Istanbul here and now

Ancient and modern times cross paths in this Byzantine city, Konstantinoupolis as it was originally named, where DJs, jazz festivals and fusion cuisine mix with mosques,
buzzing markets and palaces of the sultans By TIMOTHY KLUS

ISTANBUL -- Istanbul is a place where oxymorons, non sequiturs and contradictions converge and digress.
William Butler Yeats regarded Byzantium (the city's original name) as a "beauty outside time." And while the city, with its grand monuments and rich traditions, does in some ways seem to suffer from a strange lack of linear progress, as if time were repeating itself in grand, patient codas, Istanbul is no longer Byzantium or Constantinople.

Despite where the travel guides lead visitors, it is not just a living museum, but a vibrant, cosmopolitan and modern city that happens to have an impressive historical pedigree.

This city has always harboured the extremes of wealth and poverty, religion and paganism, hedonism and asceticism. It is known globally for its hamam bathhouses and sensual kicks -- Russian prostitutes enjoy a thriving trade in the legal whoring district of Pera -- but also for its great houses of spirituality, which are everywhere in the oldest parts of town.

It is to the ancient quarters of Sultanahmet, Beyazit, Fatih and Eyup that most visitors to Istanbul flock, and for good reason: Imagine Notre Dame Cathedral, St. Paul's Cathedral and St. Peter's Basilica within one square kilometre, right next to a natural harbour as beautiful as Vancouver's. The scale of the treasures they hold is impressive.

The jewel in the heart of Istanbul's Sultanahmet area is the Aya Sophia. With its magnificent dome, it was considered one of the great architectural miracles of Christendom, and went through incarnations as a church, a mosque and now a museum.

Nearby is Topkapi Palace, the sprawling, intricately tiled sultan's retreat, which still houses the decadent quarters that were once home to the sultan's harem; and the world-famous Sultan Ahmet or Blue Mosque, one of the great temples of Islam.
Visitors can also tour the underground waterways and marble columns of the Basilica Cisterns, which were built in the fourth century and were still in use until 100 years ago; and the impressive Archeology Museum in Gulhane Park. And there is of course the myriad of bargains and treasures to be found at the dizzying Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi) -- at 500 years old and with almost 4,000 shops, it has a buzz like no other market in the world.

But the visitor to Istanbul can find far more than the archetypical great deal on a carpet or photo-op with a tea jockey in front of a big mosque.
The city's collection of ancient relics is remarkable, but beyond that there is also an entertaining, culturally modern megopolis that most tourists never see -- a city that is very much in the now.

Among the more surprising aspects of modern life in Istanbul is the quality of its music. The city is becoming a clubber's paradise, with local DJs competing with dozens of world-famous names that now visit frequently.

In the summer months, Istanbulites flock to their revered summer homes on the Aegean or Mediterranean, and usually what's left are the tourists.

The visitors who don't leave the city for the southern resort hot spot of Bodrum are treated to impressive outdoor raves on the Princes Islands off the city shoreline, or on the Black Sea beaches at Kilyos, 25 kilometres north up the Bosphorus. An impressive list of international DJs -- Carl Cox, Nick Warren, Sven Vath and Dave Seaman among them -- is already confirmed for the upcoming summer.

In Beyoglu-Taksim, Istanbul's "downtown," there is a surprising cross-section of humanity. On the same stretch of the crowded Istiklal pedestrian street, you might find conservatively dressed yuppies or tikis, neon-coated club-goers, pious Muslims in long coats, and the occasional bemused tourist.

At night, things do not slow down much around Beyoglu.

There are a number of bars, but the "night clups" (sic) should be avoided. You can recognize these by the girl-motif neon signs and greasy doormen leering at all who pass by. They are tacky beyond measure and the bouncers will likely roll you for the contents of your wallet.

Instead, find a bar, or meyhane,in Beyoglu near the Cicek Passage with a small, local fasil band playing. Order some tapas (meze)and raki -- the national drink made with dry anise liquor, not unlike ouzo -- learn some traditional dance moves from the friendly waiters and enjoy Turkish hospitality properly. The excellent magazine Istanbul Time Out, available at international paper stands, will help you sort out an entertainment itinerary.

The performing arts have also truly come alive in Istanbul. The city hosts two annual jazz festivals in mid-July and early October, and a blues fest in December. The International Film Festival, which takes place in early May, is just beginning to build momentum, attracting the attention of some of those who frequent Cannes and Venice -- but not yet the paparazzi.

