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Green. It’s not a color you see often in Greece, known for its shimmering blue seas and white rocky islands. But the northernmost of the Ionian isles, Corfu, defies convention. Sitting in the shadow of the snow-capped mountains of Albania and the rugged peaks of Eprius, Kerkyra commands a strategic crossroads—where the Ionian and Adriatic Seas meet. Shaped by successive waves of foreign invasion, Corfu retains a cosmopolitan European feel. Teams play cricket on the Esplanade; young couples twine hands over a cup of latte along the distinctly French Liston. Two centuries-old Venetian forts flank Corfu Town, the island’s metropolitan hub; the ruins of 9th century Norman castles sprout from high points along the island’s shoreline.
Yet walk away from the neon and cellular phones, the slick bistros and umbrelled cafes, and you’ll quickly know you’re in Greece. Ruins of the Temple of Artemis peep out from the weeds along a winding city road; an old woman leads a stick-laden donkey down a dusty back road. Joyful music spills from bayside tavernas, and old men punctuate their conversations with pipe-waving outside the Kafeneio.
I'm Sandra Friend, a travel writer based in Florida. Corfu, a crossroad of cultures was where my two sisters called home and where I fell in love with Greece. Drawings on the articles I've written about my travels there, with updated information and commentary from my sister Sally White, Inside Corfu is your sneak peek inside the REAL Corfu, not the package holiday that Europeans have come to expect from this sparking Greek Island. Explore, and enjoy!
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