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THE HISTORY OF CORFU ISLAND GREECE
Corfu (ancient:
Korkyra, Corcyra) is identified as the Homeric Scheria,
the land of the Phaeacians and their king Alkinoos. The oldest
traces of human settlement on the island point to the presence
of farming peoples who may have come from Italy.
Corfu was colonized by Corinth in 734 BCE, but developed
into a powerful State, which threatened the mother city.
A naval victory by the Corinthians over the Corcyraeans
in the Sybota Islands (probably round the mouth of the River Kalamas,
which is now silted up) was a major factor in the outbreak of
the Peloponnesian War. |
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In 229
BCE the island was captured by Rome, and when the Empire was finally
split in two in 395 became part of the Byzantine Empire.
The medieval name of the island, now the accepted English name,
is believed to be derived from the Greek Koryphi (Peaks). From
1386 to 1797 Corfu was held by Venice, thereafter it was briefly
part of the Napoleonic empire; and in 1815, together with the
rest of the Ionian islands, it was assigned to Britain. It was
reunited with Greece in 1864.
In the course of its eventful history the island was frequently
devastated and plundered, so that it has preserved few relics
of ancient or medieval times |
The island's
capital, Corfu town (Kerkira), is beautifully situated on a promontory
on the east coast, dominated by the Neo Frourio (New Fortress).
The ancient city is farther south. Corfu is the seat of both a
Greek Orthodox and a Roman Catholic archbishop.
From the harbour you can go either east on the road running above
the seafront (view) passing the old royal palace, or south-east
along Odos Nikiforou, the town's busy main road. |
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[About
Corfu] [Map of
Corfu] [History]
[Weather]
[Best Beaches]
[Corfu Websites]
[Easter in Corfu]
MALTEZOS HOTEL
Gouvia - Corfu - Greece
Tel: 0030-2661091667 and 2661090990 (winter)
Fax: 0030-2661090271
E-mail: info@hotelmaltezos.com
Website: www.hotelmaltezos.com
Gouvia Corfu Greece - All rights reserved ©
Maltezos Hotel |
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