Another surprisingly impressive element to the local flavour is the food. Not many are aware that Turkish food is considered among the world's great cuisines.

The Ottoman Empire's crossroads setting and the culinary demands of the Jannisaries -- the sultan's elite troops who would riot if their food was not suitably varied and well-prepared -- long ago set a high standard. Today, even the fast food is superior to the homogenous fare served by the city's international restaurants.
For a culturally enlightening food foray, walk around Kumkapi, just off the tourist map, southwest of the touts and camera-toting hordes of Sultanahmet. Millennia-old walls and narrow streets turn the area into a film noir set of alleys. There, you'll find an ancient and austere Armenian cathedral and a street filled with fishmongers and restaurants, garishly lit and ranging from cafeteria-style to quite posh.

This slice of cacophony is a unique place to take in dinner while in Istanbul, where locals and tourists alike come to eat fresh, inexpensive fish and bottles of raki. Go to Kumkapi during the gorgeous Marmara sunset and you'll hear traditional musicians playing melancholic songs of love, inviting all to sing along. This is Istanbul at its most genuine, warm and human.

Other more upscale highlights on the Istanbul culinary map include one of the city's oldest and best-regarded meat restaurants, Beyti (in Florya, near the airport), where patrons including Ronald Reagan, Leonard Bernstein and Luciano Pavarotti have feasted on specialties such as free-range lamb sided with unique vegetable and rice pilaf creations. There is also Asitane, in Edirnekapi, which fuses authentic 15th-century Ottoman recipes with an insouciant French refinement, and Pandelli (above the cacophonous Egyptian Market in Sirkeci) for more traditional Anatolian food. This is the original "fusion" cooking -- between the Mediterranean and the Orient.

The Turks, especially in Westward-looking Istanbul, are eager to catch up with Europe, where the European Union beckons on virtually all fronts. Most educated young people can speak reasonable English, are computer-savvy and have the latest cellphones. Yet they are just as keen to retain their traditions and identity.
Constantinople was Greek far longer than it was Ottoman-Turkish. When Mehmet II overtook the city walls in 1453, it had been the most civilized and famous city in the world for more than 1,000 years. Gradually, its Greek-Christian singularity gave way to a much more polyglot populace, and Muslims eventually came to predominate. The city remained, however, a cosmopolitan, multicultural place -- Armenians, Greeks and Jews dominated commercial life -- and it entranced scores of Western writers and romantics for centuries.

In 1923, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk put an end to the antiquated Ottoman dynasty and created the Turkish Republic. Interestingly, he did not make Istanbul its capital, but chose instead the ultra-planned and controlled Ankara in central Anatolia. Under Ataturk's rule, Greeks and Armenians were expelled from the country en masse and the character of the city became homogeneously Turkish. Today, however, Istanbul's ethnic diversity is on the rebound.

The family is still the centre of Turkey's social fabric, and although it is a secular republic, the Islamic faith still holds a great deal of sway here. There is much soul-searching as this country straddles the cultural, political and religious divides between Mecca and Brussels.

Perhaps a defining image of this unique, beguiling town is a view from Galata Bridge in the heart of ancient Byzantium. The relics of Christian Byzantium meld with the
monuments to Allah's conquests, and the setting sun on the aptly named Golden Horn reflects the crumbling buildings of Pera, almost lurching into the harbour's maelstrom of shipping activity.

This is not a typical scene from the West, circa 2002. Nor is it a museum postcard. But there is a harmony, a balance in this strange performance, replayed continuously at this crossroads of a city.
If you go

Getting there: There are regular flights to Istanbul (with U.S. or European connections) from major Canadian airports. Shuttle buses and taxis provide transportation to and from the city's international airport, which is 30 kilometres outside of town.

Getting around: There are plenty of public transportation options. Buses, minibuses, trams, a subway line, and yellow taxis are all available. Cars can also be rented at various locations.

Lodging: A wealth of accommodations range from budget hostels and pensions to pricey luxury hotels.

There are several helpful Web sites for finding and booking accommodations, however I recommended the following that visitors can check out: http://www.medestino.com

Why choose Medestino.com?

Medestino.com is an established hotel booking agency based in Greece, owned and operated by hotel and tourism professionals. Our philosophy is simple – to give you the best available service in assisting you to find the best quality hotel deal at the best possible price!

