Tag: corfù

Achilleion – Princess Sissi’s Palace

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Achilleion Palace was built in Gastouri, Corfu, in 1890 by Empress of Austria Elisabeth of Bavaria, also known as Princess Sissi, and was her favourite vacation place.

The story of Achilles became an obsession of the Princess Elizabeth, so the palace was designed with the mythical hero Achilles as its central theme. There are many statues of Achilles around the grounds and paintings of him inside the house. The most impressive statue is the Dying of Achilles, a colossal bronze work that dominates the far end of the gardens.

During the First and Second World War the palace was abandoned and used as hospital and school. Today, after years of rebuilding, the palace is finally restored to its former beauty.

 

For the cinemaddicts: the Achilleion having been used as a location for the James Bond movie For Your Eyes Only.

 

Gear: Canon EOS 6D,  Canon EF 16-35mm F/4L IS USM and  Canon EF 70-200mm F/2,8L IS II USM

 

Corfu old town – Kerkyra

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A photogallery of shots taken wandering in Corfu old town (Kerkyra) on the Island of Corfu.

The city has become known as a Kastropolis (Castle City) because of its two castles: New castle and Old Fortress. Old city is also UNESCO World Heritage since 2007.

The layout of the old town resembles that of  Venice, with tall buildings and a maze of narrow streets and small piazzas around churches.

Wandering in this labyrinth of narrow streets paved with cobblestones, sometimes tortuous but mostly pleasant, colourful and sparkling clean, may be found some houses of the Venetian time, and British Neoclassical housing of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

These small streets are called “kantounia” and the older ones sometimes follow the gentle irregularities of the ground while many of them are too narrow for vehicular traffic.

Interesting the architecture of historic Liston street in old town that has been copied from the Rivoli Street in Paris.

 

Gear: Canon Eos 6D,  Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM

Old Fortress – Corfu (Kerkyra)

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The Old Castle is the best known and most famous castle in Corfu. It dates back to the Byzantine period but the main fortification was built by the Venetians.

It is very well preserved, and so, great place to visit, but unfortunately none of the buildings constructed by the Venetians survived until today, and the buildings which you will see in the castle today were constructed by the British much later.

The church of St. George is one of the buildings constructed by the British in the style of a Doric temple.

The Fortress houses the Public library of Corfu and the Hellenic Music Research Lab of the Ionian University in the old British barracks.

 

Gear: Canon Eos 6D,  Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM

Paleokastritsa Monastery

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On a hill above the beach of Paleokastritsa in Corfù there is a Monastery, excellent example of Greek monastic architecture.

Inside has a small ecclesiastical museum with rare Byzantine icons, holy books and other relics. Very interesting to see, also the chapel and beautiful courtyards.

 

Gear: Canon Eos 6D,  Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM

Kanoni – Pontikonissi and Vlacherna Monastery (Corfù)

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A photo gallery of beautiful Kanoni hill area in Corfù, with Pontikonissi island, and Vlacherna Monastery.

Kanoni is located around three kilometres south of Kerkyra city in Corfù island, with a wonderful view on his main attractions: the Pontikonissi  island, and Vlacherna Monastery.

The Vlacherena monastery is a Corfù icon, and was founded many centuries ago on a little rocky island as women’s monastery. Today the rock of monastery is joined to the mainland by a footbridge.

Pontikonisi (means ‘Mouse Island’ in Greek, ’cause his shape) is an islet with the Byzantine chapel of Pantokrator.
According to the legend, Pontikonisi was the boat of Odysseus which was turned to this green rock by the God Poseidon during a storm.

Nearby the hill of Kanoni, the Ioannis Kapodistrias International Airport, the only airport of Corfù.

 

Gear: Canon Eos 6D,  Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM

Paleokastritsa – Corfù (Greece)

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The bay of Paleokastritsa is in the North West of Corfu, with his amazing beaches and cristal clear sea.

Paleokastritsa is a small village where the epic poem the Odyssey,  tells that legendary Odysseus (Ulysses) disembarked and met Nausicaa for the first time.

A great view and a lovely place to visit and to have a coffee or a lunch, is the La Grotta (grotto) beach bar. This is situated in a tiny little cove with crystal clear, very deep and icy cold water.

There is maybe 100 stairs to go down and up, but a, highly recommended if you are on the island.

 

Gear: Canon Eos 6D and Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM

Canal d’Amour – Sidari (Corfù)

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Nearby to the village of Sidari, in Corfù island (Greece) there is an idyllic area with unique rock formations that form a series of wonderful coves and canals, with beautiful crystalline waters.

The rocks run in different shades of yellow and lots of greenery at the top.  The famous beach Channel of Love (known as Canal d’ Amour).

The famous beach Channel of Love (known as Canal d’ Amour) is one of the most unique spots in Corfu. According to the tradition couples who swim through the narrow canal will get married soon. 

 

Gear: Canon Eos 6D and Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM