The on-line registration and bookings has now been closed.

Registrations can only be performed on-site during the Secretariat Desk operating dates and hours.

Registration and Information Desk
The Secretariat Desk will operate daily as follows:
Wednesday, May 26th     15.00 - 20.00
Thursday, May 27th         07.00 - 16.00
Friday, May 28th             07.00 - 15.00
Saturday, May 29th         08.00 - 12.00 noon

Medieval City Tour – Half Day (09:00 – 13:00), operated on 27/5/2010 and 30/5/2010

The historic Medieval Town of Corfu - UNESCO World Heritage Listed (July 2007), was built by the Venetians in the 14th century, with its high-storey pastel-coloured tenements, narrow cobbled-stoned serpentine streets known as “kandounia” and charming little “piazzas” (squares) crammed with cafés, will captivate you with its unique beauty and cosmopolitan charm.

Corfu Town - click the image to enlarge

The excursion commences with a Panoramic Drive through the new city, the Old Harbour, the Old Venetian Castle (14th cent), to the Esplanade Square – the largest in the Balkans.
From there the excursion continues on foot for a guided tour of the Old Medieval City of Corfu and its main monuments: the Town Hall, the Duomo, the 16th cent Orthodox Church of Saint Spyridon – the protector of the Island, followed by a guided visit of the Royal Palace of Saint George and St Michael, the most imposing building of medieval Corfu town, and its unique exhibition of Asian Art.
The Royal Palace of Saint Michael & Saint George was built entirely of yellow Maltese limestone, especially imported from Malta for this purpose, between 1814 and 1824, in Georgian style, during the rule of the first Lord High Commissioner, Sir Thomas Maitland, to a design by Sir George Whitmore. Throughout the British Protectorate period it was the seat of the Commissioner. The palace was named after the Order of Saint Michael & Saint George and served as the Order’s Seat in Corfu under British Colonial times.The palace features two wings; the right wing houses the Royal Throne room and the Assembly rooms. Its left wing today houses the Museum of Asian Art of Corfu, a unique by European Standards museum of a vast collection of priceless Asiatic artifacts.  

  
Royal Palace of Saint Michael & Saint George - click the image to enlarge

Exhibition of Asian Art:
The only museum of its kind in Greece, as well as in the whole of Europe,  it holds more than 11,000 objects donated from private collections, with provenance mainly from the Far East and the Indian continent (China, Korea, Japan, India, Pakistan, Indochina, Tibet, Nepal).

Amongst the items on display the early Chinese bronze ritual urns stand out (1200 - 1027 BC), as does the collection of idols (6th to 9th c.). Especially interesting is the unique Helleno-buddhist collection with sculptures from Gaddara in Pakistan, which dates from the 1st to the 5th centuries AD, and underlines the Hellenistic influence in the region, a legacy of the presence of Alexander the Great.

Note:  On Mondays the Royal Palace & its Museum of Asian Art are closed.  The Royal Palace is open till 15:30 hours.

Cost per person: € 40 based on minimum 20 participants
 

Half Day Paleokastritsa Panorama Tour
Excursion (09:00 – 13:00) operated on 28/5/2010

The excursion commences with a drive through the lush Corfiot countryside with its centuries-old olive groves and picturesque old villages nestling high on the hills, to the west coast of the island and Paleokastritsa.
Paleokastritsa, is one of the most famous parts of the island; an area of unique natural beauty consisting of rocky promontories, small sandy bays and coves with turquoise waters, known as the “Capri” of Greece.
On arrival, the coach makes its way up the small hill above the main bay of Paleokastritsa, for a guided visit of the Byzantine Monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary (16th Cent.), and its small museum and priceless collection of Byzantine icons and church relics dating back to the 14th century.

 
Palaiokastritsa - click the images to enlarge 

After the visit, the tour continues by coach up the mountain slopes to the traditional old village of Lakones and the panoramic location of «God’s Balcony», famous for its spectacular views over the north-western coast of the island.
At this idyllic location, at a local village restaurant with impressive views and a private swimming pool on its terrace (at the guests’ disposal), a meze and local drink (or coffee and cake) will be offered (optional).

Cost per person: € 35 based on minimum 20 participants
 

Corfu Palaces – Half Day (09:00 – 13:00) operated on 29/5/2010

Departing from the hotel on coach, you are driven past the town of Corfu and along the bay of Garitsa to the peninsula of Paleopolis, the location of the ancient city of Corfu and the grounds of the Mon Repos Palace.
On the way to the estate, you make a short stop at the tip of the peninsula in Kanoni, a great viewing point from where you can enjoy a fantastic vista of the emblem of Corfu, the picturesque Mouse Island and the Monastery of Vlaherna.

On arrival at the main gates of the Mon Repos Palace, you leave the coach and enter the palace gardens on foot – a short path leads you to the palace mansion. The gardens are full of exotic and indigenous trees, bushes, flowers and shrubs, once brought as gifts to the local monarchs by visiting diplomats and foreign kings from all over the world.

  
Mon Repos Palace - click the images to enlarge 

The palace was built in 1828 – 1831 by the British Commissioner of the Ionian Islands, Sir Adam as a gift to his beautiful Corfiot wife, Mrs Palatianou. In 1864 it was given as a present to the King of Greece, George A’ and until 1967 when monarchy in Greece was abolished, it was used by the local royal family as a summer palace where they hosted great parties and offered hospitality to their royal friends from all around the world. That is also one of the reasons why Corfu Island became such a popular summer holiday retreat for the international jet set so quickly.
In the company of your guide you visit the rooms of the palace, now operating as a museum, housing ancient artifacts brought to light by archaeologists in the excavations at the local ancient sites. 

You will then continue on coach to Gastouri village on the gentle slopes above the southeast coast of the island where you will visit the Achilleion Palace, built by the Empress Elisabeth “Sissy” of Austria in 1891, and later owned by Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. You visit the rooms in the Palace, as well as its beautiful gardens offering spectacular view over the Ionian Sea. 

   
Achilleion Palace - click the images to enlarge 

The gardens, full of exotic trees and flowers which the Empress brought with her from her trips around the world, are adorned with classical statues, as she was very fond of Greek Ancient History and Mythology.  The main “Terrace of the Muses” decorated with statues of the Nine Greek Muses and the imposing figures of “Achilles Victorious” and “Achilles Dying” are some of the most interesting.

Note:  On Mondays the Mon Repos Palace is closed. The Mon Repos Palace is open till 15:30 hours.

Cost per person: € 45 based on minimum 20 participants

For details on Tours & Excursions please contact:
Mr. Spyros Lianos, E-mail: hospitality@csrs-corfu2010.gr