Attractions

Pontikonissi

Pontikonissi is one of the world renowned attractions in Corfu, meaning the island of mice in Greek. It is a place of amazing natural beauty and a destination filled with rich flora and fauna, certainly worth visiting during your stay on the island. Located at the lagoon of Chalikiopoulos just opposite the airport of the island, visitors are encouraged to embark on small boats and take a trip to this natural marvel. It is called the island of mice due to the small size it boasts, while there is only one building on the island (the Byzantine Church of Pantokrator). It is also worth noting that Pontikonissi is only free to reach on the day the monastery is celebrated, which is August 6 every year. This is when people are allowed to access the whole islet and not just admire it from afar. On other days, only a small part of Pontikonissi is offered for exploration.

Mon Repos and Palaeopolis

The Palace of Mon Repos is located within lavish greenery, in the most idyllic scenery at the forest of Palaiopolis. Frederick Adam was the original owner of this magnificent villa from 1828. He was the British Lord High Commissioner of the US living in Corfu and wanted a home that could be used during summer months. After that, the building hosted fine arts schooling and later on it became a superb outdoor attraction for all visitors. Empress Elisabeth of Austria was another notable resident at the Palace of Mon Repo back in 1863, before deciding to construct the equally breathtaking Achilleion Palace.
King George I gained the ownership of the Palace in 1864 and gave it its name. The residence was under the ownership of the Greek Kings, till King Constantine II left back in 1967. After some years of decay, the villa got fully restored and is now a magical place to visit. It is now property of the Corfiot municipality, offering superb exhibits as a museum. Visitors can have a look at the vast collections of archaeological and medieval exhibits, all depicting the history and brilliant past of Corfu in the most eloquent manner.
Palaeopolis, on the other hand, is the ancient city of the island and is located within close proximity from Mon Repos. Extensive excavations have highlighted the distinctive character and prominent nature of this ancient settlement.

Angelokastro

This Byzantine castle means the Castle of Angels in Greek. It is perched on the highest spot of Corfu, extremely close to the picturesque village of Paleokastritsa. It is over 300 meters above the surface of the sea, providing exquisite view from above to everyone who climbs up the castle and looks down on the mainland or the sea. Corfu attractions definitely include Angelokastro as one of the most notable places for protection. Thanks to its outstanding position, from the castle you could see all the way to the Adriatic Sea and therefore nobody could surprise the settlement. From an architect’s point of view, Angelokastro is an exquisite monument that offers superb views and of course highlights the distinctive building style from the Venetians.

Venetian Fortresses

Both these fortresses have been structured at the old center of Corfu’s town, named after the Venetians who have constructed them back in the 1500-1600s. Their main purpose was to protect the island from the Turks, even though nowadays they stand tall and act as a main attraction of Corfu. If you get up on the fortresses, you will enjoy spectacular vistas to the Ionian Sea and the mainland of Greece. There is also a museum worth visiting there, along with a picturesque café for you to relax and relish Garitsa Bay and its natural beauty.

Corfu art gallery

Corfu art gallery is an exhibition of the traditional art developed in Corfu over the years. Originally launched as the place where a single collector’s property was displayed (Michail Aggelos Vradis), the place has progressed a lot. A lot of artists from Corfu have displayed their work there, making the art gallery a place where art is celebrated every single day. There has been steady and fruitful cooperation between Corfu art gallery and the Municipal art gallery on the island, art in Corfu is managed in a wonderful manner and provides exceptional options to travelers and art enthusiasts.

Municipal Gallery of Corfu

Launched in 1978, the Municipal gallery of Corfu has hosted a rich collection from local artists of the island. All the visitors may find masterpieces from the collections of Samartzis and Aglaia Papa, as well as Phillipos Makotsis and Nikolaos Ventouras. As for the actual masterpieces on display, they come from the 19^th century. This is where most notable artists flourished in Corfu, including Haralambos Pachis, Pavlos Prossalendis Jr, Angelos Giallinas, Vicentios Boccaciampis, S. Skarvelis, Lyk. Koyevinas and G. Samartxis.

Isle of Vidos

Vidos is an islet right on the harbor of Corfu town, which is one of the highlights in the region. You can visit the islet via small traditional boats and particularly during summer months. Your visit will be a memorable experience, since there is superb natural beauty all around and you can enjoy lush greenery, along with absolute serenity and abundant sunlight. There is a hiking trail for those who wish to discover the interior of the island.  If you are up for a dive, there are two secluded beaches that allow splendid moments by the sea for you and your precious company.

Ruins of the Venetian Shipyard (Gouvia)

This is a shipyard formed by Venetians during their reign on the island of Corfu, located at the picturesque region of Gouvia or previously known as Govino Bay. This is an idyllic location on the island of Corfu, attracting many visitors every single year. At the Bay of Gouvia and are located you can still admire the ruins from the arsenal, located back from the Marina. The arsenal was strategically located on this part of the island, since the Venetians used the Bay of Gouvia as their port. Upon the end of the Venetian Republic, there was no more use for the arsenal. So it was given up and only its remains remind people of its past glory.