CORFU

Dream up a wish list of everything you'd want from a Greek holiday: soft beaches like talc, spectacular subtropical forests, tasty cuisine and a beautiful and historic Old Town to explore. Add the sun and you'll find Corfu at every single point on the list. This small Ionian island (only 25km long and 13km wide) is the strong point of many Mediterranean cruise routes and it's not hard to see why. Corfu (known to locals as Kerkyra) is one of the greenest and most picturesque islands in Greece. Its lush interior, well softened by winter rains and suffocated by fragrant pine forests and dense olive groves, is dotted with charming rural villages of ancient origins, where the sleepy routine is occasionally enlivened by religious summer festivals (panegyria). In these moments Corfui presents itself with a myriad of stalls with food and craft products and a fair atmosphere enriched by bands known locally (and rather confusingly) as philharmonic orchestras, who play typical songs walking around the streets of the old town. The main festivals take place in July and August and, of course, for Easter. And if religion isn't your thing, maybe the two Corfu beer festivals in July and October will catch your eye. Most limited time cruise visitors border their visits to explore the city of Corfu on the east coast of the island and this delightful medieval enclave, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is definitely worth your attention. You'll find historic fortresses and the vast Spianada Square (esplanade), the largest public square in the Balkans, as well as intriguing alleys and spectacular statues and fountains (not to mention great shops and restaurants). If your cruise schedule allows, or you've visited the city of Corfu before, you'll find it very rewarding to venture further afield. In its long history, Corfu has "belonged" to many invaders - Byzantines, Venetians, French, Russians and English - before returning to Greece in 1864 and all have left their cultural stamp. You'll see it in the cricket field and the island's Byzantine churches, Italian palaces and the elegant French arcade Liston. All this blends with the fascinating gem that makes Corfu one of the best-known and most beloved islands of the Ionian archipelago.