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Time Zone
GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
Currency
Euro (€) = 100 cents.
Language
Greek.Sightseeing
Corfu has two small harbours with large Venetian fortresses. With Italian, French and English influences evident in its architecture, Corfu is a typical Ionian island town. It is made up of wide avenues and large squares, among them the graceful Spianada or esplanade, cobbled alleyways, arches and colonnades. Recommended sights are the Archaeological Museum, which houses finds from local excavations; the Museum of Asiatic Art; the Town Hall, a splendid example of Venetian architecture (built in 1663); the 12th-century Byzantine Church of St Jason and Sosipater and the Church of St Spyridon. Good roads lead out of Corfu town to excellent harbours suitable for swimming and fishing, such as Roda, Kassiopi and Douloura, and to traditional inland villages such as Ano Korakiana, Ano Garouna, Doukades, Agii Douli and Pelekas where, from the top of its rocky hill, the sunset can be superb. In the region of Pelekas lies Ropa Valley (Livaditou Ropa), with its excellent Corfu Golf Club. On the western side of the island the roads thread their way through olive and orange groves, pine trees and cypresses. Resorts on Corfu include Kanoni, where a narrow causeway leads to the Monastery of Vlaherni; Perama; Benitses; Moraitika; Messongi; Dassia; Gouvia; Gastouri and the museum palace The Achilleion, partly converted into a casino; Ipsos and Paleokastritsa.
Shopping
Special purchases include lace, jewellery, metalwork, pottery, garments and knitwear, furs, rugs, leather goods, local wines and spirits.
Eating Out
Dolmades (stuffed vine leaves), moussaka, kebabs, avgolemono (chicken broth with rice, eggs, salt and lemon juice), taramosalata, squid (kalamari), and octopus. Meze (appetisers) include keftedes (hot spicy meatballs) and tzatziki (a dip made from yoghurt, olive oil, garlic, shredded cucumber and dill). Desserts, such as baklavas (filo pastry filled with almonds and topped with honey, vanilla and sugar) or loukoumades (honey-drenched pastry puffs) are sweet and filling. One of the best-known Greek drinks is retsina wine, made with pine-needle resin. Local spirits include ouzo, an aniseed-based clear spirit to which water is added.
Location
Europe and Greece
Region
Greece
