[94], The Tomb of Menecrates or Monument of Menecrates is an Archaic cenotaph in Corfu, built around 600 BC in the ancient city of Korkyra (or Corcyra). Coypus, fallow deer, Indian crested porcupines, Siberian chipmunks have been observed recently but they are escapees and only the coypu has viable population. On 19 July, after taking a few outlying forts, the Ottoman army reached the hills around the city of Corfu and laid siege to it. Since the early 1990s a music department has been established at the Ionian University. The new citadel or Neo Frourio (Νέο Φρούριο, "New Fortress") is a huge complex of fortifications dominating the northeastern part of the city. & M. Stille 2017: The Herpetofauna of Corfu and adjacent Islands. Down here you will see the dates of the most important summer festivals. Corfu repulsed several Ottoman sieges, before passing under British rule following the Napoleonic Wars. [97] According to an Ancient Greek inscription found on the grave, the tomb was a monument built by the ancient Korkyreans in honour of their proxenos (ambassador) Menecrates, son of Tlasios, from Oeiantheia. Thus, on 21 May, by proclamation of the Lord High Commissioner, the Ionian Islands were united with Greece. Avifauna is extensive, with around 300 bird species recorded since the 19th century. At a date no doubt previous to the foundation of Syracuse, Corfu was peopled by settlers from Corinth, probably 730 BC, but it appears to have previously received a stream of emigrants from Eretria. [6] Ruins of ancient Greek temples and other archaeological sites of the ancient city of Korkyra are found in Palaiopolis. Corfu's Philharmonic Societies provide free instruction in music, and continue to attract young recruits. Source: Argyrades.gr. City buses run through the city to the Airport, Achilleion, Gouvia, Afra, Pelekas and some other places of interest. Since 2005, Greece has experienced a population decline, dropping from 11.23 million people to 10.42 million in 15 years. It is considered to be the only Greek temple of Doric architecture that does not have a frieze. It was then perhaps that the settlement of Cassiope was founded to serve as a base for the King of Epirus' expeditions. [127] This victory over the Ottomans, therefore, was attributed not only to the leadership of Count Schulenburg who commanded the stubborn defence of the island against Ottoman forces, but also to the miraculous intervention of St. Spyridon. Rewriting history, locals now refer to the old Royal Gardens as the "Garden of the People" (Ο Κήπος του Λαού). [16] In earlier times there was a great export of citron, which was cultivated here, including for ritual use in the Jewish community during the Sukkot holiday. [39] Corfu enjoyed relative peace and safety during the Macedonian dynasty (867–1054), which allowed the construction of a monumental church to Saints Iason and Sosipatrus outside the city wall of Palaiopolis. Corfu's coastline spans 217 kilometres (135 mi) including capes; its highest point is Mount Pantokrator (911 metres (2,989 ft)); and the second Stravoskiadi, at 849 m (2,785 ft). The repulse of the Ottomans was widely celebrated in Europe, Corfu being seen as a bastion of Western civilization against the Ottoman tide. During the British occupation, in 1814, the leprosarium was once again opened after renovations, and following Enosis in 1864 the leprosarium again saw occasional use. Solomos Museum and the Corfiot Studies Society. Ancient Korkyra took part in the Battle of Sybota which was a catalyst for the Peloponnesian War, and, according to Thucydides, the largest naval battle between Greek city states until that time. [82] Hera's Temple was built at the top of Analipsis Hill, and, because of its prominent location, it was highly visible to ships passing close to the waterfront of ancient Korkyra. [82] It is approximately 700 m. to the southeast of the Temple of Artemis in Corfu. During invasions it helped shelter the local peasant population. In the third invasion in 1185, the island was again captured by William II of Sicily, but was soon regained by Isaac II Angelos. of the Ionian Islands,[2] and, including its small satellite islands, forms the margin of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island was nearly lost to Athens by two attempts of the oligarchic faction to effect a revolution; on each occasion the popular party ultimately won the day and took a most bloody