city , filming location , fortress Tags, all countries: city , filming location , fortress
- Rate this place -
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Our rating - 8.20
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Visitor's rating - 0.00
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help