Was Corfu ever Italian?

Corfu was occupied by both Italian soldiers and the Nazis during the Second World War. The Italians were given administrative control in 1941 but this was seized back again in 1943 with an almighty bloodshed as Italian soldiers sided with Greek freedom fighters.



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Corfu lies off the northwestern coast of Greece, near Albania, where the Ionian Sea meets the Adriatic. The Lion of St. Mark, one of the most iconic symbols of Venice, is an emblem of Corfu, too, another present-day reminder of the island's Venetian history.

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The architecture of Corfu City still reflects its long Venetian heritage, with its multi-storied buildings, its spacious squares such as the popular Spianada and the narrow cobblestone alleys known as Kantounia. The town began to grow during the Venetian period on a low hillock situated between the two forts.

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From the 15th century, Corfu was under Venetian rule for some four centuries, then passing to French, British and Greek governments. At various occasions, it had to defend the Venetian maritime empire against the Ottoman army.

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In 1386, the Venetians, seeking a strategic entry point into the Adriatic for naval interests, annexed Corfu, exerting their influence over the island's culture, architecture, language, and most notably, its food.

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One very important aspect of Corfu we didn't mention so far: the residents of the island. The are called Greeks, but they call themself Corfiots. Despite the residents of Corfu are a bit different from the other Greeks, we will describe them in general.

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The island of Corfu, which lies off the west coast of the Greek mainland, is no stranger to foreign influences. Its unique culture is a fusion of Greek and Italian elements, with later British and French additions, reflecting its varied history as a much coveted and strategic holding in the Mediterranean.

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In 1912, Italy seized Rhodes and the Dodecanese Islands from the Turks. Due to the Treaty of Lausanne, the island, together with the Dodecanese, was officially assigned to Italy. It became the core of their possession of the “Isole Italiane dell'Egeo”.

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The French occupied Corfu for only a year before a Russian-Turkish fleet took the island, leaving the Russians in control and declaring the island part of the Eftanisos State – the State of the Seven Islands.

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Its rich multi-cultural heritage, its historic monuments, its stunning natural landscape, its crystal clear seas, and its excellent weather all year round explain why Corfu is one of the most cosmopolitan Mediterranean destinations weaving a powerful spell on its visitors.

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According to the Palazzo Chigi, presenting Italy to Britain as a trustworthy partner was crucial to the outcome of these talks since Britain was concerned by Mussolini's impulsive actions, including the takeover of Corfu. Following the event, martial law was imposed across Greece by the Greek government.

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The Corfu dispute was a significant case study of failure for the League for the following reasons: ? The incident showed the League was powerless against a bigger country which threatened a smaller country. ? It proved the League could be ignored and overruled by other international groups.

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With houses dating from the 14th century, Old Perithia is Corfu's most ancient village. Built to be safe from pirate attacks, it's near the top of the island's highest peak, Mount Pantokrator, surrounded by dense forest and with views over the Ionian Sea towards Albania.

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The Greek Language Many people speak English, some very well, but even just a few words in their native language will always be appreciated.

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