Corfu History IntroductionCorfu has been described as one of nature’s work of art. With its rich vegetation, historical monuments, unspoiled beaches, surrounded by the crystal waters of the Ionian and the Adriatic Sea, it offers its visitors the chance to enjoy memorable holidays. Corfu Town, situated in the center of the island combines the past with the present. The tour of the town of Corfu starts off the famous Esplanade, the large space between the Old and New Fortress. The buildings surrounding Esplanade, with their various origins take the visitor back to the past when the Venetians, the French and the British occupied the island. Walking through the narrow streets, “cadounia” according the dialect of Corfu, you will discover the friendliness and the hospitality of the Corfiots. You can have a ginger beer in one of the famous cafes of Liston square and continue your walk by visiting some of the museums, old palaces, little churches or buy local products from the small shops. Corfu is the most northwest and also the 7th largest island of Greece and the 2nd largest, after Kefalonia, in the Seven Ionian Islands. It has an area of 592 sq.km and a coastline of 217 km. The small islands of Paxos, Antipaxos (in the south), Mathraki, Othoni, Ericousa (in the north) are included in the prefecture of Corfu. Corfu combines mountain, hills, little valleys, rivers (Tiflopotamos in Sgourades-Zigos, Megapotamos in Kastelanoi Messis-Synarades, Potami in Lefkimi) lakes (Corission, Antinioti and Chalikiopoulou), sandy and pebble beaches with great vegetation covering the majority of the island. Corfu is the island for every kind of visitor offering all the alternative options for a holiday: quiet villages with idyllic beaches or even beautiful resorts with exquisite nightlife. The climate is composed of mild winters and sprinkling summers. The local products are the olive oil, olives, ouzo, mandolato, mandoles, a variety of cooked pork meats as noumboulo, smoked and dry salami, sausages, and the exotic trademark of the island, Koum Kouat, the miniature oranges. The tree was imported from China many years ago and since then is thriving only in Corfu. You can find the fruit in many variations, as liqueur, marmalade, fruit made in syrup and dry fruit. The local industry is based on the production of olive oil and especially in tourism. The symbol of Corfu is the ancient trireme, without a rudder, as the island had a large maritime power from the ancient times and the seamen were famous for their skills. Another well-known symbol of Corfu is also the Mouse Island (Pontikonissi), which is a small island in the shape of a mouse. | 
