Even in densely populated Europe there are amazing paradises where there is amazing nature, millions of smiles and chic rest, and there is no dirt, theft and other negative moments. The Greek island of Corfu is just such a place. It is very popular with tourists from different countries, especially among Russians. And this is not at all surprising – the rest here will surely be remembered for a lifetime.
From the popular resort on the Albanian coast of Corfu separates the distance of only two and a half kilometers. Locals greatly respect the Russian admiral Ushakov. In 1799, it was he who freed this island from the French occupation. In October, holidays are held in honor of Ushakov in Corfu. The Greeks themselves call the island “Kerkyra”. In cloudless weather from Corfu you can see the shores of Italy. In the famous ancient Greek saga about the Argonauts, it was here that the brave navigators hid after the theft of the golden fleece from Colchis. Colchis, by the way, is modern Georgia. The island is not very big. The length of its coastline does not exceed 217 kilometers. True, because of the whimsical relief, it will not be possible to drive around it quickly by car, there are almost no direct roads.
For about 4 centuries, Corfu was under the control of Venice. The Venetians first tried unsuccessfully to buy an island, and then seized it by force. Amateur singing in public is very popular here. You should not be surprised to see someone walking along the street and at the same time singing. The first opera in Greece was built in Corfu. When the Ottoman Empire seized Greece, the only part of Greek territory that did not come under Turkish control was Corfu. The inhabitants of the island successfully defended against invaders for a very long time. It was here that the film “For Your Eyes Only” was filmed, which is part of the famous series of films about agent 007 – James Bond.
About 4 million olive trees grow in Corfu. One of the symbols of the island is kumquat fruit – a kind of small mandarin. In general, Kumquats came to Europe from China, but almost never took root. And on Corfu, nothing grows, and in such quantities that they are even successfully exported to other countries. The central square of the capital of the island was built during the days of French rule. Now this is probably the most popular place among tourists. 55 species of rare wild orchids grow in Corfu.
The old fortress in the city of Corfu (the capital is called the same as the island) was built in the 13th century by the Byzantines. Later, the Venetians who captured the island significantly improved and improved it. The fortress withstood many sieges. The runway of the local airport is the shortest in Europe. Pilots in order to use it, requires remarkable skill. But the time of the celebration of Easter in Corfu, the locals beat the clay pots filled with water, throwing them to the ground. Here is held annually Carnival – a costumed carnival, reminiscent of a Venetian. The custom came here along with the Venetian invaders, settled down and survived after their expulsion.