revenge on its opponents (427 BC and 425 BC). In 1956 Maria Desylla Kapodistria, relative of first Governor (head of state) of Greece Ioannis Kapodistrias, was elected mayor of Corfu and became the first female mayor in Greece. Their relics were housed in the old cathedral (at the site of the current Old Fortress, before a dedicated church was built for them c. 100 AD. The centrepiece of the gardens is a marble statue on a high pedestal, of the mortally wounded Achilles (Greek: Αχιλλεύς Θνήσκων, Achilleús Thnēskōn, Achilles Dying) without hubris and wearing only a simple cloth and an ancient Greek hoplite helmet. The Park of Mon Repos is built on part of the Palaiopolis of Kerkyra, where excavations were conducted by the Greek Archaeological Service in collaboration with academics and universities internationally. The bands, however, defiantly played it on the Eve of Easter, as a token of the resurrection of the nation, and the tradition is honoured to this day. Apollonius of Rhodes depicts the island in Argonautica as a place visited by the Argonauts. During this period the Greek language became official. The considerable increase in tourist traffic in 2018 led to a steep rise in revenue driven by increasing transport, shopping and domestic tourism, with overall revenue set to exceed 21 billion euros, said Greek Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura via her Twitter account, adding that tourism also drove investment activity, which will continue its upward trend in 2019. of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the margin of the northwestern frontier of Greece. According to a scholiast, commenting on the passage in Argonautica, the island was first of all called Macris after the nurse of Dionysus who fled there from Euboea. On 8 July the Ottoman fleet, carrying 33,000 men, sailed to Corfu from Buthrotum and established a beachhead at Ipsos. These five sites located around the city of Corfu used to be the aristocracy’s favourites: The airport offers domestic flights from Olympic Airlines (OA 600, 602 and 606), and Aegean Airlines (A3 402, 404 and 406). The island served also as a refuge for Greek scholars, and in 1732, it became the home of the first academy of modern Greece. The bridge's central section was demolished by the Wehrmacht in 1944, during the German occupation of World War II, to allow for the passage of an enormous cannon, forming part of the Nazi defences in the southeastern coast of Corfu.[76][77]. Angelokastro is one of the most important fortified complexes of Corfu. Around 40 species of mammals live on the island and in the sea around it. A café on the grounds includes its own art gallery, with exhibitions of both local and international artists, known locally as the Art Café. Currently, 84.3 % of the population of Greece is urban (8,831,631 people in 2019) Population Density The 2019 population density in Greece is 81 people per Km 2 (210 people per mi 2 ), calculated on a total land area of 128,900 Km2 (49,769 sq. Note: not all prefectures were subdivided into provinces. [60][61] Approximately two hundred out of a total population of 1,900 escaped. Angelokastro, located at the western frontier of the Empire, was instrumental in repulsing the Ottomans during the first great siege of Corfu in 1537, in the siege of 1571 and the second great siege of Corfu in 1716 causing the Ottomans to fail at penetrating the defences of Corfu in the North. [12] The island is a tourist destination.[13][14]. [35] In 551, during the Gothic War, the Ostrogoths raided the island and destroyed the city of Corfu, then known as Chersoupolis (Χερσούπολις, "city on the promontory") because of its location between Garitsa Bay and Kanoni. Also many Italian Jews took refuge in Corfu during the Venetian centuries and spoke their own language (Italkian), a mixture of Hebrew-Italian in a Venetian or Apulian dialect with some Greek words. [95][96] The tomb and the funerary sculpture of a lion were discovered in 1843 during demolition works by the British army who were demolishing a Venetian fortress in the location of Garitsa hill in Corfu. Despite the destruction wrought on the countryside, the city castle held out in spite of repeated attempts over twelve days to take it, and the Turks left the island unsuccessfully because of poor logistics and an epidemic that decimated their ranks. With the island's area estimated at 592.9 square kilometres (146,500 acres),[17] it