Kassiopi

Kassiopi Κασσιόπη
Location
Kassiopi
Coordinates	39°47′N 19°55′E
Government
Country:	Greece
Region:	Ionian Islands
Regional unit:	Corfu
Municipality:	Corfu
Municipal unit:	Kassopaia
Population statistics (as of 2001)
Community
- Population:	1,153
Other
Time zone:	EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Auto:	ΚΥ

Kassiopi (Greek: Κασσιόπη) is a village, and a resort on the affluent north east coast of Corfu. It is in the municipal unit of Kassopaia. The town itself has been heavily developed and the more expensive villas are now outside it, but it remains a summer social centre much appreciated by the English. During August the Italians also arrive en masse.

Population

Year	Village population	Community population
1981	720	-
1991	872	-
2001	1,076	1,170

About Kassiopi

Uniquely on this coast, as well as the ubiquitous "tourist shops" and every kind of eating and drinking facility, there are banks with cash machines, doctors and pharmacies, internet cafes and supermarkets, a school and a church (where sightseers are welcome, as long as they respect the traditions), travel agents and a police station.

Motor boats, which can be driven by children or adults during the daytime only, are available for hire by the day or week, at prices from 70 Euros (US$90) per day. Excursions run daily from the harbour to all parts of the island.

The road runs through the edge of the town, and a loop takes buses as far as the village square, some 229 m (250 yards) from the harbour. In an attempt to alleviate the traffic density that occurred around the harbour, a Car and Coach Park is provided at the top of the town. A free 'Land Train' operates a daytime shuttle service between the car-park and the Harbour, with various stops on the journey. One or two taxis (which run 24 hours a day all over the island, and also function as ambulances) are based here. Both town and country are very safe, at all times of the day and the crime rate has remained consistently low for the whole north-east coast.

History

The town is said to have been founded during the reign of Pyrrhus, King of Epirus in the 3rd Century BC, as a supply post during his war with Rome. After the Roman conquest of the island in 230 BC, many Emperors visited, most prominently Emperor Nero, who came to a Temple to Zeus here.

Much of a small headland to the north of the resort is taken up by a Byzantine castle. The castle was subsequently fortified further by the Venetians, and survived sieges from the Ottoman Turks in the 16th century. Today the castle is mainly a ruin, but parts of the walls can be seen from the coastal road around the headland.

Kassiopi panorama

See also

• List of places in the Corfu prefecture