CORFU

The island has been a part of Greece only since 1864. Before that it was, for 50 years, a British protectorate… the British left the beginnings of a road and water system. They took over from the French, who were on Corfu long enough to make the famous Liston, reminiscent of Paris’s Rue de Rivoli. (The Liston was so named because you had to be on the "list of Corfiot well-born" before being allowed to sit there). The 300 previous years had been under benign Venetian rule and that legacy can still be seen today both in architecture and the millions of olive trees, which provide a supplement to income for many Corfiots.  
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The island is blessed with many natural attributes. There are mountains, streams, plains, beaches, both sand and pebbled, olive groves and wooded hillsides. During Spring the country side abounds with a variety of wild flowers. 
 
More than 110,000 people live on Corfu, of whom approximately 10,000 come from other European countries in the main the United Kingdom. During the tourist season, April to October, many more thousands visit on holiday or to spend time in a second home. In a good season the population can reach as much as 600,000. The main income producing activity is tourism and consequently the island has many types of accommodation ranging from camp sites to first class hotels.  
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There are hundreds of restaurants, bars, cafes and taverna’s supplying a variety of continental, international and local Greek cuisine. Sea, beaches, sun and a large selection of water sport make Corfu a very popular European and Eastern European holiday destination. Throughout the year there are scheduled domestic flights from Athens, car ferries from Italy and some charter flights.  
 
However, during the summer there are many direct charter flights from most European countries. In recent years the Italian car ferry services have been much improved. In the south, the Brindisi ferry takes 7 hours, while from the north the excellent Venetian ferries, with cabins, take about 24 hours. Venice can be reached by road from the English Channel ports in about 14 hours.  

Corfu has been the subject of many books, of whom those by British brothers Lawrence and Gerald Durrell are probably the best known. 

Apart from tourism, agriculture is the main industry of the island. There was a time when the governing body of Corfu offered the inhabitants a small amount of money for each olive tree planted. As a result, Corfu has in excess of five million olive trees and is one of the most "planted" of all the Greek islands. Fruit and vegetables are produced for local consumption as well as a variety of dairy products. The island is also famous for it’s Kumquat (baby orange) liquor.  
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Because Corfu has become a popular location for second or permanent homes as well as tourism, the building industry has thrived and has developed high standards. The island also supports a comprehensive transport structure including a newly developed Marina, which is certainly one of the most modern in the Mediterranean. Furthermore commercial activities such as banking, insurance, motor sales, medical facilities and light industry are well developed. 

While the many coastal villages are the preferred destination of most tourists, many of the permanent residents prefer to live inland where property prices are cheaper and yet the sea is always within a few minutes drive. The focal point of the island is Corfu Town, which is busy throughout the year. Apart from its magnificent selection of shops, restaurants and bars it is also the home of the theatre, museums and art galleries. The Liston is the center point of the regular parades to commemorate Corfiot and Greek history, always accompanied by the superb Corfiot bands – an indication of the island’s great musical abilities and traditions. 
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Medical services on the island, both state and private are good. There is a new general hospital being built in Gouvia (5 Km outside Corfu town) which is scheduled to open in 2010. There are many schools and a university. 
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Most Corfiot families ensure their children can speak at least one other language - often English but also German, Italian and French. 
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Winters in Corfu are mild and quite rainy; spring and autumn are pleasant, while summer is invariably totally sunny. 

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