Corfu
Together with its smaller satellite islands, Corfu, also known as Kerkyra, is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea that forms the northwest border of Greece. Along with the islands of Othonoi, Ereikoussa, and Mathraki, the island is governed by three municipalities and is a part of the Corfu regional unit. Corfu is also the name of the island's main city, which has a population of 32,095. Ionian University is located in Corfu.The island is associated with Greece's history from the earliest days of Greek mythology and has seen many conflicts and conquests. Ancient Korkyra participated in the Battle of Sybota, which Thucydides claims was the biggest naval conflict between Greek city states up to that point and served as a prelude to the Peloponnesian War. Along with Athens and Corinth, Thucydides states that in the fifth century BCE, Korkyra was one of Greece's three major maritime powers.Palaiopolis is home to the remains of Greek temples and other ancient Korkyra archaeological sites. As a result of the Middle Ages' battles against Ottoman and pirate invasions, the island is dotted with medieval castles at key spots. Its capital, the only city in Greece to be fortified in this manner, is surrounded by two of these fortresses. Thus the Greek government has formally designated the capital of Corfu as a kastropolis (or "castle city").
Venice is the source of Corfu's urban architecture, which is indicative of the island's Venetian control from 1386 until 1797. The Old Town of Corfu, one of Greece's World Heritage Sites, features architecture with a distinctly Venetian flavor, as do its winding lanes, known as the kantounia. Other noteworthy structures from the Venetian era include the first Greek opera house, the Nobile Teatro di San Giacomo di Corfù, and Liston, a multi-story commercial and residential complex with an arched colonnade at ground level that is lined with eateries and cafes on the east side and eateries and other shops on the west.Mass gatherings, including parades, frequently take place on Liston's main avenue. The Spianada (Esplanade), the expansive main plaza and park that includes Maitland's memorial, a pavilion, and a cricket field, is where Liston is located. Notable are the Old and New forts, the recently renovated Palace of Sts. Michael and George, which was once the seat of the Ionian Senate and the residence of the British colonial governor, and the summer Palace of Mon Repos, which was once owned by the Greek royal family and the birthplace of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.The Park of Mon Repos is situated on a portion of Kerkyra's Palaiopolis, where the Greek Archaeological Service carried out excavations in cooperation with scholars and universities from across the world. Examples of the discoveries are on display in the Archaeological Museum of Corfu and the Museum of the Palace of Mon Repos.