City Tour

From €150.00

Shrines and architecture of the island’s capital on a guided tour with a professional guide

Trip Type

Tour
Activities

Car Tour
Group Size

1 Min - 15 Max
Reviews

0 Reviews
Trip Duration

N/A

Trip code WT-CODE 56

The eponymous capital of the island of Corfu, or as the Greeks call it - Kerkyra, attracts not only with significant shrines, but also with historical places. On the tour, I will take you through the most beautiful city streets, tell you about interesting historical events and share unique details that only a person who has lived here for many years knows. You will see an unusual panorama at Cape Kanoni - an airplane against the backdrop of a white-stone church in the middle of the sea - and you will find out if a tiny island nearby is connected with mice. You will also be able to venerate the relics of Saint Spyridon and learn the history of a rare icon in the monastery of the Virgin of Kassopitra.

The first stop is Cape Kanoni. Seeing the takeoff and landing of an aircraft several tens of meters from the landing strip is something unforgettable! The highlight of this area is the Vlaherna monastery and the island of Pontikonisi, better known as the "Mouse Island". The Vlaherna Monastery is located on a small piece of land, which is connected to the peninsula by a narrow concrete pier. The snow-white church with a small chapel of the Virgin Mary occupies almost the entire land area. The miraculous icon is kept in the monastery today. The beautiful architectural complex is almost completely surrounded on all sides by azure water and looks very picturesque.

Here you can also take a boat trip to the picturesque tiny island of Pontikonisi. There is a small monastery on the island, which was built by a Pontic monk. The island of Pontikonisi is completely covered with lush green vegetation. From the shores of Corfu, it looks like a small green oasis in the middle of azure sea waters.

The Monastery of Our Lady of Kassopitra is an active male monastery. The main shrine is the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos Kassopitra. Also in the monastery there are reliquaries with many particles of the relics of saints. The monastery is a place of pilgrimage. People pray to the Most Holy Theotokos Kassopitra for healing from eye diseases.

Then we will go to the capital of Kerkyra, which is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful cities in Greece. The city is unique in its versatility, it has retained the stamp of various cultures: ancient Greek, ancient Roman, Byzantine; here various architectural styles were intricately and harmoniously intertwined: Venetian, French, English, but at all times it remained Greek in spirit. There are a lot of churches on the island, which emphasizes the sincere deep religiosity of its inhabitants, but they have special feelings for Saint Spyridon, who is considered the main patron saint of the island, and his relics are the most valuable treasure. The faith of the inhabitants of the island in their saint has not weakened for centuries - there is no family here that could not tell the story of how Saint Spyridon helped them or their loved ones.

It is worth noting that there are a huge number of churches in the Old Town. The Church of St. John the Baptist is known for the fact that the great naval commander Fyodor Ushakov came here to serve during his stay on the island. The icon of St. Fanurius, a particle of the Holy Cross of the Lord and other shrines are also located here. The relics of St. Theodora. And from the top of the Old Fortress, a breathtaking view of the island of Vidos and the Old Town opens.