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Corfu (Greek: Κέρκυρα, Kérkyra, Ancient Greek: Κέρκυρα or
Κόρκυρα; Latin: Corcyra; Italian: Corfù) is a Greek island in
the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian
Islands.[1] Its northern part lies off the coast of Sarandë,
Albania, from which it is separated by straits varying in
breadth from 3 to 23 km (2 to 15 mi), including one near ancient
Butrint, while its southern part lies off the coast of
Thesprotia, Greece. The island is part of the Corfu Prefecture
and includes twelve of the sixteen municipalities or communes in
the prefecture and communities of Ereikoussa, Mathraki, Othonoi,
and Municipality of Paxoi, which are all separate islands.
The principal town (pop. 28,185) of the island is also named
Corfu, or Kérkyra in Greek, as is its municipality (pop.
39,487). Corfu is home to the Ionian University. |
The island is connected to the history of Greece from the
beginning of Greek mythology. Its Greek name, Kerkyra or Korkyra,
is related to two powerful water symbols: Poseidon, god of the
sea, and Asopos, an important Greek mainland river.[2] According
to myth, Poseidon fell in love with the beautiful nymph Korkyra,
daughter of Asopus and river nymph Metope, and abducted her, as
was the custom among gods of the era's myths. Zeus was a serial
offender.[2] Poseidon brought Metope to the hitherto unnamed
island and, in marital bliss, offered her name to the place:
Korkyra,[2] which gradually evolved to Kerkyra (Doric).[3]
Together, they had a child they called Phaiax, after whom the
inhabitants of the island were named: Phaiakes. This term was
transliterated via Latin to Phaeacians. The island's history is
laden with battles and conquests, indicative of Corfu's
turbulent position in a historical vortex lasting until the
modern period.
Unification with modern Greece from 1864 made the island's
history one with that of the mainland, with no further foreign
intervention. The legacy of these struggles is visible in the
form of castles punctuating strategic locations across the
island. Two of these castles enclose its capital, which is the
only city in Greece to be surrounded in such a way. As a result,
Corfu's capital has been officially declared a Kastropolis
(Castle city) by the Greek Government.[3]
In 2007, the city's old town was designated for the UNESCO World
Heritage List, following a recommendation by ICOMOS.[4][5][6]
(Source Wikipedia). |
The
name Corfu is an Italian corruption of the Byzantine
Κορυφώ (Koryphō), meaning "city of the peaks", which is
derived from the Greek Κορυφαί (Koryphai) (crests or
peaks), denoting the two peaks of Palaio Frourio.[3] In
shape it is like the sickle (drepanē, δρεπάνι), to which
it was compared by the ancients: the concave side, with
the town and harbour of Corfu in the centre, lies toward
the Albanian coast. With the island's area estimated at
227 square miles (588 km2), it runs approximately 40
miles (64 km) long, with greatest breadth at around 20
miles (32 km).
Two high and well-defined ranges divide the island into
three districts, of which the northern is mountainous,
the central undulating, and the southern low-lying. The
more important of the two ranges is that of Pantokrator
(Παντοκράτωρ), the ancient Istone, which stretches east
and west from Cape Falacro to Cape Psaromita, and
attains its greatest elevation in the summit from which
it takes its name.
Bay of St. George in northwestern Corfu
The second culminates in the mountain of Santi Jeca, or
Santa Decca, as it is called by misinterpretation of the
Greek designation Άγιοι Δέκα (Hagioi Deka), or the Ten
Saints. The whole island, composed as it is of various
limestone formations, presents great diversity of
surface, and views from more elevated spots are
magnificent. Beaches are found in Agios Gordis, the
Korission lagoon, Agios Georgios, Marathia, Kassiopi,
Sidari, Palaiokastritsa and many others. Corfu is
located near the Kefalonia geological fault formation;
earthquakes have occurred. Corfu town and countryside
have not lost the traditional architecture from the 16th
century. |
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Corfu's coastline spans 217 kilometres (135 mi) including capes;
its highest point is Mount Pantokrator (906 metres (2,972 ft));
and the second Stravoskiadi, at 849 metres (2,785 ft). The full
extent of capes and promentories take in Agia Aikaterini,
Drastis to the north, Lefkimmi and Asprokavos to the southeast,
and Megachoro to the south. Two islands are also to be found at
a middle point of Gouvia and Corfu Bay, which extends across
much of the eastern shore of the island; are known as Lazareto
and Ptychia (or Vido). Camping areas can be found in
Palaiokastritsa, Agrillia, with four in the northern part, Pyrgi,
Roda, Gouvia and Messonghi. |
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