At Medestino.com, we aim to make it easy for you to find and book from our wide range of hotels in Greece and other major destinations. We have more than 150 hotels in Athens that you can view and book online ranging from Hilton, Marriot, Intercontinental, Sofitel, Novotel, Travelodge, Best Western, Comfort Inn, Days Inn, Holiday Inn, and Classical Hotels. We offer quality accommodation, ranging from low-cost privately owned guest houses to five star global chains.

Most of the hotels are located close to major attractions each city like for example our London hotels which are near the Covent Garden theatres, Royal Albert Hall, Madame Tussauds, Tower of London, London Aquarium, London Eye, Regents Park and Hyde Park. We offer accommodation in Kensington, Chelsea, Victoria and Mayfair as well as Bayswater, the City, the West End and Notting Hill. Many of our properties are also ideally situated near Oxford Street, Harrods, Knightsbridge and Kensington High Street for excellent shopping.

Our rates are much below published rack rates and include local taxes, service and continental breakfast so the price you see is the price you pay. There are no additional fees or charges.

Medestino.com directory helps save you both time and money. Your credit card details are transmitted securely utilizing the latest secure server technology, so that you can be confident about the safety and privacy of your details. Your reservation is processed smoothly by efficient, knowledgeable and multilingual staff from our offices.

You can check prices and availability at your leisure and book securely at the click of your mouse. We also have a wide selection of theatre and dinner packages and sightseeing packages available to compliment your stay. And if one of the particular packages we’ve put together for your stay does not suit, we welcome your request!!
For groups of 10 or more, we can offer even further savings on accommodation services, coach hire, airport transfers, sightseeing tours, extended coaching tours throughout Europe destinations.

Ask for Medestno.com group services.

Larnaca, Cyprus

Let friendly people, ancient history, peaceful beaches and family-friendly tavernas woo you to lively Larnaca. Enjoy the thrill of a banana boat ride, learn to sail or simply relax on a beach sunbed. Fancy a change from sea and sand? Head into town and enjoy an iced coffee at a cafe on the modern seafront promenade, or a refreshing brandy sour with lemon at a swish piano bar. Join a free tourist-office walking tour to see the sights and don't forget to visit 18th-century Hala Sultan Tekke mosque and the ninth-century Agios Lazaros Church.

The third biggest town in Cyprus, Larnaca is both a commercial centre and a holiday resort. The beach and tourist area lies outside the town to the south along Larnaca Bay. Here, dotted along the coastline, you'll find a range of Cypriot and international restaurants, trendy bars and clubs as well as tourist hotels. In the town centre, the cafe- and bar-lined promenade is where the locals gather.

Close by, you'll find most of the historic sights including 17th-century Larnaca Fort and the Agios Lazaros Church with its mix of styles from the ninth to 19th centuries.

After a day on the beach, head to bustling Phinikoudes promenade and people-watch over an iced coffee or freshly squeezed orange juice as the locals do. Browse leather bags, hand-sewn lacework and ceramics at nearby shops. Admire cannons and sea views at Larnaca Fort, built in 1625, before wandering around the traditional Turkish quarter. Watch local artisans craft candles and colourful ceramics in their studios there. A short drive away is Hala Sultan Tekke mosque, with the tomb of Hala Sultan, a relative of the Prophet Mohammed.

The ninth-century Agios Lazaros Church houses a beautiful gilded iconostatsis altar screen and the sepulchre of St Lazarus, who Jesus raised from the dead. Glimpse into the past at the privately owned Pierides Museum, housed in a 19th-century mansion, where archaeological artefacts from the Stone Age to Roman Empire are on display. Take your kids to the nearby water park and beach, as well as exploring the world of dinosaurs at Larnaca's Municipal Museum of Palaeontology.

10 reasons to visit Greece or Croatia

Greece and Croatia are two countries with endless coastlines and plenty to do beyond the beach. Now they are also offering seriously smart places to stay. Our comprehensive guide will help you make the most of them this summer.

Greece and Croatia might seem unlikely bedfellows in a travel feature, but their selling points as summer holiday destinations have much in common. The big draw in both countries is an endless, multi-faceted coastline - not least a multitude of islands (some 6,000 in the case of Greece, 1,200 for Croatia). Some are ideal for laid-back, stay-put holidays, others beg to be explored on island-hopping itineraries by ferry or yacht. Both countries also offer enticing diversions away from the beach (which is particularly important in Croatia's case, since its beaches are generally not great) - from superb ancient sites to elegant Venetian ports.

