| The Greek god of the sea, Poseidon, fell in love | | | | Greekisland into three parts. In the north it |
| withthe beautiful nymph, Korkyra. As gods often | | | | ismountainous. The less-steep central portion |
| did, hesimply kidnapped a bride, and whisked her | | | | rollsinto the third area, the low lying southlands. |
| off to anunnamed island where they enjoyed a | | | | Theinterior has traditionally been quiet with not |
| time of maritalbliss. Poseidon was so enamored of | | | | muchtourism. These are the agricultural lands, |
| his lovely wife;he offered to name the island for | | | | away fromthe rocky coasts, the salt water and |
| her - Korkyra, whichis now better known as | | | | the pirates. |
| Corfu Island Greece. | | | | Corfu boats 217 km of coastline. |
| And this is Corfu island - a romance between | | | | This island is steeped in history. Homer |
| beauty andpower, intimately tied to the water. | | | | mentionedit, naming the fruits grown here - olive, |
| The island'sposition between the mainland of | | | | oil olive,pear, pomegranate, apple, fig and vine |
| Greece and Western | | | | (grapes). |
| Europe has made it a perfect geographic | | | | Although pears and apples are not grown here |
| steppingstone, as well as a target for the | | | | much anymore, all the other fruits prized by |
| Persians, | | | | Homer stillthrive on Corfu island. |
| Sicilians, Romans, Venetians, Turks, French, and | | | | Corfu Greece has long been an important port of |
| British. In 1864, Corfu Island was finally ceded to | | | | call, thesource for olive oil. The island's port city |
| Greece,in accordance with the Corfiots most | | | | terminates in a |
| ardent wishes. | | | | Venetian citadel, cut off from the rest of the city |
| The history of ongoing battles and conquests can | | | | bya natural gully that functions much like a marina. |
| stillbe deciphered today. It is seen in the two | | | | The old city, with the fortifications, offers |
| castlesenclosing the main city of Corfu Greece, | | | | alabyrinth of narrow, cobbled streets, many too |
| still called Kerkyra Greeceby the Greeks. | | | | narrowfor any kind of vehicular traffic. Modern |
| The more commonly known name, Corfu, comes | | | | residentskeep these streets bright and sparkling. |
| from the | | | | In World War II, Corfu Greece was bombed by |
| Italian corruption of the word koryphai, which | | | | German aircraft,destroying most of the buildings |
| meanscrests. Again, this refers to the site of the | | | | on the island of Corfu. Visitors can still find |
| two fortresses. | | | | remains of a temple built to honor |
| Corfu Greece is an Ionian Island, a 60 km long | | | | Poseidon,numerous monasteries, and a German |
| sickle shapedformation with its hollowed side | | | | palace. |
| looking toward | | | | But Corfu island, protected by St. Spyridon |
| Albania. The island is separated from Albania | | | | survives. St. |
| bystraits varying from 3 to 23 km across. | | | | Spyridon expelled the plague in medieval times. St. |
| Thisprotected side, on the inside of the curve, is | | | | Spyridon appeared to Turks besieging Corfu, |
| home tothe town and harbor of Corfu. The Ionian | | | | causing apanic and saving the city. Corfu island |
| University in Greeceis also located here. | | | | survives andthrives, and every August 11 they |
| Two high, well defined mountain ranges divide this | | | | celebrate theirpatron saint's feast day. |