Galini Galini, Avlaki Corfu, Islas Jónicas 49084 Grecia

‘Somewhere between Calabria and Corfu, the blue really begins… you are aware of a change in the heart of things: aware of the horizon beginning to stain at the rim of the world: aware of islands coming out of the darkness to meet you’. So begins Lawrence Durrell’s 1945 ode to Corfu, Prospero’s Cell. Even today, visitors to the island often arrive by sea, approaching from Italy in the west of the Greek mainland in the east.

In the early morning sunlight, the pastel-hued houses overlook Corfu Town’s historic port. They create a charming medley of slender levels interconnected by narrow alleyways. Laundry hangs from every balcony, resembling vibrant festive bunting swaying in the breeze.

Towering Venetian mansions, bearing ancient coats of colourful paint softened by countless winters, give town visitors the sensation of stepping into a watercolour masterpiece.

Corfu has rightfully earned its reputation as Greece’s music capital

The island boasts a multitude of music associations, orchestras, bands, and a musical tradition dating back 400 years to the Venetian era of the island.

At the heart of the town lies a broad tree-lined promenade known as the Spianada. Elegant French arcades reminiscent of Rue de Rivoli echo through the air. An intriguing British influence can be discovered on this grand square. It transforms into a cricket pitch during the summer, a unique feature as it’s the only operational sports field within a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Meanwhile, the Corfiot countryside sh