Corfu Palaces Private Tour: Three Gems Worth Visiting

Corfu Palaces Private Tour: Three Gems Worth Visiting

Travel back in time to the years when the royals chose Corfu Palaces as their favourite destination, from Sissi the Empress to the British Royal Family. Since the early 1800s, many aristocrats have fallen in love with the island’s climate and beauties, finding a perfect retreat to escape from court duties while maintaining their status of luxury and glamour. Join our Corfu Palaces Private Tour and discover their summer homes and residences.

Explore the stunning palaces of Corfu on this exclusive private tour, featuring three remarkable sites that are definitely worth a visit!

Corfu Palaces Private Tour: The Cornerstone of Local History

During this tour, you will be driven along the bay of Garitsa to the area of Paleopolis, the ancient city of Corfu, and Mon Repos Palace. We will make a stop in Kanoni, a viewpoint with great sights of the landmarks of Corfu, namely the picturesque Pontikonissi and the Monastery of Vlacherna. The Achilleion Palace and the Palace of Saint Michael and Saint George are also included in our route.

In a few words: you will have access to more than 3000 years of History in just a four-hour tour.

After your departure, your tour starts in Gastouri village, located on the slopes above the southeast coast of the island. We will reach the Achilleion Palace, built by Empress Elisabeth “Sissy” of Austria in 1891, and later owned by Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. Visit the rooms of the Palace and the beautiful gardens offering spectacular views over the Ionian Sea. The gardens are full of exotic trees and flowers and boast beautiful statues of Neoclassical style*.

The Empress had a deep admiration for Ancient History and Mythology, which is evident as you stroll around the premises. Notable features include the Peristyle of the Muses, adorned with Carrara marble statues of the Nine Greek Muses, as well as the striking figures of Victorious Achilles and Dying Achilles. Additionally, the small bronze sculptures depicting other mythological characters are also quite fascinating and skillfully crafted.

*”The Museum Achilleion is undergoing restoration works.
As a result, the only parts of the Museum that are open to visitors are the outdoor open spaces and the Imperial Gardens.
The Museum Achilleion staff is happy to help you with any clarification or assistance you may need during your visit.
Unfortunately, due to these construction works, accessibility to the Imperial Gardens for people with disabilities is difficult or impossible.
Thank you for your understanding.”

Mon Repos Estate: a Place For Nature, Archaeology and Architecture Lovers

Continuing our tour to the Corfu Palaces, we will follow the path leading to Mon Repos Palace on Analipsi Hill. The property gardens are full of centenary exotic trees, bushes, flowers, and shrubs, which were brought as gifts by diplomats and kings from all over the world during the nineteenth century.

The property has a rustic area covered in vegetation, where you can discover Corinthian temples from the 7th century BC, incredible tropical trees, and a finely decorated neoclassical palace.
The palace itself houses a small museum with the oldest photographs of Corfu, traditional costumes, and a compilation of artefacts of Greek and Roman origin, collected during nearby excavations.

Did you know that Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was born here?

The palace was built between 1828 – 1831 by the British Commissioner of the Ionian Islands, Sir Frederick Adam, as a gift to his beautiful Corfiot wife. In 1864 it was offered as a present to the King of Greece, George A’, and since then, it became the summer residence of the Royal Family. Here, they used to celebrate great parties with their royal friends from all around the world, as well as wedding proposals!
This is also one of the reasons why Corfu Island became such a popular summer holiday destination for the international jet set.

The Asian Art Museum, an Unexpected Exhibition in the Heart of the Old Town

The impressive Palace of Saint Michael and Saint George is the biggest one of all the Corfu Palaces. It was erected in Corfu Town for Sir Thomas Maitland, Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands from 1815 to 1823. Visit the beautiful colonnade and the People’s Gardens, overlooking the north of Corfu and the Albanian coast.

The palace is home to the Museum of Asian Art, which has more than 9.000 artefacts brought from China, Japan, India, Nepal, Tibet, Pakistan, and Northeast Asia by Greek ambassadors.

Did you know that…?

• In our blog, you will find recommendations about 8 things to do on a rainy day in Corfu.
• You can organise your route using this excellent route created by the Laboratory of Interactive Arts of the Department of Audio and Visual Arts of the Ionian University. Click here to discover it!

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