Corfu guide | In depth info about the Greek island of Corfu Gallery A little bit about Corfu Corfu is the second largest of the Ionian islands behind Kefalonia It is often known as Kérkyra in Greek and that is also the name of the main town. Corfu was a strategic position in Europe for many years and was heavily fortified, that’s why there are many castles on the island. It was ruled by the Venetian republic for 5 centuries up until 1797 so many of the islands buildings have a Venetian feel to them, particularly the main town of Kerkyra. Corfu has something for everyone, from nature reserves to all night parties, beautiful beaches and historical sites are also in abundance here. Getting to Corfu As Corfu is the closest island to the UK it’s also a very popular one so expect to find an abundance of flights from your nearest international airport, we found 16 airports in the UK flying direct to Corfu so you should find it easy to get a flight to suit you.

Flight time is around 3 hours so by the time you’ve taken off, had an overpriced drink, played a couple of games on your phone and queued for the toilet it’ll probably be time to land again. Current Weather in Corfu ° Weather from OpenWeatherMap Take a look at the current Corfu weather above or the climate info below showing average high, low and sea temperatures as well as average rainfall per month and hours of sunshine per day. When to go to Corfu The best time to visit Corfu is from late April to early September, it rains more in Corfu as it’s more northern than the other Greek islands that are hotter and dryer. June to August offers the highest temperatures and minimal rain so if you like it hot that’s the time for you. Just remember that these months are also the busiest and most expensive times to go to Corfu. Top 3 resorts in Corfu Below are the 3 resorts in Corfu that cover a large portion of the people travelling to the island. If you’re wanting to party then you head for Kavos, if you want nightlife but not too crazy then go for Sidari, if you want a little more culture then Kerkyra is the place for you.

Click on each of the headings to go to that page and find out more about that particular resort. Kerkyra Couples, Families, Greek Dancing, Harbour, Historical Sites, Karaoke, Live Music, Night Clubs, Picturesque, Plenty of Hotels, Popular, Traditional, Variety of Nightlife Kerkyra or Corfu town is roughly in the centre of the east coast and just a couple of kilometers from the airport, it's the... Full Corfu resort guide From the low key villages of Gouvia or Agios Stephanos to the more lively Sidari, Kerkyra or the booze fueled intensity of Kavos there’s something for everyone in Corfu. Click the button below to be taken to a filterable list of all the resorts in Corfu where you can figure out the best place to base your holiday. Corfu Resort Guide Corfu has over 200km of coast line so if you can’t find a bit of beach to enjoy relaxing on whilst on the island then you’re probably not looking hard enough. It doesn’t matter if your based in the north, south, east or west of the island there’s always a near by beach to suit your needs.

Top 3 beaches in Corfu The three beaches that we recommend you try to take in whilst in Corfu are the always popular Agios Gordios, the picturesque bay of Paleokastritsa and the lively Glyfada. There are other great beaches of course but if you visit any of these you wont be disappointed. That is unless you prefer quieter more secluded beaches, if that’s the case then take a look at the full guide below where you can find some more remote beaches. Agios Gordios Bar, Families, Food, Naturism, Parking, Popular, Showers, Sun Loungers, Toilets, Water Sports The long golden sand beach at Agios Gordios stretches for 1.5km and has crystal clear water. You can hire sunbeds and umbrellas, boats, canoes... All Corfu Beaches The most popular beaches are found in the north of the island and tend to coincide with the popular resorts like Sidari and Paleokastritsa as well as Kavos in the south. Click on the button below to go to our Corfu beach guide to get the full low down on all the beaches.

Corfu offers activities for all the family, from water parks with slides and swimming pools to castles and monastery’s. Most of the sites are concentrated in and around Kerkyra and up in the north of the island. Top 3 Corfu attractions If you’re in Kerkyra then you should definitely take a stroll over to the old fort and have a look around, it’s a large fort that offers a window into the history of the island as well as some great views over the island. The second place we recommend is for the families, Hydropolis water park has slides and pools for all ages and should keep your little ones entertained so you can relax. The last place we recommend is Mouse Island, there isn’t a great deal to do but it’s a lovely place, again offering great views and definitely worth the short boat ride. Old Fortress (Paleo Frourio) Couples, Families, Great Views, Historical Site, Museum, Picturesque, Walking The Old Fortress Corfu photo by Alan About the Old Fortress Corfu The Old Fortress, otherwise known as Paleo Frourio is a Venetian fort in the...

