To begin the tour you will pass through the main part of town before entering the delightful countryside. You will notice that Corfu is more lush and verdant than most Greek islands. This becomes apparent as you pass groves of olive, orange and lemon trees, interfused with tall, graceful cypresses on your way to the village of Gastouri. Here you will visit the Achillion, the mansion built by the Empress Elisabeth of Austria and later owned by Kaiser Wilhelm II. The mansion has been restored by the state and the gardens with their statues have been left intact for visitors to admire. The tour will continue to Kanoni. At this site you will see the old cannon from which the name Kanoni came from. From above you will see the nunnery of Vlacherna and Mouse Island in the far distance. You will return to the town by a different route. There you can enjoy a lovely walk through the narrow, balconied streets of the old district on the way to visiting the beautiful church of St. Spiridon before returning to the quayside.

 

Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes.  This tour is not wheelchair accessible.

                       

This tour visits Paleokastritsa, the area of unique natural beauty on the northwestern shores of Corfu. It is known as the “Capri of Greece” for its rocky promontories cloaked in pine and cypress trees extending out into the sea, hiding small sandy bays and coves with crystal clear turquoise waters glimmering under the bright sun. In Paleokastritsa, you will take a 30-minute boat ride to the famous grottos of the area, the sea caves of “Nafsika,” “Saint Nikolas,” and the “Blue Eye.” Here, the natural ground formations combined with the minerals in the ground and the natural sunlight give life to amazing forms, colors and optical illusions. Upon your return to the main beach, you have free time to enjoy a refreshing dive in the turquoise waters, sunbathe on the soft sand or beach walk, before boarding the coach for the drive uphill to the traditional village of Lakones. You will be driving up the very same serpentine-like, narrow road where the famous car chase in the James Bond movie “For your Eyes only” was filmed.  In the village of Lakones, you can admire local village architecture more reminiscent of Italy than of typical Greek villages, before enjoying a “meze” (Greek snack) and tasting wines of the island at the local café at the “Bella Vista,” a location known for the spectacular and breathtaking views it commands over Paleokastritsa.

 

Please note: The trip to the caves is subject to sea and weather conditions.

             

 

This tour is perfect for those who would like to visit Rome but do not feel like walking the cobblestone streets. You will meet the local guide at disembarkation  and board a coach for Rome to start the tour with  Via Veneto, which became popular in the 1960s as the heart of the “Dolce Vita” of Fellini’s Cinema, Castel Sant’ Angelo and St. Peter’s Basilica and Square, the monumental square surrounded by four sets of 284 columns on 88 pillars. It is the masterwork of Bernini and welcomes pilgrims  to the largest temple in Christianity. The dome was designed by Michelangelo.  Your tour will continue to the Ostiense Gate,right next to the amazing Pyramid of Caio Cestio, built in 12 B.C., and the Baths of Caracalla, the second largest spa in ancient Rome.  Then you will head to the Circus Maximus, which could welcome 320,000 spectators who watched chariot races there. Pass by the Colosseum, constructed in only 8 years, where over 70,000 spectators could take a seat and leave the building in only a few minutes through its 80 entries. Your tour also includes The dome of the basilica was designed by Michelangelo. Your drive will continue to St. Paul’s Basilica Outside the Walls, where you will have free time to explore on your own. The coach will wait for you in the vicinity to return you to the airport.

 

Please note: There are 3-4 steps to enter and exit the coach and a few steps in St. Paul’s Basilica.

This tour is perfect for those who would like to visit Rome but do not feel like walking the cobblestone streets. You will meet the local guide at disembarkation  and board a coach for Rome to start the tour with  Via Veneto, which became popular in the 1960s as the heart of the “Dolce Vita” of Fellini’s Cinema, Castel Sant’ Angelo and St. Peter’s Basilica and Square, the monumental square surrounded by four sets of 284 columns on 88 pillars. It is the masterwork of Bernini and welcomes pilgrims  to the largest temple in Christianity. The dome was designed by Michelangelo.  Your tour will continue to the Ostiense Gate,right next to the amazing Pyramid of Caio Cestio, built in 12 B.C., and the Baths of Caracalla, the second largest spa in ancient Rome.  Then you will head to the Circus Maximus, which could welcome 320,000 spectators who watched chariot races there. Pass by the Colosseum, constructed in only 8 years, where over 70,000 spectators could take a seat and leave the building in only a few minutes through its 80 entries. Your tour also includes The dome of the basilica was designed by Michelangelo. Your drive will continue to St. Paul’s Basilica Outside the Walls, where you will have free time to explore on your own. The coach will wait for you in the vicinity to return you to the Windstar Cruises hotel.

 

Please note: There are 3-4 steps to enter and exit the coach and a few steps in St. Paul’s Basilica. If you are not staying at the Windstar hotel you will be dropped of at the Piazza Repubblica where many taxis are available to take you to your independent hotel.