Private Corfu Town And Paleokastritsa
Private Corfu Town and Paleokastritsa
After meeting your professionally trained tour guide on the pier, you will depart Corfu Town and drive through the beautiful countryside to the famous Monastery of the Virgin. The monastery is located high on a hill overlooking the gorgeous Paleokastritsa Bay, known as "the Capri of Greece." This Byzantine monastery is still inhabited by a self-reliant community of monks; its long history is evident from the collections of Byzantine icons and other religious relics featured in the chapel and its museum.
Following your guided tour of the monastery, you will drive over the mountain ridge passing through some of the most picturesque traditional villages on the northern side of the island, with views of the countryside, island life and glimpses of the coast in the distance.
Before arriving in Corfu Town, you will stop at Kanoni for a photo stop to see the picturesque Mouse Island. According to the legend, Mouse Island was formed when the ship that had taken Odysseus back to Ithaki was turned to stone by Poseidon. On the tiny island, you can see the Convent of Vlachernas, linked to the mainland by a causeway.
Once in the Old Quarter of Corfu Town, you will drive to the front of the Old Venetian Fortress (14th Century UNESCO World Heritage site), opposite the central Esplanade Square. From here, your guide will lead you on a beautiful walking tour of the historic center of the Old Town. Walking through the maze of winding narrow cobbled streets known as "kandounia," you will visit some of the most elegant quarters of this Venetian-built town, which competes with Napoli, Florence and Venice in terms of beauty, style, character and charm.
Walking along the old cricket grounds, a tradition left over by the British, you see the Royal Palace of St. George and St. Michael, an imposing building built entirely of yellow Maltese stone by the first British Commissioner of the island. You will also see the spectacular arcades of the Liston Piazza, a down-sized replica of the Rue de Rivoli of Paris, built by the French in the 19th century. You will then walk to the heart of the old town, where you will visit the 300-year-old Church of Saint Spiridon, with its priceless collection of icons and gifts offered to the Patron Saint of the Island. You will also explore the old flea market and pass by the old Town Hall. At the appointed time, you will meet your driver for the return transfer back to your ship
Please Note: This tour offers customized departure times between 7:30 AM and 7:00 PM. If your preferred departure time is not listed, please contact us to place your request.
Shore Excursions Group was created with one goal in mind: to provide exceptional travel experiences to cruise passengers in the ports they visit around the world. To accomplish this, we have compiled an exceptional array of tours delivered by local experts with decades of experience serving travelers and delivering excellent tours. Our owners and management team are comprised of seasoned travel industry executives who leverage their considerable experience to deliver memorie ...
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