All Corfu attractions If you want to know more about the attractions on the island then use the full Corfu sight seeing guide below which gives you in depth info on all the best places to visit whilst on the island. Click the blue button below to go to our full Corfu sight seeing guide. Corfu Sight Seeing Guide What’s the nightlife in Corfu like? The nightlife in Corfu can be very different depending on where you stay. Kavos is the loud, 18-30, party capital with large amounts of cheap drink and general excess. Sidari has a good mix of bars to dance in, entertainment like karaoke or live music and quiet tavernas as well but may still be a bit too much for some people. Most people will find something to entertain them in the evenings in Corfu town, there’s the always lively Liston, a few clubs out west past the new port and quieter more relaxing bars in the center of town. Gouvia Marina Night Corfu Greece | Greece.com All destinations in Ionian Islands > General Information on Corfu Corfu or Kerkyra is the northernmost of the Ionian islands, at the entrance of the Adriatic, towards Albania.

It is the second largest island of the group, after Kefalonia . It has a surface area of about 641km² and is inhabited by approximately 114,000 people. Corfu was one of the first Greek islands that opened its doors to tourists, and since then, has evolved into an international tourist centre, attracting visitors from all over the world, and offering well-equipped and modern tourist facilities. Despite the fact that the tourism rate here is among the highest in Greece, Corfu has managed to keep its authenticity. Almost all villages and especially the capital Corfu Town seem untouched, retaining their local colours. Due to the size of the island, visitors can find peace and quiet, wild nightlife and amazing crowded and deserted beaches, all in one. History of Corfu Corfu or Kerkyra owes its name to the nymph Korkira, the daughter of the river god Aesopos. According to mythology, Poseidon, god of sea, fell in love with Korkira, kidnapped her and brought her to the island. It was also the island of Phaeacians, referred in the Odyssey. As Homer said, hospitable Phaeacians helped Odysseus return to Ithaca .

Corfu is also considered the island where the Argonauts found refuge from the avenging Colchic fleet, after having stolen the Golden Fleece. Archaeological excavations have proven that the island has been inhabited since the Paleolithic Era (7th–4th centuries B.C.), during which it was a very important commercial centre. Later on, the island became a Corinthian colony and further evolved. The efforts of its inhabitants to gain their independence from Corinthos led to many conflicts. Corfu asked for help from Athenians, who supported the island, and that was one of the many reasons that led to the Peloponnesian War. In 338 B.C., Macedonians, under the rule of Philippos II, won an important battle and conquered Corfu. Starting in 300 B.C., the island was successively attacked and conquered by Spartans, Illyrians and Romans who stayed in Corfu until 337 A.D. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the island became part of the Byzantine Empire and later came under Norman rule, followed by the Venetians .

At that point, the island gained a feudal hierarchy, and the population was categorised in three classes: nobles, the bourgeoisie and the commoners. When Napoleon Bonaparte conquered Venice in 1797, Corfu became part of the French State and Napoleon publicly burnt the “Libro d’ Oro” (Golden Book), which was the book enumerating the privileges of the nobles. While Corfu remained under French domination, the English began to occupy the Ionian islands and reached the island in 1815. While Corfu was under the prospering rule of the English, the rest of Greece was still under the Ottoman rule. The island offered financial help to the rest of Greece in the preparations of the Revolution of 1821. In 21 May 1864, the Ionian islands became part of the new Greek state. During the 20th century, Corfu suffered a lot. Both World Wars had serious consequences on the island. Whole blocks of historical and architectural monuments were reduced to piles of ruins including about twenty eight percent of the historical and beautiful old town.

Towns & Villages in Corfu Corfu Town: it is the capital and the main port of the island and one of the most beautiful and elegant towns in Greece. It is also the largest town of the Ionian islands with 40,000 inhabitants, a number that doubles in summer. The architecture is a mix of different styles as it was influenced by the many conquerors. Sicilians, Venetians, French and English have left their marks on Corfu Town. Expanding throughout the years, the town is separated into a northern and a southern section between the Esplanade Square (also called Esplanade) and the new fortress. This is the central square of the capital and also one of the biggest in Europe. It was designed based on French garden architecture and, every summer, it welcomes the sole cricket competition of Greece. At the western side of Esplanade Square stands one of the most beautiful buildings of Corfu, the Liston building, which houses elegant, luxurious and, of course, expensive cafes and restaurants.

