THE ISLAND OF CORFU

Described as the Emerald Isle, the Garden of Eden, the Happy Isle and even – by Homer – as a rich and beautiful land, this island has large modern resorts, tucked away fishing villages, myriad beaches ranging from loose pebbles to gorgeous sandy sweeps and hidden inlets along its coastline. It also features wide fertile plains, towering mountains giving commanding views of the island and beyond (from Mount Pantokrator you can glimpse Italy!) and a huge diversity of wildlife.

You can expect to come face-to-face with over 600 species of wild flowers…and a surprising number of exotic birds – including pelicans and hoopoes, golden orioles and bee eaters. As well as creatures like foxes and pine martens and even the island's famous wild tortoises!

Corfu - having been prized by many nations, including the Corinthians, the Romans, the Venetians, the Byzantines, the French and the British - has had a rollercoaster of a history, as evidenced by its village architecture, fortresses, museums, temples and churches.
Added together, it means that Corfu is always much more than the sum of its parts. Hire a 4-Wheeler Quad and explore to make the most of your stay at the Pink Palace.

SOME OTHER CORFU TRIVIA

Corfu inspired the famous book - My Family and Other Animals. It is an autobiographical work by naturalist Gerald Durrell, telling of his childhood spent on Corfu between 1935 and 1939. It describes the life of the Durrell Family on the island in a humorous manner, and also richly discusses the fauna of the island.

The James Bond film "For Your Eyes Only" had many memorable scenes filmed in Corfu. In particular The Achillion Palace and the Old Fortress featured, as well as many other scenic locations across the whole island.

Prince Philip the husband of Queen Elizabeth (Queen of England) was born on the 10th June 1921 at Villa Mon Repos on Corfu.

The Achillion Palace was built between the years 1890 and 1892 by the Empress Elizabeth of Austria (known as Sissy) after one of her visits to Corfu. The large building, in neoclassical style, has three floors adorned with many statues and paintings. The vast gardens surrounding the building, with a wonderful view of a large part of the island, run down to the coast road. They are decorated with many statues, the most famous of which are the two bronze runners, the dying Achilles (the mythological Greek hero) and the statue of Achilles Triumphant. After the assassination of Empress Elizabeth in 1898 in Geneva, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany purchased the palace in 1907 and used it as a place for relaxation. All of the rooms contain personal items of the former owners and their original furniture.