Moreover, the two Mediterranean destinations are undergoing a rapid rise in accommodation standards. Seriously smart five-star hotels and trendy boutique pads were rarities in Greece a decade ago, but are becoming fairly commonplace.

Meanwhile, Croatia is transforming its tourism from the mass market (which it was in the 1980s, before the Balkan wars put what was then Yugoslavia off limits to holidaymakers) to the more upmarket. Not for nothing has Croatia's Dalmatian coast been dubbed "the new Riviera", and its Istria peninsula "the new Tuscany".

Greece

Athens

Providing you avoid the city in the peak summer months, when many shops and restaurants are closed and it's often unpleasantly hot, Athens makes a tempting stopover on the way to the Greek islands. In the past few years, Greece's capital has undergone a remarkable makeover, largely thanks to the catalyst of the Olympic Games. As well as a new international airport, a much extended metro and a new tram system, the city is less polluted and the centre has become much more pedestrian friendly - you can now walk right round the Acropolis and Agora on traffic-free streets. Many hotels were freshened up for the Olympics, and there are new designer hotels.

Mainland fly-drives

Despite the mainland's plethora of classical sites and stunning scenery, tour operators generally give cursory details about fly-drive options.

Most of its tailor-made fly-drive business is to the Peloponnese. It recommends staying in the cobbled village of Dhimitsana and exploring the verdant Arcadia region, rather than belting along the coastal highway to Olympia. Sunvil also offers the mountainous Epirus region (excellent walking and stunning old villages in Zagori), and central and northern Greece. Accommodation is mostly in characterful two- or three-star hotels. Combining a stay in a beach resort with a tour is encouraged.

Corfu

With the tragic deaths of two children from carbon monoxide poisoning in one of its hotels in October, Corfu has come in for a lot of bad press. Yet the Ionian island is likely to be in great demand this year, thanks to new flights with British Airways from May.

The scheduled services will suit one segment of the island's clientele to a T. While the far south is Club 18-30 territory, the mountainous north-east coast has become such a favoured destination for upmarket villa holidays it has been nicknamed Kensington-on-Sea. Many villas have quiet, private locations, stunning views across the narrow straits to Albania, and are in walking distance of a sheltered (normally pebbly) cove or beach. The island is the top seller for the villa specialists Meon Villas and CV Travel.

Mykonos

This Cycladic island will be a possible long-weekend destination this summer, thanks to new twice-weekly British Airways flights from Gatwick (see ''Getting there''. A magnet for party-till-dawn types, including lots of celebrities, Mykonos is Greece's most glamorous island.

There are plenty of boutique hotels to choose from, such as the Mykonos Theoxenia.

Spinalonga

This former leper colony, just off Crete's north-east coast, was the setting for The Island, last summer's best-selling novel by Victoria Hislop.

You can visit the tiny and uninhabited islet while staying on the mainland opposite at the clifftop Blue Palace. One of Crete's newest luxury hotels (there's a fancy spa, and many rooms have private infinity pools), it is emblematic of the island's shift to upmarket holidays - a clutch of other five-star properties is down the road at Elounda.

Croatia

Istria

To get to Istria cheaply, travel articles used to recommend flying with no-frills airlines to Trieste in Italy, or even to Ljubljana in Slovenia. Such roundabout methods are no longer necessary, thanks to Ryanair's thrice-weekly flights from Stansted to Pula (on the tip of the Istria peninsula), which started last October, and, also new last year, EasyJet's seasonal flights to Rijeka (on the Kvarner Gulf, but an easy drive to Istria) - see ''Getting there'' for more details.

Tourism is booming in Istria's interior which, with its wooded, fertile and undulating countryside punctuated by medieval hilltop towns, has been dubbed "the new Tuscany". Villas and agroturizam (farm holiday) projects are cropping up everywhere, and the cuisine (hearty central European fare mixed with Italian influences) can be excellent - truffles are a speciality, and local wines can be very drinkable.

The coast, though mass-market in places, is a draw, too. Pula has one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in existence and Rovinj is a delightful old Venetian port with far more of an Italian than a Balkan air (the Hotel Villa Angelo d'Oro - once a bishop's palace, is highly recommended).

Old Town of Corfu under UNESCO wing

The esplanade of Corfu is just one of the stunning landmarks that will benefit from UNESCO.

