Corfou

Corcyre or Corfou (in Greek: Κέρκυρα , Kérkyra , Greek old Κέρκυρα or Κόρκυρα , Latin: Italian Corcyra , : Corfù ) is a Greek island on the Western coast, on the level of the Albanian Frontière , in Ionian Mer. It belongs to the Nome of Corfou.

In Greek Κέρκυρα , (Kérkyra) , the island is known in the history of the ancient Greece as a Greek city under the name of Corcyre.

Origin of the name of the island

the Greek name of the island east Κέρκυρα (Kérkyra) .

This name would derive:
- According to the legend, of the Nymph Korkyra (Κόρκυρα) or Kerkyra (Κέρκυρα). (see 2. Myths )
- Of the Greek κέρκος ( kérkos , “handle”) in reference to the shape of the island.

the island was also called δρέπανον ( drépanon ) or δρεπάνι ( drepaní ), literally “the sickle”.
the name French Corfou would come from the Greek Κορυφαί ( Koryphaí , “summits”). The name was then deformed in Corfou by the European colonists.

Myths

Origin of its name

Corfou owes its name with Korkyra, a nymph girl of the river Asopos and river-nymph Métopé. Poséidon, having fallen in love with it, would have taken along it on this island. Their loves was born Phéax. This last name could also explain the origin of the name of the Phéaciens.

Tours of Ulysses

Corfou, inhabited by the Phéaciens, would have been the ultimate stage of Ulysses before his return to Ithaque. Ulysses would have failed himself on the rock which was on the small island of Pondikonissi, the point of Kanoni the south of the town of Corfou. Phéaciens, very good sailors, would have helped it and Nausicaa, girl of the king of Phéaciens, Alcinos, would have accommodated it.

Geography

Corfou (592 km ²) is the most septentrional island of the islands Ioniennes (2 307 km ²), which include/understand also Céphalonie, Cythère, Ithaque, Leucade, Paxos and Zante. This chain, which follows the screen of the continental relief, is folded and chopped gigantic faults born with the tertiary sector. From where the strange beauty of the rocks which plunge to peak in the sea and the presence of the pits of Argostoli where the floods précipitent.

Corfou is 58 km long and 27 km at the point more large.

By looking at north towards the south, it with the shape of a handle or a sickle.

One can divide the island into three areas: north with the mountains, the center with the hills, the south with the plains.

The coasts are mainly made up of rollers and sand.

the culminating point of Corfou is the Mont Pantokrator (906 m of altitude). It is located at the north of the island.

Hydrography

Corfou is an small island. It thus does not have really truths river.
Nevertheless, most important of the small rivers is Ropa. It irrigates a fertile plain in the center of the island. In this plain, vines and cereals push.
There are also three large Lagune S. first is Andinioti which is located on the northern coast. The second is that of Halikiopoulos. It is located at the south of Corfou (city) and is crossed today by the airport. Lastly, Korission is located in the south.

Fauna and Flora

Fauna

The fauna on the island of Corfou is very rich. Moreover, the British Zoologiste Gerald Durrell, which passed its childhood on the island, was extremely marked by it.

the birds :

In the cities, it is possible to observe redstarts and gold crests which find refuge in the trees.
the lagoon of Halikiopoulos shelters Aigrette S white and curly pelicans.
the lake Korission shelters also brushes as well as Ibis, Avocette S.
the Mont Pantokrator shelters many raptors of which the falcons kestrels, falcons with red legs, Egyptian vultures, Buse S, peregrine falcons, falcons of Éléonore, small dukes or of the golden eagles.
In Corfou, other small birds as the Warbler S of the olive-trees which are very widespread, the gobes-flies and the magpies-grièches and the Guêpier S can be seen.
the Goéland of Audouin is also found over the island, but the winter.

the mammals :

the Hare S, bats and the Hérisson S are very widespread on the island.
the lagoon of Halikiopoulos accommodates also Loutre S.
the animal rarest to observe is the Chacal. There remain very little about it.

the reptiles :

One finds several tortoises of which the turtles. This last species is rather rare.
Certain species of Snake S and Lézard S also live on the island. The majority of the snakes are not poisonous.

the marine mammals :

The seas around Corfou shelter a small number of seals monks. It is one of the species most threatened of Europe.

the fish :

The Sand eel is a very poisonous fish. But it is activated rather the night.

Flora

the slopes of the Mont Pantokrator are covered with a great number of varieties of flowers which several species of Orchidée S.
On the island, one finds large Oliveraie S which occupy 30% of the grounds, and the thickets of Cyprès.
the vegetable formation most important is the maquis.
In Corfou, there is many Bougainvillier S (the most popular flower).

Climate

the climate of Corfou is very pleasant and very favorable.

