Corfu town is one of the prettiest towns in the Mediterranean. A mixture of Italian, French and British influences combine to make the town unique in Greece, almost a half-way-house between the East and the West.
The old town, which runs between two ancient fortresses, along the sea coast and inland in a maze of cobbled streets and steep steps, has been granted UNESCO World Heritage status, and is full of delights for the visitor and resident alike. There are myriad churches, squares and alleyways to explore, the famous esplanade - Liston - modeled on the Rue de Rivoli - is famous for its coffee shops and restaurants where you can sit and watch the world go by. In the summer the wide pavements and adjoining park are thronged with visitors, and in winter the locals congregate here to exchange news and views and gossip while their children play. In the evenings as the dusk falls and the house martins whirl and swirl amongst the rooftops, groups of teenagers gather to pass the time on their way to and from extra lessons or music practice. Totally Mediterranean in this respect, Corfiots live their lives outside and the climate encourages the visitor to join in and pretend to be Greek.
There are many top quality restaurants serving a wide variety of local specialities and dishes from other countries as well as smaller local tavernas, intimate bars, coffee and cake shops. The town is the centre of island life not only because of its many shops, but because it is here that you will find doctors, banks, accountants and all the essentials for daily living. Ferry boats to and from the mainland ply the narrow straits - it takes just 1.5 hours to reach the Greek port of Igoumenitsa which then connects with various mainland locations via wide and largely empty motorways. Cruise ships regularly dock and unload their passengers to explore the island, and the airport is located on the edge of the town.
