Corfu Geography

Corfu is one of the Ionian Islands which nestle off the West side of the Greek mainland. The island is 36 miles long and at its widest part (the North) 15 miles wide. Covered with over 3 million evergreen olive trees, watered by winter rains, Corfu, even during the hot dry summers remains one of the greenest of the Mediterranean islands. At the center is 'Mount Pantocrator' with a height of 998 meters. The NE coast is made up of sheltered rocky coves and shingle beaches offering secluded bays and traditional fishing villages. The North and South offer long sweeping sandy bays and the expected commercialism. The craggy west coast, with the high cliffs and horse-shoe sandy beaches and spectacular sunsets.

Corfu History

Through ancient history it was under the of the city-states of Athens & Corinth and later it was ruled by the Goths, Lombards, Saracens & Normans and was fought over from the kings of Sicily and the Italian city-states of Genoa & Venice.

The island's history is full of battles and conquests, indicative of Corfu's turbulent position in a historical vortex that lasted until modern times, when after the unification with modern Greece in 1864 the history of the island became one with the mainland's, with no more foreign intervention. The legacy of these struggles remains in the form of castles that exist in strategic locations all over the island. Two of these castles enclose the city.

Coast Lines

The coastline is about 217 km including capes. The highest point is Mount Pantokrator, the second is Stravoskiadi (849 m). Capes and promentories include Agia Aikaterini, and Drastis to the north, Lefkimmi and Asprokavos to the southeast and Megachoro to the south. There is an island in the middle of Gouvia Bay which extends across much of the eastern shore of the island; it is called Ptychia. Camping grounds can be found in Palaiokastritsa, Agrillos, two in the northern part, Pyrgi, Gouvia and Messonghi.