runs approximately 64 km (40 mi) long, with greatest breadth at around 32 km (20 mi). The population of Corfu is approximately 24838 The Area of Corfu is roughly 41.90 km² (16.18 mi²) The Corfu is an city in the Region of the Country Greece Popular places Melbourne This is a decrease of -0.40 % (-43,531 people) compared to population … From the twin peaks of the new site, the medieval city received its new name, Korypho (Κορυφώ, "city on the peak") or Korphoi (Κορφοί, "peaks"), whence the modern Western name of "Corfu". [8] The fortifications of the island were used by the Venetians to defend against Ottoman intrusion into the Adriatic. For other uses, see. [148] Package holiday resorts exist on the north, east and southwest coasts. In Greece, cricket is unique to Corfu, as it was once a British protectorate. Eurasian otters still survive in the lagoons and streams of Corfu. The second great siege of Corfu took place in 1716, during the last Ottoman–Venetian War (1714–18). He gazes skyward, as if to seek help from Olympus. [89] Very few Greek temple reliefs from the Archaic period have survived, and the large fragments of the group from the pediment are the earliest significant survivals. The Achilleion was eventually acquired by the Greek state and has now been converted into a museum. The town festivals and the holy days are numerous in Corfu island. In 1923, after a diplomatic dispute between Italy and Greece, Italian forces bombarded and occupied Corfu. The Ottomans tried to take the city castle and raided the surrounding area, but were repulsed. Venetian in origin, festivities include a parade featuring the main attraction of Karnavalos, a rather grotesque figure with a large head and smiling face, leading a diverse procession of colourful floats. [59], Following the Nazi invasion, the Italians capitulated, and the island came under German occupation. The buses to the main places on the island run about six times a day between the city and Glyfada, Sidari, Paleokastritsa, Roda and Acharavi, Lefkimmi, Lefkimmi and Piri. The defiant Corfiotes held the litany the following morning, and paraded the relics of St. Spyridon too, so that the administrators would not dare intervene. Corfu's mayor at the time, Kollas, was a known collaborator and various anti-semitic laws were passed by the Nazis that now formed the occupation government of the island. [42] At his death in 1267 it passed with his other possessions to the house of Anjou. The central high point of the citadel rises like a giant natural obelisk complete with a military observation post at the top, with a giant cross at its apex; at the foot of the observatory lies St. George's church, in a classical style punctuated by six Doric columns,[101] as opposed to the Byzantine architectural style of the greater part of Greek Orthodox churches. Corfu (/ k ɔːr ˈ f (j) uː /, US also / ˈ k ɔːr f (j) uː /) or Kerkyra (Greek: Κέρκυρα, romanized: Kérkyra, pronounced ()) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. Food and drink Secrets of Corfu: the hidden depths of Greece’s holiday isle. [91] If still in use by the 4th-century, the temple would have been closed during the persecution of pagans in the late Roman Empire, when the Christian Emperors issued edicts prohibiting non-Christian worship. Still, this growth doesn't seem to be making ordinary Greeks happy about the economy. Kaiser Wilhelm II, while vacationing at his summer palace of Achilleion in Corfu and while Europe was preparing for war, was involved in excavations at the site of the ancient temple. Species vary in size from the greater flamingo to the goldcrest. This is the biggest square in South-Eastern Europe and one of the largest in Europe,[78][79] and replete with green spaces and interesting structures, such as a Roman-style rotunda from the era of British administration, known as the Maitland monument, built to commemorate Sir Thomas Maitland. Its association with the worship of Apollo or Poseidon has not been established. Corfu's urban architecture differs from that of other major Greek cities, because of Corfu's unique history. In total more than 1800 plant species have been recorded.