Greece has a long tradition in tourism and hospitality, mainly due to its history and ancient civilisation. Foreigners were considered sacred in ancient Greece and Xenius Zeus, the father of gods, also became the god of hospitality to protect foreigners and inspire locals to look after their visitors. Today Greece is known around the world for its Philoxenia (meaning friendship towards the guest).

Greece's tourism scope comprises an array of spectacular attractions encompassing natural beauty, rich history and culture. A plethora of mainland destinations along with 15,000km of coastline and over 2500 islands, which add to the country's "mass charter attractiveness", have been the catalyst for transforming the country into a vacation spot of international calibre.

In Greece, you are standing at crossroads of cultures, colours and civilisations, you feel the grandeur of history and the warmth of being at the southernmost part of Europe, you discover the evolutionary process of thought, influence and experience. A country with a uniquely affluent historical past, inhabited by people gazing confidently and optimistically into the future.

Greece is a country of beautiful contradictions, a constant journey in time, from the present to the past and back again. Walk through the olive groves, through ancient sites. Move to clusters of sparsely inhabited islands. Roam from beaches to rocky mountains and explore the breathtaking scenery. In Greece the fusion of images becomes more than imagery and turns into reality.

Greek gastronomy

The unique tastes of Greece guarantee that you are in for many culinary surprises during your stay in the country. Contrary to common belief, you will discover that Greek cuisine is not only moussaka, souvlaki and Greek salad, but has a wide variety of dishes that can meet the culinary demands of fish and meat-eaters and vegetarians in an extremely satisfying way.

Things could not be different, anyway, in the country that gave birth to symposiums and the Epicurean philosophers. It was, in fact, Archestratos who, in 330 B.C., wrote the first cookbook in History, and reminded us that cuisine is a sign of civilisation.

Greece has a culinary tradition of approximately 4,000 years. Nevertheless, like most national cuisines, Greek cuisine has both influenced others and embraced ideas from its eastern and western neighbours.

Simply put, Greece is a country where you can explore your senses…

Corfu

Coordinates: 39°40'N 19°45'E
Island Chain: Ionian Islands
Highest Peak: Mt. Pandokratoras (906m)
Time Zone: GMT +2 hours
Currency: The Euro

The Greek island of Corfu is the most northern of the seven Ionian Islands. It lies just west of the point where Albania borders with mainland Greece. In the hard years that followed the end of the Second World War, Corfu shared the fortune of the rest of Greece. Poverty, crisis, and emigration continued until the late 1950's, when organised tourism started to take place in Corfu (the devaluation of the Greek currency in 1953 made Greece a very cheap country for holidays).

Like most of the Mediterranean destinations, Corfu developed very fast during the 1970s attracting through large tour operators mostly the 18-30’s type tourists which at the time was perceived as an amazing economic opportunity to the local communities, at least until the first negative impacts started to show.
Corfu today attracts a variety of visitors, from the majority of mass Sea, Sun and Sand tourists, to: cultural visitors, sport visitors, conference visitors, and eco-visitors. Most of the accommodation establishments in Corfu are categorised as small and medium sized enterprises, as most of them are family run and they in most cases employ no more than 20 people. The economy of Corfu is mainly based on tourism but a small part is still related to agriculture and fishing, the inhabitants still produce quality olive oil and wines throughout the mountainous villages.

Corfu was one of the first Greek destinations to expand its tourism industry and that was because the island already had some basic infrastructure and a remarkable cultural and historical value.

The name Kerkyra is only used in Greece. To the rest of the world the island is known as Corfu. Corfu is mentioned frequently within the Greek Mythology. According to myth, Poseidon fell in love with the beautiful nymph Korkyra, daughter of Asopus and river nymph Metope, and abducted her, as was the custom among gods of the era's myths. Poseidon brought her to the hitherto unnamed island and, in marital bliss, offered her name to the place: Korkyra, which gradually evolved to Kerkyra. Together, they had a child they called Phaiax, after whom the inhabitants of the island were named: Phaiakes, which was then transliterated via Latin to Phaeacians. In Homer’s Odyssey, there is a chapter about the hero Odysseus who was washed ashore on Corfu while trying to make his way back to the island of Ithaca.

The island’s cosmopolitan capital, Corfu town , is one of the most fascinating cities in Greece . This is due to the heavy influences of the Venetians, the British, the French, the Normans and the Romans who have all ruled and controlled the island in the past. As opposed to many other Ionian islands, Corfu was never occupied by the Turks and this gives the island a very different temperament from the rest of Greece. In 2007, the Corfu town’s “old town” was named on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The population of Corfu is about 110,000 with 40,000 living within the island’s capital. The island is gifted with unique natural and cultural beauty and every village in Corfu has a different interesting story to tell. A short walk in the narrow streets of Corfu town will take you back in history as the town is boasting with countless museums, squares, churches, old buildings and the two major Venetian fortresses.

Whether you are a traditional sun seeker, an adventurous sailing or diving enthusiast or just want to experience Greece at its best, there is something for everyone in Corfu. The local cuisine is fantastic with many recipes that would satisfy even the most demanding food connoisseurs. Some of the dishes to look out for:

Starters:
Tzatziki, Taramosalata, Saganaki, Skordopsomo, Feta Cheese, Tirokafteri, Ntolmades, Tiropitakia, Keftedes.

Main Courses:
Sofrito, Stifado, Pastitsado, Mousakas, Bourdeto, Souvalki, Gemista, Briam, Kleftiko.

Fish:
Any fish found in the Mediterranean Sea as well as prawns, lobster, octopus, squid. Always fresh and always full of taste.

Salads:
The one and only…Greek Salad

Desserts:
Baklavas, Kataifi, Galactoboureko, Karidopita, Koum Quat, Fresh fruit, Greek Yoghurt with local honey and Nuts.

Drinks: Retsina, Local wine, Koum Quat, Tsitsibira, Alpha Beer, Ouzo, Metaxa Brandy, Greek Coffee, Kafe Frape.

If you would like to find out more about Corfu. Please visit any of the following links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corfu
http://www.corfu.gr/en.htm