Corfu’s Old Town has just been named a World Heritage Center by UNESCO during the 31st meeting of the World Heritage Committee that took place in Christchurch, New Zealand, recently. It has been listed as a special architectural landmark which represents a significant historical period. The decision was made unanimously after a motion by the NGO International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).


The Ionian island’s Old Town is the 17th Greek monument to make it onto the list, the first being the Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae, which was included in 1986. The Delphi archaeological site and the Acropolis followed in 1987, then Mount Athos, Meteora, the early Christian monuments in Thessaloniki, the Epidaurus archaeological site and the medieval town of Rhodes in 1988. Mystras and ancient Olympia were added in 1989, then Delos, the monasteries of Dafni, Ossios Loukas and Chios in 1990, the Heraion and the Pythagoreion on Samos in 1992, Vergina in 1996, Mycenae in 1999 and the Grotto of the Revelation as well as the Monastery of St John on Patmos in the same year.

The architectural remains on Corfu cover a wide range of historical periods, from Venetian rule through to the 19th century, with highlights from the 16th and 17th centuries. According to archival

Butrint, Albania: A Microcosm of Mediterranean History

Of all the great classical ruins of the Mediterranean, Butrint, located on the coast of southern Albania near the border of Greece, is the least known. Despite this obscurity, Butrint is one of the most authentic and complete repositories of Mediterranean history and is Albania's one and only World Heritage site.


For centuries, layers of earth and vegetation have covered the ancient city from view and have protected it from the ravages of time. Since 1928, archaeologists have been carrying out excavations that are helping to recover this ancient city. They have uncovered historically significant structures, dating from ancient times to the nineteenth century, that testify to Butrint's long-lasting commercial and military importance.

In the process of discovering these architectural works, archaeologists have pieced together most of what is known about the city today. These archaeologists have come to regard Butrint as an extraordinary "microcosm of Mediterranean history"1 because their discoveries have made it possible to experience the city's continuous, almost 3000-year-long, evolution.

As early as the eighth century B.C.E., Corfiot merchants established Butrint as a base of trading operations between Epirus and Corfiot colonies in southern Italy. Founded less than ten kilometers from the island of Corfu and linked to the Mediterranean Sea, Butrint quickly developed into an important stop along the region's trade routes. By the fourth century B.C.E., Butrint had become one of the major maritime and commercial centers of the Greek world.

Under the successive rule of the Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, and Ottoman Turks, the city thrived as a center of trade and served as a strategic base for military campaigns in the east. Each of these conquering empires built structures to protect and extend Butrint's commercial ports. A few of these empires—most notably the Greek, Roman, and Byzantine—also built public monuments to enhance the culture of the city. The present archaeological site, therefore, contains structures that represent each period of the city's development, and bear witness to the city's past commercial and military power, as well as its thriving culture.

There are other classical sites with equally long histories in Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, and elsewhere; yet Butrint stands alone as the most complete archaeological site of Mediterranean history since its hinterland remains intact. Within a century of the arrival of the Greeks, Butrint had become a fortified trading city, with its own acropolis and theater. In the first century B.C.E., the Romans extended the city to accommodate the population of the new colony. They established a new suburb, port facilities and built an aqueduct to provide the city's inhabitants with fresh water. In the late Roman period the city was divided in two by the construction of a defensive wall around the shores of the Vivari Channel and the spread of Christianity was marked by the construction of a magnificent baptistry and basilica.

By the end of the fourteenth century, progressive flooding forced Butrint's inhabitants to flee the original settlement. Butrint, however, did not lose its strategic importance. Until the end of the eighteenth century, military powers vied for control of the port, and occupiers constructed works of military architecture to protect the city.

During the sixteenth century, the Venetians erected a triangular fortress to safeguard the city. Nearly two hundred years later, the Turkish lord, Ali Pasha of Tepelene, erected a castle and new defensive walls to stand guard over the Bay of Butrint and the Straits of Corfu. Endowed with architectural remains representing various phases of its historical occupation, Butrint has become an important symbol of the region's most prominent cultures.

Although archaeologists hold up Butrint as an exemplary Mediterranean site, it holds a very important place within Albania's national identity as well. Since 1912, the year Albania gained its independence from Turkish rule, the archaeological site of Butrint has come to represent the resilience of Albania, which has survived thousands of years of conquest and occupation.