[20]. On Holy Saturday morning, the three city bands again take part in the Epitaph processions of St. Spyridon Cathedral in procession with the Saint's relics. The Diapontia Islands are accessible by boat with regular services from Corfu port and Agios Stefanos Avliotes and by ferry from Corfu city port. [43][44] From 1386, Corfu was controlled by the Republic of Venice, which in 1401 acquired formal sovereignty and retained it until the French Occupation of 1797. The city of Corfu stands on the broad part of a peninsula, whose termination in the Venetian citadel (Greek: Παλαιό Φρούριο) is cut off from it by an artificial fosse formed in a natural gully, with a seawater moat at the bottom,[16] that now serves as a marina and is called the Contrafossa. DOI: 10.1504/IJTA.2019.098099. The huge walls of the fortress loom over the landscape as one travels from Neo Limani (Νέο Λιμάνι, "New Port") to the city, taking the road that passes through the fishmarket (ψαραγορά). Corfu (/kɔːrˈf(j)uː/, US also /ˈkɔːrf(j)uː/) or Kerkyra (Greek: Κέρκυρα, romanized: Kérkyra, pronounced [ˈcercira] (listen))[a] is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. [88] It is also considered the first building to have incorporated all of the elements of the Doric architectural style. [37] This naval theme provided a defensive bulwark for Byzantium against western threats, but also played a major role in securing the sealanes to the Byzantine possessions in southern Italy. In 229 BC, following the naval battle of Paxos, it was captured by the Illyrians, but was speedily delivered by a Roman fleet and remained a Roman naval station until at least 189 BC. Lizard species include typical lizards and geckos like the starred agama, the Mediterranean house gecko, the moorish gecko, the Dalmatian algyroides, the common wall lizard, the Balkan wall lizard, the Balkan green lizard, the European green lizard and the snake-eyed skink as also the legless Greek slow worm and the European glass lizard. German Kaiser Wilhelm II was also fond of taking holidays in Corfu. Apollonius named the island Drepane, Greek for "sickle", since it was thought to hide the sickle that Cronus used to castrate his father Uranus, from whose blood the Phaeacians were descended. Despite repeated assaults and heavy fighting, the Ottomans were unable to breach the defences and were forced to raise the siege after 22 days. The most recent projections show a continuation of this decline, resulting in a population of 9.03 million by 2050 and 6.61 million by 2099. Where the Venetians, the French and the British used to live. The internationally renowned Venetian-born British photographer Felice Beato (1832–1909) is thought to have spent much of his childhood in Corfu. The previous site of the city, now known as Palaiopolis (Παλαιόπολις, "old city"), continued to be inhabited for several centuries, however. Venice honoured von der Schulenburg and the Corfiots for successfully defending the island. Corfu attracts tourists with its amazing beaches and attractions like the old town (UNESCO world cultural heritage listed). Corfu city is home to the three most prestigious bands – in order of seniority: All three maintain two major bands each, the main marching bands that can field up to 200 musicians on grand occasions, and the 60-strong student bandinas meant for lighter fare and on-the-job training. Cape Drastis at the northwest tip of Corfu island, Chalikiopoulou Lagoon (or Lake Chalikiopoulou), south of Corfu town, Historic building in Evgeniou Voulgareos street, View of St. George's Temple at the Old Fortress, Workers on Corfu. The island remained in the Epirotic alliance until 255 BC when it became independent after the death of Alexander, last King of Epirus. The League of Nations settled this Corfu incident. The Order of St. Michael and St. George was founded here in 1818 with motto auspicium melioris aevi,[80][81] and is still awarded by the United Kingdom. Demographics of Greece 2019. 2019 Corfu. During Venetian rule in the early 16th century, a monastery was built on the islet and a leprosarium established later in the century, after which the island was named. The worst losses were the historic buildings of the Ionian Academy (Ιόνιος Ακαδημία), the Municipal Theatre (which in 1901 had replaced the Nobile Teatro di San Giacomo di Corfù), the Municipal Library, and the Ionian Parliament. Corfu Population: 847 Total Males: 412 Total Females: 435 Median Household Income: $53,454 Total Households: 351 Angelokastro formed a defensive triangle with the castles of Gardiki and Kassiopi, which covered Corfu's defences to the south, northwest and northeast. The palace, with the neoclassical Greek statues that surround it, is a monument to platonic romanticism as well as escapism. The partnership with the with community in both Corfu and Thessaloniki ... Trip Goals Improve access to dental care for the special needs population in Corfu by connecting dentists in the community to schools and centers that primarily Ruiz-Olmo, J. The castle is a tourist attraction today. [54][125][126] The legend also states that the Saint caused a tempest which was partly responsible for repulsing the Ottomans. 