Exclusive Achilleion Palace, Paleokastritsa and Corfu Town

special offer banner Exclusive Achilleion Palace, Paleokastritsa and Corfu Town
Excursion Highlights:
  • Experience the best of Corfu with exclusive access to the Achilleion Palace, Paleokastritsa Monastery, and Corfu Town
  • Enjoy a guided tour of the Byzantine Monastery of the Virgin, with breathtaking views of the "Capri" of Greece
  • Journey through picturesque traditional villages, marvel at the scenic countryside, and take in the coastal vistas
  • Visit the opulent Achilleion Palace
  • Take in the 300-year-old Church of Saint Spiridon.
Price: $129.00   Sale Price: $109.00   Save: $20.00
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Summary
Shore Excursion Size ? Standard
Shore Excursion Type Cultural, Active, Scenic, Walking
Shore Excursion Duration 5 Hours
Activity Level ? Moderate
Shore Excursion Leaves From ? Cruise Ship Pier
Food/Beverage Provided Not Included
Recommended Dress We recommend wearing comfortable, weather appropriate clothing and sensible, flat-soled walking shoes. We also suggest sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat. As you will be visiting a religious site, you may wish to have your shoulders and knees covered out of respect.
Restrictions Guests must be able to get in and out of transportation. Guests must be able to walk over paved, and cobblestone surfaces, some of which are uneven. There are several steps and elevations at sites visited. At times, sections of the road to the monastery are closed for maintenance, and guests may have to walk uphill for approximately 10 minutes to reach the monastery. This tour is not wheelchair accessible.

Exclusive Achilleion Palace, Paleokastritsa and Corfu Town

Where most cruise lines may offer only two of the three must-see sights on Corfu, this tour affords you three wonderful destinations, and in groups never larger than 30 guests per guide. Enjoy an exclusive excursion to the beautiful Achilleion Palace and Gardens, the monastery of Paleokastritsa, and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Corfu Town.

After meeting your professional, local and friendly guide on the pier, depart Corfu town and drive through the beautiful countryside for approximately 30 minutes 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, approximately 90 minutes, continue from here with a 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.

Approximately 30 minutes later you will reach the old traditional village of Gastouri where you will visit the Achilleion Palace, built by Empress Elisabeth "Sissy" of Austria in 1891, and later owned by Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. In addition to visiting the interior rooms that are open to the public, you will also see some of the beautiful gardens full of exotic trees and flowers, which the Empress brought with her from her trips around the world. The gardens also feature several classical statues, as she was very fond of Greek ancient history and mythology. The main Terrace of the Muses is decorated with statues of the Nine Greek Muses and the imposing figures of Achilles Victorious and Achilles Dying. From several places in the garden you will also have spectacular views over the Ionian Sea.

Leaving Achilleion, you will make your way back to Corfu, approximately 40 minutes away. Once in the Old Quarter of Corfu Town, 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 can 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 have time to explore the old flea market, passing by the old Town Hall and then find yourself in the busy shopping district where you will have some free time for shopping or leisure. At the appointed time and place, you will meet your driver for the return transfer back to your ship.

Please Note: The Achellion Palace is closed until further notice and will be substituted with a visit to Mon Repos Palace. Mon Repos Palace was built in 1826 by the British Commissioner Frederic Adams as a gift to his Corfiot wife, Nina Palatianou. It is a small but very beautiful palace with colonial architectural elements.