Corfu: Venetian Old Town, Fortresses & Beaches – Greece in 4K

Corfu: Venetian Old Town, Fortresses & Beaches – Greece in 4K

The Greek island of Corfu is a beautiful blend of natural scenery, rich history, and Mediterranean charm where turquoise waters meet Venetian fortresses and the winding alleys of its lively old town. I’ll highlight its major sights explore a few in more depth, and share our walking routes. Corfu is located in the north-western part of Greece, just 2 km off the Albanian coast. Often called the emerald jewel of the Ionian Sea, it’s one of Greece’s greenest islands blanketed in olive groves, cypress trees, and lush hillsides. It has some of Greece’s finest beaches, with long sandy shores and crystal-clear turquoise waters. Along the southwest coast, you’ll find beaches ideal for lounging and watersports, as well as quieter, less-developed stretches bordered by wind-swept dunes. The northwest coast is more rugged and dramatic. The twin coves of Timoni Beach is reached by either a 30-minute hike or travel by water. The area of Paleokastritsa features six stunning turquoise bays, framed by dramatic cliffs and lush green hills, with scenic seaside walks and hiking trails. Adventure seekers can explore hidden sea caves and grottoes by kayak or small boat, while snorkelers and divers enjoy crystal-clear waters and rich marine life. One of the island’s most unique spots is the Canal d’Amour, meaning “Channel of Love”. Here we find striking sandstone cliffs, sculpted by the sea, creating narrow coves, natural tunnels, and crystal-clear sea canals. Perched on a lush hilltop, the Achilleion Palace is one of Corfu’s most elegant landmarks, built in 1890 for Empress Elisabeth of Austria. The palace has been closed for renovations with hope of reopening by 2026. In the meantime, visitors can still wander the gardens and enjoy the panoramic views. Our visit to Corfu was a port stop on a cruise, and we begin with an early morning coffee at the Kanoni Viewpoint. This area of Kanoni was the site of the original ancient city of Corfu, and below were two harbours. In the 5th century BC, it was a major naval power alongside Athens and Corinth. On the left, a set of stairs lead down the hill to a monastery, perched at the end of a narrow causeway. From there, small boats depart regularly to the legendary Pontikonisi Island. According to mythology, as Odysseus sailed home, the god Poseidon turned his ship to stone — which is this island. Next, we took a short walk around Anemomylos Windmill next to a peaceful harbour, with a beautiful view over Garitsa Bay. This historic Venetian windmill, originally used wind power to grind grain for local communities. It eventually fell into ruin, and was fully rebuit in 1998 on its original site, preserving its traditional design. We now explore Corfu’s Old Fortress — an imposing landmark that dominates the eastern edge of Corfu Town. Its towering stone walls and panoramic views and are a testament to the island’s strategic importance and history. Although Corfu once belonged to the Roman and Byzantine Empires, the fortress as we see it today was built by the Republic of Venice, who ruled the island for nearly 400 years from 1386 to 1797 and left a profound mark on the island’s identity and architecture. The fortress was constructed in the 16th century to defend against repeated Ottoman sieges, including three major assaults the 1500’s. While the fortress itself never fell, the neighbouring Corfu Town suffered heavy damage and took a toll on its people. So the Venetians constructed a second, newer fortress on the opposite side of town to strengthen defenses. The last Ottoman siege of 1716 was their largest invasion. However, Corfu’s defenders, aided by two fortresses and reinforcements from Venice managed to repel the invasion. Although the Ottoman Empire ruled a majority of Greece, they never conquered Corfu and a couple other Ionian islands to the south. In 1797, Napoleon conquered the Republic of Venice, and Corfu fell into the hands of the French. After Napoleon’s fall in 1814, Corfu came under British control until it was united with modern Greece in 1864. Today, this Old Fortress stands as a monument to Corfu’s turbulent past, and is a peaceful place to explore. A visit to Corfu is not complete without a walk through its old town. We explore the charming Campiello district the oldest part of Corfu Town. Its set on a rocky hill where the city first expanded beyond the Old Fortress in the 13th century. Here is Corfu’s New Fortress built by the Venetians around 1577, and later expanded by the British. I loved this little square, and we pass through it again on our walk. Campiello is the most atmospheric and distinctly Venetian quarter, with narrow, winding alleyways, steep stone steps, and arched passageways. So, while the layout and some building foundations go back to medieval times, most above-ground structures were modified or rebuilt in the 17th & 18th centuries during the Venetian period with some restoration since then. As we wander through the pastel-colored buildings, we spot laundry lines strung between balconies and stumble upon hidden courtyards. I love the look of weathered stone walls, partial restorations, and crumbling corners. It shows where time has left its mark and reveales a glimpse of the past beneath the surface. Campiello is a beautiful living maze a blend of everyday life and timeless charm, where each turn reveals scenes that feel straight out of old Venice or southern Italy.