The town is dominated by two fortresses: the 13th century Neo Frourio (New Fortress) with dungeons, cellars and impressive turret battlements, and the 6th century Paleo Frourio (Old Fortress). Benitses : it is a fishing village situated 13.5km south of Corfu Town. In recent years, the village has become an important tourist resort with all kinds of facilities. Many hotels, restaurants and bars can be found here, contributing to the intense nightlife Benitses is known for. Despite the touristic development, the old village has kept its authentic colors and atmosphere. The beaches in the surrounding area are good with pebbles, clear waters and sport facilities. Paleokastritsa : it is the most famous village of the island of Corfu, located 26km northwest of Corfu Town. The village itself is not something special but the surroundings are amazing. The area consists of six small coves with incredibly clear waters, nestled in a coastline of hills and promontories full of olive, cypress and lemon trees. Pelekas : The lovely village of Pelekas is situated 13km of Corfu Town and stands on a 270-meter hill.

The village has an authentic Greek character and offers amazing vistas, especially during sunsets. Pelekas is a busy village due to its position and it is used as an access point for some of the great beaches nearby. Agios Matheos: it is a mountainous village located 25km southwest of the capital. It is built within a dense forest on the side of Mountain Agios Matheos and is full of charming stone houses. The beach of the village, located few kilometers away, is very popular and crowded but there are other more quiet beaches around. Lefkimi : The village Lefkimi is situated 40km south of Corfu Town and it is the second largest settlement of the island. Lefkimi is a lovely village well off the beaten track and a step back in time. The settlement has two impressive churches, Agios Theodoros, located at the main square, and Agios Arsenios with a distinctive orange dome. Beaches in Corfu The island of Corfu has some of the most beautiful beaches of Ionio. There is a great variety of beaches all around the island. Most of them have been turned into resorts, while others remain untouched and remote.

Agios Georgios (SW): the beach is situated at the northwestern part of the island. Many regard this long and sandy beach as the best in Corfu . It is a popular destination for families. It’s 5km long with quite deep waters, and is also one of the few remote beaches. Myrtiotisa : the English writer Lawrence Darrell said this is “the loveliest beach in the world”, and it might well be. The beach is surrounded by steep hills covered in trees. It is sandy, unorganized, totally untouched and unofficially nudist. It is relatively difficult to reach from the nearby village of Vatos , as the road is very bumpy and rocky. At the end of the road, there is private parking and a small path that leads to the beach. Of course, the climb back up is quite exhausting. Glyfada : it is located 16km west of Corfu Town and is one of the most popular beaches of the island. The large surface of fine golden sand is surrounded by cliffs covered in trees. The beach is popular among families and it is fully organized. Ermones : the beach is very nice, small and quiet. It is located in the west coast of Corfu.

The bay is tiny with pebbles and sand and it is surrounded by very steep hills. The beach is organized with many hotels, and water sports facilities, like diving and sailing. Sidari : It is the most famous tourist resort of north Corfu and well worth visiting. It is 32km away from the capital. The place is famous for the “Canal d’ Amour”, an underground path between two rocks that the visitors can easily walk to, due to the shallow waters. The beach at Sidari , which has been awarded the Blue Flag, is beautiful and very crowded. The carved, white rocks that look like natural sculptures and light blue waters create an exotic scenery. Kouloura : The fishing village of Kouloura has a small and not so populated beach with sand, pebbles and many cypress trees. The beach is ideal for those who want to avoid crowded and organized beaches. There are no water sports, no boat hire, no bars and no clubs; the closest tavern is a 20-minute walk away in nearby Kerasia . Kerasia : This is a nice, pebble beach with crystal clear waters. It is very quiet, organized and offers a great view of Albania.

