Corfu Greece - town photos |
photos and tip for visiting Corfu Greece |
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Kerkyra, or "Corfu town", looks very different from most Greek towns because of Corfu's unique history. From 1386 to 1797, Corfu was ruled by Venetian nobility; much of the town reflects this era, with multi-storied buildings on narrow lanes.
| In 1797, the French landed, occupied the town's fortress, and declared democracy, to the delight of local inhabitants-- but soon set up an upper-class government disliked by ordinary Corfiots. |
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No matter, for the French reign was brief; it did, however, leave a lasting legacy in the form of the elegant Liston arcade, above.
In 1798, Russian ships arrived in the Ionian Sea, and inspired Corfiots to rebel against the French and the nobility. After a brief civil war, the French surrendered; a Russian-Turk duo were briefly in charge and then, in 1799, an independent Greek republic of the Ionian Islands was established-- with Corfu as capital. But more relations between nations followed, and local rebellions too... By 1814 Corfu was occupied again, this time by the British: an era that would last until 1864, and leave Corfu with a large grassy cricket field.
Interestingly, Corfu was not occupied by the Turks, as much of Greece was, for a hundred years.
From 1864 onwards, Corfu has been part of Greece: but its architecture remains much more Italian than anywhere else in Greece.
more pictures of Corfu town: 1 2 3 4 5 6
Photo copyright by Teresa Plowright.