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. 213 1352301, 213 1352021, email: data.dissem@statistics.gr). [88] The temple has been described as a milestone of Ancient Greek architecture and one of 150 masterpieces of Western architecture. Based on the latest 2020 data from the US census, the current population of Corfu is 701. c. 400 BCE. [16], This opposition came to a head in the early part of the 7th century BC, when their fleets fought the first naval battle recorded in Greek history: 665 BC according to Thucydides. It was an acropolis which surveyed the region all the way to the southern Adriatic and presented a formidable strategic vantage point to the occupant of the castle. These events take place amidst the ancient fortifications, with the Ionian sea in the background. On 29 March 1864, the United Kingdom, Greece, France and Russia signed the Treaty of London, pledging the transfer of sovereignty to Greece upon ratification. [16] The period of British rule is sometimes considered a prosperous period for Corfu when we consider new roads, an improved water supply system, and the building of the first Greek university to be a sign of prosperity. Most of their remains were buried at sea near the island of Vido, a small island at the mouth of Corfu port, and a monument of thanks to the Greek nation has been erected at Vido by the grateful Serbs; consequently, the waters around Vido Island are known by the Serbian people as the Blue Tomb (in Serbian, Плава Гробница, Plava Grobnica), after a poem written by Milutin Bojić following World War I.[58]. Selon la légende, une noble dame de l'île aurait inventé le Jeu de la Raquette, ancêtre du tennis, qui est représenté par Gabriele Bella avant 1792 dans un tableau conservé à la Pinacothèque Querini-Stampalia. The island is bound up with the history of Greece from the beginnings of Greek mythology. Gardiki Castle (Greek: Κάστρο Γαρδικίου) is a 13th-century Byzantine castle on the southwestern coast of Corfu and the only surviving medieval fortress on the southern part of the island. [123][124] The legend says that the sight of St. Spyridon approaching Ottoman forces bearing a flaming torch in one hand and a cross in the other caused panic. Explore Corfu holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. [7] From medieval times and into the 17th century, the island, having successfully repulsed the Ottomans during several sieges, was recognised as a bulwark of the European States against the Ottoman Empire and became one of the most fortified places in Europe. It was then called the Palace of Saints Michael and George. [59], Upon the fall of Italian fascism in 1943, the Nazis moved to take control of the island. [135] This is enacted in anticipation of the Resurrection of Jesus, which is to be celebrated that same night,[135] and to commemorate King David's phrase: "Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel" (Psalm 2:9). The whole island, composed as it is of various limestone formations, presents great diversity of surface. It began on 29 August 1537, with 25,000 soldiers from the Ottoman fleet landing and pillaging the island and taking 20,000 hostages as slaves. Corfu's nickname is the island of the Phaeacians. From 1386 to 1797, Corfu was ruled by Venetian nobility; much of the city reflects this era when the island belonged to the Republic of Venice, with multi-storied buildings on narrow lanes. Population: 102,071 inhabitants Area: 170 sq-km (430 sq miles) In 2006 the Province of Corfu was abolished and, in 2011, the former 15 municipalities where merged into one local government with the capital in Corfu City. It is located at the top of the highest peak of the island's shoreline in the northwest coast near Palaiokastritsa and built on particularly precipitous and rocky terrain. Liston's main thoroughfare is often the site of parades and other mass gatherings. 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