Kerasia beach is located at the northeast tip of the island. Avlaki : It lies between Agios Stefanos to the south and Kassiopi to the North. The beach seems to be visited by few, probably because of its better-known neighbour Kassiopi . However, the beach is popular among Corfiots for its crystal clear waters. Avlaki beach is narrow and long, with pebbles. It is also organized and has few water sports facilities. Almyros : it is a very long sandy beach with an interesting view of the rolling hills of Albania to the right. The centre of the beach is the busiest part, with hotels and bars around. However, as you keep walking towards the outer parts, it gets a lot quieter and more isolated. Agios Georgios (NW): Agios Georgios Pagon (=ice) is one of the most beautiful beaches of northwestern Corfu. It is situated 30km away from the capital. It has golden sand, clear waters and some tourist facilities. Top Things to Do in Corfu 1. Museums: Corfu is noted for its peculiar collections and interesting museums.

In Corfu Town, there are many museums, such as the Serbian War Museum with items and papers regarding the Balkan Wars of 1915-1917. Also in the capital, the Ionian Bank houses a Museum of Banknotes. One of the most interesting museums of Corfu is the Museum of Asian Art; it is the only Asian museum in Greece and was founded in 1927 by Gregory Manos, an ambassador, who donated his private collection of 10,500 objects of Sino-Japanese origin. Nowadays, the museum houses more collections with Asian items. The Archaeological Museum of Corfu was built between 1962 and 1965 to house the Gorgon pediment from the temple of Artemis, which was found in the area of Paleopolis. Today, the collections of the museum include excavation finds from the ancient city of Corfu, the Kerkyrean Cassiope, and many more. Another very interesting museum is the Museum of Sea, located in Benitses village.

It was founded in 1989 by diver and collector Napoleon Sagja, and contains one of the largest collections of shells, corals, sponges, fossils and shark teeth. 2. Achillion Palace: The Palace, located in the village of Gastairi, was built in 1891 for Elizabeth (Sissy), the Empress of Austria, in honour of the hero Achilles, whom the Empress admired. Later, Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany bought it. The Palace is a beautiful building with picturesque gardens overlooking the sea and Corfu Town. Achillion is famous among British visitors as it is the birthplace of Prince Phillip. 3. Bosceto Garden: Bosceto Garden is situated in the historical city of Corfu, opposite the famous Esplanade Square. The Garden is known for its many types of flowers, its beautiful architecture and decoration of its parterres and for the many scattered statues. 4. New Fortress: The New Fortress was built between 1572 and 1645 by the Venetians, to protect the west side of Corfu Town. The fortification works were completed by both the French and the British.

The Fortress consists of two twin bastions, and the most impressive architectural characteristics are the two gates bearing the emblem of Galinotatis, the winged lion of Saint Mark. 5. Pondikonisi : Pondikonisi is a trademark of Corfu. The island owes its name (“Mouse Island”) to its size. The main characteristic of Pondikonisi is the dense vegetation. According to mythology, this tiny island is the rock where the ship of Odysseus crashed. The ship was destroyed and Odysseus ended up as a castaway to the island of Pheakes. How to Reach Corfu Air: Corfu has several flights weekly to/from Athens and Thessaloniki . Charter flights also land here from various European countries. Coach: KTEL coaches run two or three times daily between Corfu Town and Athens (11 hours including the time with the ferry between Corfu and the mainland). Some services go via Lefkimmi to the south. There is also a service once or twice daily to/from Thessaloniki . Ferry – Domestic: Hourly ferries run between Corfu and Igoumenitsa (1 ¾ hours).

You can also travel to Patra on one of the frequent international ferries that call in Corfu in summer. There are also a few daily ferries between Lefkimmi and Igoumenitsa (1 hour). Ferry – International: Corfu is on the Patras-Igoumenitsa ferry route to Italy (Brindisi, Bari, Ancona, Trieste, and Venice). Ferries go a few times daily to Brindisi (7 hours) and in summer usually once daily to Bari (10 hours), Ancona (14 hours), Triesta (21 hours) and Venice (30 hours). Hydrofoil: from May to September, there are at least two hydrofoils daily between Corfu and Paxi via Igoumenitsa and one hydrofoil daily from Corfu to Igoumenitsa. Getting Around in Corfu To/from the Airport: there is no bus service between Corfu Town and the airport. Nos 6 and 10 from Plateia San Rocco in Corfu Town stop on the main road 500m from the airport.

