Greece Part Two: Corfu Town

The island of Corfu is, along with a few tiny satellite islands, both the northernmost and westernmost part of Greece. Somewhat confusingly, its largest settlement is also named Corfu (sometimes termed Corfu Town in order to make the distinction) and lies on the island’s eastern shore, facing the mainland. We spent two nights here, as it was the best jumping off point for the other sights we wanted to see on the island, but it was also a destination in itself.

Corfu was under Venetian rule for almost four centuries, and the influences of the Most Serene Republic are still visible to this day, particularly in architecture. This was one of the reasons I wanted to spend at least a few hours wandering around and shooting its old historic quarter. At the time, though, I honestly found myself underwhelmed. Maybe it was that the touristy areas were very touristy, or maybe it was just my being very tired, but I remember thinking that I wasn’t going to get any photos worth sharing. But sometimes you come home, upload your shots and find that you were quick to judge. nonetheless, I still wouldn’t go out of my way to return. Corfu town is pretty in spots, and has some excellent seafood (try the bourdeto!), but doesn’t have the charm that I’ve felt in other similarly old cities. That said, here’s some decent shots that made the cut.

First, here’s a shot of the town from a hill across the bay on the northern part of the island. The airport is clearly visible and the silhouette of the old fortress can be seen on the left.

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Below: one of the more conspicuous remnants of Venetian rule, this well was inscribed in both Italian and Greek.

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Lastly, probably my favorite shot from the city. Just a simple photo of the side of this building but the late afternoon light brought out some nice shadows and deepened all the colors.

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There will be more Corfu to come, but it will be of the ghost town variety. Thank you for taking the time to stop by. I will have more from Greece soon!