Corfu is the second largest, greenest Ionian island, and also the best known. In Greek, the island's name is Kerkyra (Ker-kih-rah). It was Homer's 'beautiful and rich land', and Odysseus' last stop on his journey home to Ithaca. Shakespeare reputedly used it as a background for the 'The Tempest'. In the 20th Century, the Durrell brothers, amongst others, extolled its virtues.  
 
The Palace of St. Michael and St George  
 
Located on the north side of the Liston, at the far end of the famous Cricket Pitch.  Built between 1819 and 1824 by the British Commissioner Sir Thomas Maitland and was the official seat of the British Protectorate for 50 years, and used as a residence it is considered an important monument of the British period and one of the first Neoclassic Buildings to be built on Corfu.  Within the entrance are portals of St. Michael and St. George.  Anaglyphic allegoric pictures of the Ionion islands.  The interior is decorated with many sculptures and paintings.   It also holds the museum of Asian Art, and its rich Chinese and Japanese collection given to Greece in 1926 by Grigoris Manos, and plays host to many cultural events and periodic exhibitions. Surrounding the Palace are attractive gardens with colourful shrubs and plants and an on-site Café Bar serving a variety of refreshments. 
 
 
Mon Repos 
       
Built in 1824 by the English commissioner Frederic Adam, as his summer house and going on to be the residence for all following commissioners during the English protectorate on Corfu, finally been handed to King Constantine of Greece, who regularly used the Palace as his summer home until his abolition.  Now the Palace is a museum open daily in summer to the public.   
 
During the unification of the 7 Ionion Islands with Greece the house was offered in gratuity to King George 1st.  The present Duke of Edinburgh, husband of the present Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip Mountbatten was born in Mon Repos. 
 
Saint Spiridon Church 
   
Saint Spiridon is the patron Saint of Corfu.  Corfiots adore and worship the legends and miracles he has said to have performed.  To this day Corfiots regularly visit his remains located by the alter in the main church hall and prey for hope, miracles and forgiveness for any wrong doings. 
 
The church has been built on the ruin of a previous church, completed in 1589 with much help and contribution from the Corfiot people.  Built simply in Basilica style, many icons decorate its’ interior, copies from the Greek Painter P. Doxaras. 
 
The mortal remains are enclosed in an enclosed glass casket made especially in Venice in 1867. 
 
The Saint Spiridon liturgies are celebrated four times a year and processions, parades and festivals are held, in Corfu Town where the remains of the Saint in his casket are paraded through the streets, accompanied by the many regional Corfiot Philharmonic Orchestras.    
 
Achillion Palace 
    
Of 19th Century design, conceived by the Empress Elizabeth of Austria as a tribute to her spiritual hero “Achilles”.   Later in time it was bought by Kaiser Willhelm 11 after Elizabeths’ assassination. Its modest museum comprises a Byzantine Chapel, a monumental Fresco, a Renaissance-style Dining Room and classic Frescoed Columns and a room dedicated to Kaiser Willhelm. The gardens surrounding the Palace contain numerous copies of ancient statues including” Wounded Achilles” a bronzed statue by German Sculptor Herter.  An open pavilion houses the statue of “Sissi” Empress Elizabeth.  The gardens are also awash with many colourful flowers, shrubs and plants.Elizabeth created the Catholic chapel which contains important works of art, the fresco “Judgement of Jesus” and objects donated personally by Pope Pious 1X.  In the main hall above the magnificent staircase is the work “The Four Seasons” the true identity of the painter still lies a mystery as the work was created under the pseudonym “Calliope”  
 
Fortresses Old and New  
   
The Old Fort was built in the 6th Century and played a major role in resisting the Turkish invasion of 1796. It then became the home of the entire population and thus remained so for another seven centuries. Climbing up to the twin peaks you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Capital and explore the military barracks and the chapel where Prince Philip was baptised.   
 
The New Fort was built in the 16th Century, the outer walls were built by the Venetians and later the British added a labyrinth of tunnels, vaults and walkways, one of which is said to stretch beneath the water to the island of Vidos, visible from the Harbour front, on the island itself, ruins of the Venetian rule remain, although overgrown and covered in foliage.