Bus: Destinations of KTEL buses (green and cream-coloured) are posted at the long-distance bus station on Avramiou street. Destinations of local buses (dark blue) are posted at the bus stations in San Rocco Square. Corfu - Greece - YouTube Corfu - Greece Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Apr 25, 2014 Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece.The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The municipality includes the island Corfu and the smaller islands Ereikoussa, Mathraki and Othonoi. The principal city of the island and seat of the municipality (pop. 32,095) is also named Corfu. Corfu is home to the Ionian University.

The island is bound with the history of Greece from the beginning of Greek mythology. Its Greek name, Kerkyra or Korkyra, is related to two powerful water symbols: Poseidon, god of the sea, and Asopos, an important Greek mainland river. According to myth, Poseidon fell in love with the beautiful nymph Korkyra, daughter of Asopus and river nymph Metope, and abducted her. Poseidon brought Korkyra to the hitherto unnamed island and, in marital bliss, offered her name to the place: Korkyra, which gradually evolved to Kerkyra (Doric).Together, they had a child they called Phaiax, after whom the inhabitants of the island were named: Phaiakes. This term was transliterated via Latin to Phaeacians. Corfu's nickname is The island of the Phaeacians. The island's history is laden with battles and conquests. 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. From medieval times and into the 17th century, the island was recognised as a bulwark of the European States against the Ottoman Empire and became one of the most fortified places in Europe. The fortifications of the island were used by the Venetians to defend against Ottoman intrusion into the Adriatic. Corfu repulsed several Turkish sieges, before falling under British rule following the Napoleonic Wars. Corfu was eventually ceded by the British Empire along with the remaining islands of the United States of the Ionian Islands, and unification with modern Greece was concluded in 1864 under the Treaty of London. In 2007, the city's old city was designated for the UNESCO World Heritage List, following a recommendation by ICOMOS. Corfu is a very popular tourist destination. The island was the location of the 1994 European Union summit.

( source: Wikipedia ) Category Ionian Islands Holiday Villas & Apartments | HomeAway Make a holiday rental, home or villa in the Ionian Islands your home away from home Ionian Islands, Greece The Ionian Islands are a group of seven main islands off the west coast of Greece, from the Albanian coast to the southern tip of the Peloponnesus. These are lush islands brimming with Venetian flavour and great self catering holiday accommodation. The islands are renowned for the stunning beaches and charming villages, which have made these islands the second most popular of all the Greek islands. Places to holiday in the Ionian Islands, Greece Corfu (Korfu), boasts an unrivalled mix of spectacular beaches and archaeological treasures. The island is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and is a cosmopolitan tourist centre, so can provide all the facilities, bars, restaurants and sports required by an international tourist. However, it does this with a back drop of beautiful scenery and top-class beaches. There is a wealth of sites to enjoy, from the serene resorts of the north to the 18-30 party town of Kavos.

Kefallonia (Cephalonia) is an island of wild beauty, and great for magestic holidays in the Ionian Islands. Breathtaking mountains reach down to the majestic beaches of the coast. Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian Islands, and like many of the Ionian Islands, it has a huge wealth of historical sites to be discovered. The village of Fiscardo is defiantly worth a visit on an Ionian Island holiday as it was the only village to survive the 1953 earthquake in tact. Zakynthos (Zante) is a tourist’s dream, with long sandy beaches, hidden coves in shear white cliffs, turquoise seas and iconic architecture. Zante also houses the Byzantine Museum. Lefkada (Lefkas) was only separated from the mainland when the Corinthians cut a canal through sandbanks in 600BC. The island missed the package tourist boom, so remains wild and beautiful, with beaches no less impressive than those of the more popular islands remaining blissfully empty for much of the year. Paxi (Paxos) is a tiny island, perfect for a relaxing, quiet holiday.

The snorkelling is spectacular, and there are day trips to other islands, especially Corfu, but a holiday rental here means you can return to the peace of Paxi each day. Things to do in the Ionian Islands There is an enormous variety of activities to participate in the Ionian Islands. Each island offers different specialities to self catering holiday makers, including many historical sites, water sports and nature, but all offer remarkable beaches. Sailing around the Ionian Islands is hugely popular, and getting a sailing holiday based from an Ionian rental villa means you can really discover the best parts of the islands at your own pace, including the secluded deserted beaches hidden at the base of white cliffs. Weather in the Ionian Islands, Greece The Ionian Islands have a steady maritime climate, with summer temperatures of between 28°C and 34°C, with cooling afternoon breezes. Travel to the Ionian Islands, Greece Flights to the Ionian Islands typically take around 3 hours from the UK. There are airports on Corfu (CFU), Kefalonia (EFL) and Zante (ZTH), and regular flights to each go from 14 UK airports from a number of providers.