With many archaeological sites within the Mediterranean robbed and looted, Butrint stays remarkably well-respected with few instances of damage or theft. In the civil unrest in 1997 in Albania, however, a small amount of damage occurred on the site. The Albanian Ministry of Culture strongly condemned the action: "There has been both theft and vandalism, which is an outrage since Butrint is the most important archaeological site in Albania and of great international significance. The continuity of our culture since 800 B.C.E. is in evidence here as at no other location."2 UNESCO likewise reacted strongly and sent an assessment mission to the site as a response to the damage. As a result a new management structure was set up for Butrint and a buffer zone was created around the site.

Today the rediscovered city of Butrint is one of Albania's most cherished national treasures. From the ruins of Butrint, it is possible to learn about not only the powerful cultures that conquered the site, but also Albania's struggle to build a national identity out of its turbulent history.

Corfu Palace Hotel, Kerkyra town, Corfu, Greece

Corfu Palace Hotel offers a traditional and elegant atmosphere where each guest can experience the Greek Hospitality through personalized service and attention to detail in the tru Swiss tradition. Thanks to a long tradition and as a member of the world famous association "Hotels de Grande Classe Internationale", the Corfu Palace Hotel can justifiably be classed as one of the most elegant and ditinguished hotels in Greece

The Corfu Palace Hotel is an impressive and highly praised 5 star luxury establishment, based on the island of Corfu in Greece.

It is situated in the outskirts of the historic Corfu Town overlooking the pretty bay of Garitsa, the Greek mainland and is conveniently situated just 400 metres from the center of Corfu Town






Kontokali Bay Hotel, Corfu, Greece
Kontokali Bay Resort and Spa is a Hotel-Bungalow complex on the central eastern shoreline of the emerald Isle of Corfu, situated only 6 Km. from the island’s capital, Corfu Town.

Built on a densely wooded peninsula and on a natural incline, the Main Building of the Kontokali Bay overlooks both the sparkling blue waters of the Ionian Sea that separates Corfu from the taupe, coastal mountains of the Greek Mainland and the Gouvia Marina.

The bungalows are set in the midst of the verdant, pine and cypress-laden gardens, the vibrant reds and mauves of the rambling bougainvilleas add the artist’s final brushstroke to this perfect canvas.

Easyjet flights to Corfu, Greece:
easyJet launches 2 new routes to Corfu
easyJet, the UK’s largest airline, announced that it is opening 2 new routes to Corfu, for summer 2009. These new routes will operate from UK regional airports, giving travellers even more choice of popular destinations. Fares for the new routes will start from just £22.99 including tax. As part of the expansion, easyJet will base an additional aircraft at Liverpool from 1 June 2009 and at Manchester from 4 August 2009. Easyjet will fly from Bristol to Corfu starting as of Monday 22 May 2009 for £26.99. In addition Easyjet will fly from Manchester to Corfu staring as of 4 May 2009 for £33.99



Corfu Golf Club, Corfu, Greece


The Corfu Golf Club’s beautiful course has been praised by many as one of golf’s best kept secrets in Europe. It was designed by the famous Swiss based architect, Donald Harradine and he has blended the natural resources of the lovely Ropa Valley with man made hazards to make the course a good but fair test. It is as enjoyable for the scratch player as it is for the long handicap one.

The treelined fairways and the sandtraps combine with the several lakes and meandering streams, to make an attractive picture against a backcloth of high hills. A modern irrigation system keeps the course in perfect condition at all times.


From March to November and sometimes beyond, there is warm sunshine and blue skies in Corfu but even in high summer on the golf course there is a cooling breeze blowing in from the sea.

Golf is also played throughout the winter in Corfu, so anytime is golf time! There are three sets of tees thus providing enjoyment for all categories of players.

The turf is very good and easy to walk on and every hole on the course provides infinite variety - and it's own problems. Corfu is a great golf course and it's fame is spreading rapidly as golfers come from all over the world to test their skill at golf and to enjoy an island which offers spectacular scenery, fine hotels, good food and a warm welcome.

Corfu is inscribed by UNESCO as World Heritage Site

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972.

The Old Town of Corfu, on the Island of Corfu off the western coasts of Albania and Greece, is located in a strategic position at the entrance of the Adriatic Sea, and has its roots in the 8th century BC. The three forts of the town, designed by renowned Venetian engineers, were used for four centuries to defend the maritime trading interests of the Republic of Venice against the Ottoman Empire. In the course of time, the forts were repaired and partly rebuilt several times, more recently under British rule in the 19th century. The mainly neoclassical housing stock of the Old Town is partly from the Venetian period, partly of later construction, notably the 19th century. As a fortified Mediterranean port, Corfu’s urban and port ensemble is notable for its high level of integrity and authenticity.