In summer, the temperature is of approximately 31°C. In the middle of this season, there are approximately 11 to 12 hours of sunning by jour.
In winter, especially in January and February, the climate is very cold. However, even in December, the sun is shining on average 3 hours per day.

the précipations are regular in Corfou. Some downpours are possible in summer. Corfou is also the wettest area of Greece. For this reason it is so green and fertile.

It is in July that the climate is driest although there are some downpours distributed on average on two jours.
From November to March, precipitations are enough régulières.
In October or in November, occurs one short period of storm between the end of the heat of the summer and the beginning of the cold of the winter.

As in the majority of the Mediterranean countries, blows in Corfou of the strong winds. But they are less regular and less foreseeable than elsewhere.
Table of figures weather during the twelve months in Corfou :

History

Ancient Greece

Corfou was colonized by the Corinthiens towards 734 av. J. - C.
Later, Corfiotes founded their own policy, they wanted to be released from the authority of the Corinthians. A fight started between the Corinthians and Corfiotes. These dernieurs overcame the Corinthians in 664 av. J. - C. at the time of a naval battle.
Corfou as other colonies rebelled against Corinthe and took part in the Peloponnesian War on the side of Athens in -431.

The losses of the Peloponnesian War involved the decline of the île.
The armies of Sparte invaded the island in 375 av. J. - C.. The Athenians carried help to their old allies and drove out the Spartans.

Worsen Roman

In 229 av. J. - C., Corfou belonged to the Roman Empire. The island was, during approximately six centuries, under the Roman domination.
During the beginning of this period, Holy Jason and Saint Sosipater introduced, at the 1st century ap. J. - C., the Christianity in Corfou.
In 395, Théodose Large the dies and the Roman Empire is divided into two. Corfou belongs to the oriental party in 455.

Byzantine domination

the Byzantine period was not peaceful for Corfou.
In 455 a. J. - C., the Vandales devastated the island.
In 562 a. J. - C., the Goths invaded Corfou and plundered it. Goths utilsèrent the island to attack continental Greece.
At the 11th century, the Normands wanted to seize Corfou. But Byzance and Venice supported Corfou. Together (Venetian, Corfiotes and Byzantines), they overcame in 1147 the Norman ones.
In 1204, the Byzantine Empire was overcome by the Croisés. Corfou undergoes the Venetian domination then.

Venetian domination (1386-1797)

In 1386, some notable of Corfou required the protection of the doge de Venise.
But, in 1402, Venice poured with king de Naples 30.000 Ducats of gold to recover the island.
the Venetian ones built in Corfou much fortifications. In 1550, it is the Old Citadel which was founded. About thirty year later, it is the New Fort which was set up. Thanks to all these defenses, the island never fell to the hands from the Othoman during fights of the XV {{E}} at the 18th century. At the time of the seat of 1716, it was defended by Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg.

Remark :
- The Venetian ones encouraged Corfiotes to exploit the oliviers.
more - The influence of the Vénitiens on the island is also marked by architecture (see 8.Architecture ).

French domination

British domination (1814-1864)

XXe century

the Traité of Corfou was signed the June 24th 1994. It devotes the fourth widening of the European Union.

Structure

Architecture was extremely influenced by the Venetian domination. It is in particular with Corfou (city) that is noticed.

Many tops buildings have balconies and shutters which were painted color green italien.
A good part of the churches have also a Venetian style. Those have a red tiled roof and a separate bell-tower.

Habits

Carnival : The carnival proceeds Sunday preceding the Lent. One burns the effigy representing the spirit of the carnival at the end of a procession.

Festival of Corfou : At the time of this festival, which takes place in September, ballets, plays, concerts and operas are given.

Holy Spyridon : Spyridon is a bishop of Cyprus, having lived in IVè century, and Patron saint of Corfou. It would have saved this island of the famine, the plague and a Turkish seat. The faithful ones transport its skin four times per annum in the streets of the old city. The days during which this event proceeds are: Palm Sunday, Holy Saturdays, on August 14th and first Sunday of November.

Economy

Gastronomy

Cities

Corfou (city) is the capital of the island of Corfou.

the other communes are classified according to the areas where they are located or alphabetically in
See also: Towns of Corfou

To see

the Achilleion, a villa of the empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sissi), which liked to remain in Corfou
the monasteries of Vlachernes and Pondikonissi on l'" island with the souris"
the bay and the monastery of Paleokastritsa
hiking trails around the mount Pantokrator
the beach of Glyfada
the oldest village of the island, Palaia Peritheia
the Vidos island which is located opposite the town of Corfou. There a Serb Mausolée dating from the is First World War and in which 3.000 soldiers are buried.
Ionian University

External bonds

Photographs of CORFOU
Guide of Corfou Corfou, the island of Phéaciens
Guide of Corfou

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