Corfu Travel Guide, Corfu Greece - Kerkyra Greek Version CORFU ISLAND Corfu is the second largest island in the group of Ionian Islands, after Kefalonia and was the first to open itself up to tourism with plenty to offer its visitors. It attracts visitor from all over the world and is one of those rare destinations that caters for all ages and tastes. Corfu is known as Kerkyra in Greek and takes its name from a variation of the Nymph Korkira, daughter of the Greek river god Aesopos in mythology. Legend says that the god of sea, Poseidon fell in love with the Nymph Korkira, kidnapped her and then brought her to the Island, hence the name Kerkyra. The island of Corfu has been described as the Emerald Isle, the Garden of Eden and by Homer himself, a beautiful and rich land all this is due to the lush green hills, towering mountains, clear blue seas, pure white sands, endless olive groves and colourful wild flowers.

Corfu is full of variety from its traditional fishing villages to its large modern resorts, coupled with its amazing wildlife, over six hundred types of wild flowers and numerous exotic birds including pelicans, bee eaters, hoopoes and golden orioles; this island has something for everyone! Ionian Islands | Article about Ionian Islands by The Free Dictionary Ionian Islands | Article about Ionian Islands by The Free Dictionary Related to Ionian Islands: Aegean Islands Ionian Islands (īō`nēən), chain of islands (1991 pop. 193,734), c.890 sq mi (2,310 sq km), W Greece, in the Ionian Sea, along the coasts of Epirus and the Peloponnesus. The group is made up of Kérkira Kérkira or Corfu , Lat. Corcyra, island (1991 pop. 104,781), 229 sq mi (593 sq km), NW Greece, in the Ionian Sea, the second largest of the Ionian Islands, separated by a narrow channel from the Albanian and Greek coasts. .....

Click the link for more information. , Paxoí Paxoí or Paxos , island (1991 pop. 2,175), c.7 sq mi (18 sq km), NW Greece, in the Ionian Sea; one of the Ionian Islands. Olive oil, citrus fruits, and almonds are produced. Tourism is an important industry. ..... Click the link for more information. , Lefkás Lefkás, formerly Levkás or Leucas , mountainous island (1991 pop. 19,350), c.115 sq mi (300 sq km), W Greece, in the Ionian Sea; one of the Ionian Islands. Lefkás (1991 pop. ..... Click the link for more information. , Kefallinía Kefallinía or Cephalonia , island (1991 pop. 29,392), c.300 sq mi (780 sq km), W Greece, the largest of the Ionian Islands.

It has an irregular coastline and is largely mountainous, rising to c.5,340 ft (1,630 m) at Mt. ..... Click the link for more information. , Itháki Itháki or Ithaca , island (1991 pop. 3,082), c.37 sq mi (96 sq km), W Greece, one of the Ionian Islands. It is mountainous, rising to c.2,650 ft (810 m) at Mt. Anoyi, and has little arable land. The chief products are olive oil, currants, and wine. ..... Click the link for more information. , Zákinthos Zákinthos or Zante , Lat. Zacynthus, island (1991 pop. 32,556), c.157 sq mi (407 sq km), W Greece, in the Ionian Sea; one of the Ionian Islands. The chief town is Zákinthos, a port and trade center and the capital of Zákinthos prefecture. ..... Click the link for more information.

, Kíthira Kíthira or Cythera , island (1991 pop. 3,021), c.109 sq mi (282 sq km), S Greece, in the Mediterranean Sea, southernmost of the Ionian Islands, off the S Peloponnesus. Mostly rocky with many streams, it produces wine, goat cheese, olives, corn, and flax. ..... Click the link for more information. , and numerous islets. Largely mountainous, the islands reach their highest point at Mt. Ainos (c.5,340 ft/1,630 m) on Kefallinía. Fruits, grains, timber, olives, wine, and cotton are produced, and sheep, goats, and hogs are raised. Industries include fishing, shipping, and tourism. The islands had no unified history until the 10th cent. A.D., when they were made a province of the Byzantine Empire. Venice took the islands in the 14th and 15th cent.

