We were bused a couple of miles to the Esplanade, a huge public square. A line of horse-drawn carriages awaited those who might want a tour, but we were going on foot as usual. This whole area has a British feel to it, not surprising since the Ionian islands were a British Protectorate in the 19th century (1815-1864). The islands had been controlled by Venice for four hundred years (1386-1797) but just before the British ceded the islands to Greece in 1864, they inexplicably blew up almost every building and fort built by the Venetians. So most of the remaining buildings have a distinctly British look.

At the north end of the Esplanade is the Palace of St Michael and St George, the oldest official building still standing in Greece. It was built by the British (1818-23), was summer residence to the King of Greece, suffered damage during the Greek Civil War and was then renovated as a gift of the British ambassador as a memorial to the British role in Greek history. Some of the rooms are quite plush. The building also houses the Museum of Asiatic Art, a large private collection. There is a quiet garden in which to sit in the shade on a hot sunny day, and views of the sea at the rear of the building.

Nearby is the historic center of Corfu. The buildings are quite old and house many interesting shops.

 

And right at the center is the Greek Orthodox church of Agios Spyridon. This is a beautiful church with a tall campanile, and is striking for all the gold and silver displayed. Lamps, chandeliers, candlesticks and other ornamentation - all create a glittering effect, even in the dim light, unlike that of any other church we have visited. The remains of Corfu's patron saint, Spyridon, are kept in a silver casket which leaves the church four times a year for various religious processions.

We walked away from all the shops into an area obviously patronized by the local population. While there don't seem to be as many small motor bikes as in other European cities, they are still popular for getting through traffic quickly. Even when parked, they have their uses.

Back at the Esplanade, we had lunch along the Liston. This was built by Napoleon to imitate the rue de Rivoli which he had created in Paris. A series of arcades, once reserved for the aristocracy, now house a row of cafes and restaurants. It is a very pleasant place for a quiet meal.

The cricket ground was now filled with boys, practicing with their coach, but it didn't look like there would be any actual matches this afternoon.

The sun was out and it was getting late, so we decided to walk back to the ship by way of the Campiello and the Old Port. The Campiello is the oldest part of the city and lies between the Esplanade and the Old Port. The architecture isn't very interesting. The Byzantine Museum might have been interesting but had closed for the day. Our walk continued along the shoreline to the Old Port, which was not remarkable in any way. So we kept walking until we reached the New Port and the Wind Surf.