Corfu stands at a crossroads, at the centre of trade routes across the Mediterranean Sea . Since the island is also blessed with a hospitable climate, it has over the centuries been a prize for conquerors. In mythology, it was the island of the Phaeceans, where Odysseus met Nausicaa. In historical times, it belonged to the civilisation of Ancient Greece, and subsequently it was occupied by Romans, Byzantines, Normans , Angevins, Venetians, French, Russians and the British, but never by the Turks who held the rest of Greece .
In 1864 the island took its place in the modern Greek nation. Corfu 's history has moulded an island like no other, an island where everyone feels at home, where everyone can discover the holiday which most appeals.

In Corfu Town , a new scene is revealed at every turn. Imposing monuments and the two Venetian fortresses contrast with the maze of tiny streets of the Old Town and with the bustle of the busy port. Gardens shaded by palms and bright with bougainvillea form a counterpoint to elegant mansions from Venetian times. The innumerable shops offer a mixture of the sophisticated and the practical, from jewellery to ships chandlery. More than a dozen museums and art galleries as well as a number of picturesque old churches offer plenty to see and do, while the town's three brass bands, symphony orchestra, opera company and choir, as well as several folkloric and contemporary dance groups, guarantee a full programme of theatrical and musical events. Corfu Town is a living city, home to over 40,000 people, and its international airport, busy port and modern road network contribute to the excellent infrastructure.

The Corfiots are cultured people with a great heritage of music and arts. The island boasts no less than thirty-two philharmonic bands, and the three which are established in the town give regular outdoor concerts during the summer months. Opera became a favourite musical form in Venetian times, and performances are greatly appreciated. As a proverb of the last century went, "to be applauded in Corfu is to be sure of international success". The many art galleries have permanent and changing exhibitions by artists of international as well as local fame. Today, the modern theatre and various romantic outdoor locations serve as venues for a great variety of events, from rock concerts to displays of contemporary dance, from performances by the island's symphony orchestra to theatrical works of tragedy and comedy. In Corfu the past lives in the present. Events which have been celebrated for hundreds of years are still enjoyed, in the traditional way.

For centuries, the year has been defined by the passage of significant days and celebrations. The four annual processions of the island's patron saint, Spiridon, are well-loved occasions, and the two which occur at Easter are part of an extensive calendar of religious and cultural activities, including traditions such as the Easter Saturday morning 'pot-throwing' ceremony. Summer sees many festivals, with traditional music and dances, while succulent lambs roasting on a spit scent the warm night air. The Corfiots love festivities, but they also take their Greek Orthodox religion seriously. Almost two thousand years of religious tradition is manifest in the richly endowed ecclesiastical buildings with their stunning icons, in tiny, inaccessible chapels where a candle always burns, and in the pristine, white-washed of monasteries where black-clad monks reside.