and held them until 1797, when the Treaty of Campo Formio, which ended the Venetian republic, gave the islands to France. In 1799 they were seized by a Russo-Turkish fleet and were constituted a republic under Russian protection. In 1807, by the Treaty of Tilsit, Russia returned the islands to France. From 1809 to 1814 the British navy occupied all the islands except Kérkira. In 1815 the Ionian Islands, known as the "United States of the Ionian Islands," were placed under British protection. The British ceded the islands to Greece in 1864 after considerable popular agitation on the islands. A series of earthquakes in 1953 caused extensive damage. Ionian Islands a group of islands belonging to Greece in the Ionian Sea off the western shore of the Balkan Peninsula. Area, more than 2,200 sq km.

There are five large islands— Ithaki (Ithaca), Levkas (Leucas), Kefallinia (Cephalonia), Zakinthos (Zante), and Kerkira (Corfu)—and many islets, separated from the mainland by a shallow sea and continuing the mountain chains of Greece, broken up by faults. The islands have frequent earthquakes. The sharply defined and precipitous shores create many excellent harbors. The islands are mountainous (maximum altitude, 1,628 m) and composed primarily of limestone and shale; there are foothills along the shores in places and fertile lowlands with olive groves, vineyards, and citrus orchards. Maquis predominates on the slopes; there are also oak forests. The primary industries are sheepherding and fishing. The cities of Kerkira, Argostolion, and Zakinthos are located in the Ionian Islands. Visit Greece | Ionian islands Ionian islands Tweet The temperate climate; the deep and cool sea waters; the mountains; the lush vegetation; the cultural heritage; and the cheerfulness of the inhabitants, make the Ionian Islands the ideal place for a holiday as well as rest and relaxation.

What is more, the traits of the Ionian Islands are perfectly combined with a flawless tourism infrastructure, excellent hotel accommodations, restaurants, diving centers, sea sports, cultural events, and a multitude of sights, historic monuments and museums worth visiting. Scattered along the western coastline of Central Greece, the Ionian Islands as they are known, are an island cluster comprising twelve small and large islands whose total surface area comes to 2,200 square kilometers. Zakynthos , Ithaca , Corfu (Kerkyra), Kefalonia , Lefkada , and Paxi are the six, large Ionian Islands. Antipaxi, Erikousa, Mathraki, Othoni, Meganisi and the deserted islets of Strofades south of Zakynthos are the smaller Ionian Islands. Together with the island of Kythira and the neighboring Antikythira the islands form the island cluster of Eptanisa. Nevertheless it should be noted that Kythira and Antikythira are completely cut off from the rest of the Ionian islands situated as they are across southern Peloponnese and the coast of Laconia.

Once, the Ionian Islands were part of Central Greece but were torn apart when the terrain sank due to the seismic activity along the great coastline fault of the Ionian Sea. This accounts not only for the ragged shores and hauntingly beautiful beaches but it also accounts for the islands’ tall mountains, once part of the Pindos mountain range which crosses Central Greece. It also accounts for the great depth of the waters in the area which, at 4,406 meters, is the greatest in the Mediterranean. The Ionian islands have a mild and temperate climate which makes them the ideal location for vacation or residence. In winter, the mountains of Central Greece stop the cold northern winds from reaching the islands while, in summer, the heat is tempered by the meltemia, the soft, northwestern winds, and the sea breezes. Due to the air currents prevalent on the Ionian islands, many of the island beaches have developed into internationally acclaimed windsurfing centers. The Ionian Islands have been inhabited since Paleolithic times, have been through many invasions, and have received the influence of a variety of cultures.

The Ionian Islands were part of the Byzantine Empire until1204 when the Franks took over Constantinople and the Ionian Islands were eventually ceded to the Venetians. Under Venetian rule, the Ionian Islands formed their own local nobility whose register survived as late as the 19th century. From the time of Frankish rule until 1864 when they were joined with Greece, the Ionian Islands were also ruled by a number of foreign conquerors. The presence of the Europeans on the Ionian Islands at a time when Greece was still under Ottoman rule gave rise to significant intellectual activity something that is still visible today both in the islands’ architectural tradition as well as their charming cultural traits. Related Links

Question: What is the second largest of the Ionian Islands?
Answer: Corfu