The Greek island of Corfu is a beautiful blend of natural scenery, rich history, and Mediterranean charm—where turquoise waters meet Venetian fortresses and the winding alleys of its lively old town. We highlight its major sights, explore a few in more depth, and share our walking routes.
Find other fabulous videos of destinations around the world on Haswell Travelled channel.
Raw video was captured on a Sony FX30 camera, 4K 60P, S-Cinetone, with a Sony E 15mm F1.4 G lens. Select clips from Envato Elements stock video.

All Haswell Travelled videos & subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmeyVZcaaj3xvn1Zt64S8UA
Haswell Travelled website: https://www.HaswellTravelled.com

Chapters:
00:00 Intro to Corfu, major sights of beaches, Paleokastritsa, Canal d’Amour, Achilleion Palace
02:25 Kanoni Viewpoint, area ancient history and legend of Pontikonisi Island
03:19 Anemomylos Windmill and view of harbour and Garitsa Bay
03:50 Walk through Old Fortress with island history including Venetian rule and Ottoman sieges
06:04 New Fortress and walk through Venetian Campiello District of old town
10:49 Views from cruise ship and ending

#corfu #corfugreece #greece #haswelltravelled

Music by Envato Elements (elements.envato.com):
1) Mediterrenean Greek Travel by MagicMood
2) Romantic Wedding (Non Vox) by lucafrancini
3) Hellenic River by PremiumBeat
4) Greek Loop by honey_lemon

From SmartSound Music (Licenced) (www.smartsound.com)
1) Subtraction – Dose Of Reality album

Image Attribution via Wikimedia (www.commons.wikimedia.org):
1) Corfu Lighthouse R04 by Marc Ryckaert (MJJR), CC BY 3.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
2) Corfu Achilleion R05 by Marc Ryckaert (MJJR), CC BY 3.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
3) Achilleion Terrace Corfu(1) By Thomas Schoch, CC BY 3.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
4) 2013 Achilleion 2 By Bärwinkel,Klaus, CC BY 3.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
5) Ποντικονήσι – Islet of Pontikonisi – Corfu – Ionian Islands – Greece – 18 Sept. 2008 By Dimitris Pachakis, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
6) Byzantinische Kapelle auf Pontikonisi, Korfu 05, By Kritzolina, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
7) Panorama over Old Town from Neo Frourio (New Fortress) – Corfu – Greece (41381673775) By Adam Jones, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0

Other Video Media:
1) Select Stock Video Clips and Images of Corfu from Envato Elements: https://elements.envato.com
2) Video Map Animation Software: Zoom to Corfu and Corfu Walks using Vasco da Gama and Vasco Street Maps By Motion Studios: https://motionstudios.de

References:
1) Greek National Tourism Org (GNTO) – Corfu: https://www.visitgreece.gr/islands/ionian-islands/corfu/
2) Wikipedia – Corfu: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corfu#Venetian_rule
3) Wikipedia – Old Fortress, Corfu: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Fortress,_Corfu
4) Wikipedia – Achilleion (Corfu): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achilleion_(Corfu)
5) Wikipedia – Corcyra (polis), ancient city: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corcyra_(polis)