Greece - Corfu - More Information
Corfu is the second largest of the Greek Ionian islands. It is approximately 40 miles (64 km) long, with greatest breadth at around 20 miles (32 km). The Northern part lies just off of the coast of Albania at points only 2 miles away the central and southern section lies of the coast of mainland Greece.
The island's history is laden with battles and conquests. The legacy of these struggles is visible in the form of castles punctuating strategic locations across the island. Two of these castles enclose its capital Corfu Town (or Kerkyra in Greek), which is the only city in Greece to be surrounded in such a way. Corfu Town was long controlled by Venice, which repulsed several Turkish sieges, before passing into British hands following the Napoleonic Wars. Unification with modern Greece was concluded in 1864 under the Treaty of London. The British left two legacies, ginger beer and cricket.
Corfu's coastline spans 135 miles (217 km) including capes; its highest point is Mount Panktokrator (906 metres (2,972 ft)) Two high and well-defined ranges divide the island into three districts, of which the northern is mountainous, the central undulating, and the southern low-lying.