Outstanding Universal Value

The ensemble of the fortifications and the Old Town of Corfu is located in a strategic location at the entrance to the Adriatic Sea. Historically, its roots go back to the 8th century BC and to the Byzantine period. It has thus been subject to various influences and a mix of different peoples. From the 15th century, Corfu was under Venetian rule for some four centuries, then passing to French, British and Greek governments. At various occasions, it had to defend the Venetian maritime empire against the Ottoman army. Corfu was a well thought of example of fortification engineering, designed by the architect Sanmicheli, and it proved its worth through practical warfare. Corfu has its specific identity, which is reflected in the design of its system of fortification and in its neo-classical building stock. As such, it can be placed alongside other major Mediterranean fortified port cities.

Criterion (iv): The urban and port ensemble of Corfu, dominated by its fortresses of Venetian origin, constitutes an architectural example of outstanding universal value in both its authenticity and its integrity.

The overall form of the fortifications has been retained and displays traces of Venetian occupation, including the Old Citadel and the New Fort, but primarily interventions from the British period. The present form of the ensemble results from the works in the 19th and 20th centuries. The authenticity and integrity of the urban fabric are primarily those of a neo-classical town.

The responsibility for protection is shared by several institutions and relevant decrees. These include the Hellenic Ministry of Culture (ministerial decision of 1980), the Ministry of the Environment, Spatial Planning and Public Works (Presidential decree of 1980) and the Municipality of Corfu (Presidential decree of 1981). Also relevant are: the Greek law on the shoreline of towns and of islands in general; the law on the protection of antiquities and cultural heritage in general (n° 3028/2002) and the establishment of a new independent Superintendence for Byzantine and post-Byzantine antiquities, in 2006. A buffer zone has been established. The proactive policies of restoration and enhancement of the fortifications and of the citadel have resulted in a generally acceptable state of conservation. Many works however have still to be completed or started. A management plan has been prepared. An urban action plan, which is in line with the management plan of the nominated property, has just been adopted (2005) for the period 2006-2012.

Sailing in Ionian Islands

Sailing in Greece is perfect when you are in the Ionian Islands. Ionian Islands is a group of islands located in the western portion of Greece. It is perfectly situated along the Ionian Sea on the coasts of Peloponnesus and Epirus. Its major islands are Paxos, Cythera, Ithaca, Lefkas, Zacynthus, Cephalonia, and Corfu.

The islands first inhabitants were the Ancient Greeks. They first arrived to the islands probably near the beginning of the 9th or 10th century BC. However, it was later ruled by other western civilizations. Among them are the Roman (146 BC), Byzantium (300 AD), and the Venetian Empires (1204 AD). Subsequently, before it was acquired by Greece in 1864 and claimed the island as part of the country's official territory, the island was earlier yielded to other countries. These include France (1807), Russia (1799), Turkey (1799), and the United Kingdom (1815).

Ionian Islands is also known as Eptanisa or the Seven Islands because of its 7 main islands. Because of its mild climate and nice ports, it became one of Greece's most visited yacht charter areas along the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

When you are sailing in Greece, it is very common to sight gulet motorsailers, yachts, flotillas, and bareboats. If you are taking your holiday vacation with your kids or the whole family, sailing in Ionian Islands is ideal for you. This is because the islands has calm seas and gentle winds. Travelers who are not skilled in sailing can also take advantage of the islands perfect climate.

Sailing in Greece through the Ionian Islands is an ideal holiday vacation. The islands has several harbors and docks that can be used as a charter base. Preveza, Corfu, and Lefkas are Ionian Islands 3 yacht charter bases. From these 3 ports, the most visited and admired is the Lefkas harbor. Lefkas is characterized by its apt Mediterranean climate and interesting trekked mountains. Furthermore, its beaches have golden sand and full-size waves. Lefkas' most beautiful beaches include Perigiali, Nikiana, and Nidri.

On the other hand, some sailing tourists favor the Preveza port. It is located along the Amvrakia Gulf. The port is distinguished by its sturdy crosscurrent.


Sailing in Greece has never been this exciting. Aside from enjoying Ionian Islands scenic environment, you can also take pleasure in the island's fascinating ancient histories.



By Sam Darton