The spectacular Corfiot Easter offers a unique opportunity to experience the islands charms, stroll through the atmospheric Old Town and discover the magic of springtime nature in the lush green hinterland.
The melodies of the philharmonic bands, the smashing of the botides, the elegance and the atmosphere of the Old Town make Easter in Corfu a unique experience you should live at least once in your life. The squares and the narrow lanes of the atmospheric Old Town set the stage for Greeces most melodic and perhaps most famous Easter.
But dont limit yourself to the Easter festivities. Now is the best time to explore Corfu and discover the magic of spring nature in the lush green hinterland.
Easter in Corfu: Spectacular and melodic
The events begin on Palm Sunday, with the procession of Saint Spyridon accompanied by all the islands philharmonic bands. On Holy Thursday evening, its worth standing in the streets of the Old Town, on Nikiforou Theotoki and Filarmonikis Street, to hear the bands dress rehearsal. On Good Friday you willspend your entire day in the Old Town. From the early afternoon, the Epitaphios processions begin in the picturesque lanes. Stake out a spot early to watch the imposing Epitaphios of the Metropolis, which sets off around 22.00 (the best vantage points are from Mouragia to the Liston). The streets glow purple, while the Old Philharmonic (Red) plays Albinonis Adagio, Mantzaros (Blue) Verdis Marcia Funebre, and Kapodistrias Elegia Funebre, Marianis Sventura, and Chopins funeral march.
On Holy Saturday the island wakes at 6 at dawn with the custom of reenacting the Resurrection earthquake, held in the Ionian-style three-aisled basilica of Panagia ton Xenon. A little later, at 9, the procession of the Epitaphios of the Church of Saint Spyridon takes place. It is accompanied by the bands playing Faccios Amleto (Old Philharmonic), Michellis Calde Laccrime (Mantzaros) and theMarcia Funebre from Beethovens Eroica (Kapodistrias).
The mourning of the Epitaphios gives way to the joy of the First Resurrection at 11.00 with the spectacular and thunderous custom of the «botides». Around the Liston youll see dozens of clay pitchers of every size hurled from the decorated balconies, shattering with a bang on the ground. It is the most iconic image of Corfus Easter.
On Resurrection night, after the Resurrection service held in the park of the Upper Square, the sky lights up with wonderful, spectacular fireworks. On Easter Sunday from 7 in the morning each church carries the icon of the Resurrection in procession through the citys main streets, with philharmonic bands, schools, scouts and choirs.
What to do in Corfu Town
Wander around the Spianada, the largest square in the Balkans, enjoy your coffee or a tsitsibira at the famous Liston that strongly recalls Pariss Rue de Rivoli, visit the - the only one in Greece - Museum of Asian Art in the Palace of Saints Michael and George, stop by the Church of Saint Spyridon with its soaring bell tower and unwind with coffee or a drink by the sea in the Faliraki area. Kampiello, the oldest and most enchanting neighborhood of the Old Town, offers the perfect setting for romantic strolls through narrow lanes with laundry strung from windows and little squares with Venetian wells. A walk to the two well-preserved fortresses, the Old and the New, will reward you with a superb panoramic view of the city.
Spring is the best season for a stroll in Mon Repos, the 258-stremma estate located 3 km from the city of Corfu. The palace within the estate was built in 1831 by the British High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands Frederic Adam and, after the union of the Ionian Islands with Greece, was granted to King George I, who gave it the name Mon Repos. Today the Mon Repos palace houses the Museum of Paleopolis, where you will see archaeological finds from the area of the same name, while its beautiful garden hosts more than 2,000 species of plants, flowers and centuries-old trees.
In the Kanoni area, a few kilometers from the city of Corfu, the Monastery of Panagia Vlacherna, which floats on the sea, linked to the mainland by a narrow causeway, together with Pontikonisi dominating the background make up one of Corfus most famous and most-photographed sights. From the monastery, excursion boats will take you to Pontikonisi, where there is the Byzantine Church of the Pantokrator.
Spring excursions in Corfu
A few kilometersoutside the city of Corfu, in the village of Gastouri, stands the Achilleion, the famed palace of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (known as Sisi) that today operates as a museum. It has wonderful gardens with statues inspired by ancient Greek mythology and breathtaking views.
Famed for its natural beauty and its very cold, crystal-clear waters, Paleokastritsa lies 25 km from the city center. A lovely spring outing here includes the Monastery of Paleokastritsa perched on the hill with glorious sea views, aswell as a visit to the picturesque village of Lakones, above Paleokastritsa.
Old Perithia is one of the best-known villages in northern Corfu, stone-built and atmospheric, with crumbling mansions and tavernas serving local specialties. If you like nature walks, its worth the trip to the village of Nymfes where youll see waterfalls and the monastic complex of the Askitario (one of Corfus oldest Christian monuments).
On the northern side of Corfu, a very beautiful mountain village with lush vegetation and traditional houses is Sokraki. Its also worth visiting Afionas with its colorful houses, Peroulades that has been designated a preserved settlement and Pelekas (watch the sunset from the Kaisers Throne). Nature lovers shouldnt miss the chance for an excursion to Korission Lagoon, Corfus wetland that hosts more than 120 different bird species and is protected as a Natura area.
