Wunderschön! - Corfu: Where emperors and gods feel at home
Corfu steeped in legend: Andrea Grießmann starts her journey on the "Gefyra tou Kaizer", the bridge of Kaiser Wilhelm II, and discovers a dreamlike, densely forested Greek island. She visits the "Achilleion", which belonged first to Empress Sisi and then to the last German Emperor, but also Venetian fortresses. During their centuries-long rule, the Italians left Corfu not only magnificent buildings but also good cappuccino and their pasta. Andrea Grießmann becomes a jury member at the pasta sauce festival, hikes a bit along the famous "Corfu Trail", which leads 220 kilometers across the island, and discovers the diving area around Paleokastritsa. She is accompanied by Maria Tsoukis, a German-Greek who has lived and worked on Corfu for 14 years.
Achilleion - statues of gods and Sisi's jewelry
Empress Elisabeth of Austria had a summer residence built on the most beautiful spot of the island at the end of the 19th century. She christened it "Achilleion", in reference to Achilles, her favorite hero in Greek mythology. In 1907, Kaiser Wilhelm II bought the palace along with the park decorated with statues of the gods. Andrea Grießmann visits the museum with Sisi's original furniture and jewelry.
Easter procession in honor of St. Spyridon
On Easter Saturday at 11:00 a.m., water-filled clay pots fly into the street. Apart from this strange custom, Easter is governed by the Greek Orthodox faith. Corfu's patron saint, Saint Spyridon, plays an important role in the celebrations. Not only is the church of Agios Spyridonas, which is well worth seeing, dedicated to him, but also the largest of the many processions that enliven the old town during Holy Week. The highlight of the celebrations is the service on the night of Easter Sunday. The "Holy Light" that Corfiots give to each other is flown in specially from Jerusalem.
The old town of Corfu Town: In the footsteps of the Venetians
Kerkyra is the Greek name of Corfu Town. The old town of the island's capital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007, is one of the most beautiful in Greece: narrow streets, rows of marble-paved stores lined with arcades, and monuments dating back eight centuries stretch between the New Fortress and the Old Fortress - built by the Venetians during their 500-year rule.
Broadcasting on 22nd of November 2022 at 11.35am on 3sat
Music: POPVIRUS Library