Corfu
The Greek island of Corfu is the largest in the Ionian Islands, and has a rich history. Ancient Korkyra (Corcyra) was one of the three great naval powers of Greece in the fifth century BCE, along with Athens and Corinth. This is commemorated in the archaeological museum in Corfu Town, which houses a collection of artefacts from the period, including those from the Roman occupation.
The Roman occupation was followed by the Byzantines who built three castles to defend the island in addition to the defences of Corfu Town, which were incorporated into the later Venetian fortress. The Normans captured the island, twice, and used it as a base to attack the Balkan territories of the Byzantine state. The best is Kassiopi, a lovely fishing village located at the northeast tip of the island, just over the Corfu Channel from Albania. Angelokastro on the north west coast, was probably built after 1214 by Michael II Komnenos and was named after his father. Finally, Gardiki, in the south of the island. It was probably built either by Michael I Komnenos or his son Michael II Komnenos, rulers of the Despotate of Epirus in the 13th century.
The Venetians had the most significant impact on the island when they took control around 1400. They developed the fortifications you can see today, including the Old Fortress and the New Fortress, built to defend the harbour. You have to visit to understand the strength of these fortifications. The outer walls are strong enough, but they are followed by two more with a moat and ditch, before you even face the citadel. The fortifications withstood several Ottoman sieges, with the most notable ones occurring in 1537 and 1716.
One successful siege, although not by storming the walls, was Admiral Ushakov’s in 1799. There is little mention of the Ottoman troops who fought with him! One under the walls of the New Fortress and another on Vido Island. He captured the island and the batteries bombarded the town. Some distance away, a 15min boat trip.
There is a very British feel to the park in front of the Old Fortress in Corfu. The Maitland Monument marks the first High Commissioner. Corfu was a British Protectorate for 50 years. There is a bandstand and Corfu Cricket Club. The first governor of independent Greece, Ioannis Antonios Kapodistrias was born in Corfu and there is a small museum dedicated to him in the hills above Corfu Town.
The Serbian army's (plus many civilians) Great Retreat was a desperate journey through the mountains of Albania and Montenegro during the winter of 1915-1916. Of the 400,000 people who set out, only 120,000 soldiers and 60,000 civilians reached the Adriatic coast, where they were evacuated by Allied ships to the island of Corfu. Approximately 152,000 Serbian troops, equipped by the French, played a decisive role in the final Allied offensives, significantly contributing to the breakthrough on the Macedonian (Salonika) front and the liberation of Serbia.
This is all remembered in a fine museum in Corfu Town and in memorials around the island. There is a fitting mausoleum on Vido island where thousands of sick soldiers died.
This is all remembered in a fine museum in Corfu Town and in memorials around the island. There is a fitting mausoleum on Vido island where thousands of sick soldiers died.
