Corfu, a Greek island in the Ionian Sea

Corfu is in front of the coast of …

Corfu

Corfu is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and lies off the coast of Sarandë, Albania, from which it is

separated by straits varying in breadth from 3 to 23 km.

Corfu

Island´s Greek name is “Ke/rkura” , from Greek word “ke/rkoj”. This name refers to the form of island. What does it mean?

Island´s Greek name is “Ke/rkura” , from Greek word “ke/rkoj”, which means “tail”, in reference to form of

island.

But Greek mythology gives us another explanation about name´s origin. According to myth, a god fell in love with the beautiful nymph Korkyra, and abducted her. This god brought her to the unnamed island and offered her name

to the place.Which god are we talking about?

Οι ξένοι την αποκαλούν “Corfu” από τις δύο κορυφές που φαίνονται καθώς πλησιάζει ο επισκέπτης στο νησί.

This Greek text says that “Foreingers call island “Corfu” from two things that appear firstly when you are near the island. What things?

 

Οι ξένοι την αποκαλούν “Corfu” από τις δύο κορυφές που φαίνονται καθώς πλησιάζει ο επισκέπτης στο νησί.

The name “Corfu” is an Italian corruption of the Byzantine Κορυφώ (Koryphō), meaning city of the peaks, which is derived from the Greek Κορυφαί (Koryphai), meaning Crests or Peaks, denoting the two peaks of Palaio Frourio (Old Citadel).

 

In Corfu was temple of Artemis which probably has the oldest stone-pediment of an ancient Greek temple. Which mythical monster contains this pediment?

In Corfu was temple of Artemis which probably has the oldest limestone-pediment of an ancient Greek temple. Pediments are nowadays in Archaeological Museum of Corfu. Most important of them contains Gorgon Medusa kneeling-running between two panthers.

The island's history is laden with battles and conquests, indicative of Corfu's turbulent position in a historical vortex lasting until unification with Greece in 1864, with no further foreign intervention.

The legacy of these struggles is visible in the form of castles punctuating strategic locations across the island. Two of these castles enclose its capital, which is the only city in Greece to be surrounded in such a way. As a result, Corfu's capital has been officially declared a Kastropolis (Castle city) by the Greek Government

Corfu was the only part of Greece never conquered by ... A) GreeksB) VenetiansC) TurksD) Americans

Corfu remained in Venetian hands from 1401 till 1797 and it was the only part of Greece never conquered by Turks. Corfu Town looks very different from most Greek towns, because of Corfu's unique history. Much of the town reflects this era when the island belonged to the Republic of Venice, with multi-storied buildings on narrow lanes.

From 1815 to 1864, the Ionian Islands became a protectorate of …

From 1815 to 1864, the Ionian Islands became a protectorate of the United Kingdom as the “United States of the Ionian Islands” and Corfu became the seat of the British Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands.

The British commissioners introduced a strict method of government which brought about a decided improvement in the material prosperity of the island, but by its very strictness displeased the natives.

On 28 May 1865 the Ionian Islands were united with ...

On 28 May 1865 the Ionian Islands were united with Greece.

In 1889 a very famous woman built a summer palace in the south of the city, with the powerful mythical hero Achilles as its central theme. Who was she?

In 1889 Empress of Austria Elisabeth of Bavaria, also known as Sissi, built a summer palace in the south of the city, with the powerful mythical hero Achilles as its central theme.

The palace, with the neoclassical Greek statues that surround it, is a monument to platonic romanticism as well as escapism, and was named after Achilles: Achilleion (Αχίλλειον).

British naturalist Gerald Durrell wrote three well-loved books about his 1935–1940 childhood on Corfu. Do you know the title of one of books?

British naturalist Gerald Durrell wrote three well-loved books about his 1935–1940 childhood on Corfu: My Family and Other Animals; Birds, Beasts and Relatives; and The Garden of the Gods.

His brother, literary author Lawrence Durrell, also wrote a volume about Corfu: Prospero's Cell: A Guide to the Landscape and Manners of the Island of Corcyra (Corfu).

In 2007, the city's old town was named on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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