Tradition

Corfu Marching Bands Corfu is internationally famous for its marching bands. On special occasions, the philarmonic orchestras with their colorful uniforms perform their repertoire to entertain locals and foreigners either in the town of Corfu or small villages all over the island. Corfu has 17 marching bands in total which play a very important role in the cultural identity of the island. There are fixed dates on which marching bands perform every year. These include: 25 of March- Celebration of the Greek Independence Day, seven weeks before the Easter Day, Good Friday, Good Saturday, 21st of May, 11th of August, 28th of October, 12th of December.

Even the historic center of the town can be seen as a living museum as it was listed by UNESCO as a heritage monument. It takes you on a journey through the past and history of the place. Many of the museums are situated in the town and a visit will help you understand the various influences that composed the cultural identity of Corfu. Corfu town most popular museums Archaeological Museum, Museum of Asian Art, Byzantine Museum, Casa Parlante, Municipal Art Gallery, Solomos Museum, Museum of Music, Numismatic Museum, Mon Repos Palaiopoli museum, the Serbian Museum, Museum of Ceramic Arts, The Bank Note. Corfu island most popular museums Sea Shell Museum in Benitses, Folklore Museum in Sinarades, Folklore Museum in Acharavi, Achilleon Palace - the Empress Elizabeth of Austria (known as Sissy), The Olive Museum in Kinopiastes, The Museum of Capodistrias in Evropouli, Corfu Costume Museum in Pelekas, Museum of Traditional Costumes and Corfiot Folk Music in Pelekas, Mavroudis family museum and oil press in Vraganiotika.

Based on the principles of the Mediterranean diet incorporating a variety of products such as meat, fish, olive oil, vegetables and cheese. In Corfu, you can find local honey, extra virgin olive oil and sheep yogurt. You can also taste traditional dishes with impressing and delicate taste. The most famous dishes which have Venecian influences are:Sofrito (beef cooked with vinegar, garlic and parsley), Bourdeto (a peppery fish stew), Bianco(fish stew with white sauce and garlic) and Pastitsada (a dish of rooster or beef in red sauce and spices served with pasta). These dishes are internationally known but you will probably find that they always taste better in Corfu. The atmosphere and the people will offer you a one-of-a kind experience that you will never forget. The traditional cuisine is not spicy but is packed of aroma and taste of  various veggie and herbs that are grown on Mediterranean lands. The single pot stews date back to the old days when cooks put all the ingredients together and left the food simmer all day until they come back from work.  

Unique and cannot be compared to anything else in Greece. There is plenty of tradition to pleasantly surprise you in every corner of the city. One of the most characteristic customs is the concerts of opera and classical music, as well as ecclesiastical singing choirs with influences from Crete that date back to the 1700s. There is a range of events to keep you busy and satisfied. There are specific events that take place every year. The first Resurrection takes place at 11 am on Holy Saturdays and is accompanied by joyful pealing church bells and sounds of marching bands. In the Old Town, there is a tradition of throwing clay pots from windows and balconies to crash on the streets. There are two possible explanations of this tradition; it either derives from the Venetians who were throwing old belongings on New Years Day so that the New Year would replace them, or it has pagan origins. According to Ancient Greek mythology, the tradition of smashing items aimed to wake up Persephone, the goddess of spring, to accelerate the coming of the season. The same day at night,  you can attend the Catholic Mass of the Resurrection in Duomo, or the Orthodox Resurrection Service at the Upper Square in the Old Town. Thousands of Christian believers holding lit candles flood the streets waiting for the Resurrection of Christ which is celebrated with lots of fireworks and drum beats.

• Corfu is full of olive trees. There are estimates that the number of the trees reach three million in total. Many of them are ancient trees dating of up to 400 years old. One recommended spot to buy extra virgin olive oil is Mavroudis in Vraganiotika, (+30) 26610 76759, Moraitika. • Kumquat is considered the trademark of Corfu island. The fruit of kumquat has small size but generally resembles of the orange in color and texture. It has sweet and tangy taste and usually it is not eaten raw. Kumquats are used for a range of products such as jams, liqueurs and sweets. Apart from the number of culinary uses, they are also used in beauty products such as cosmetics and toiletries. In Corfu, you can easily find kumquat-based products at most touristic shops. •Since antiquity, the climate of Corfu favors the production of excellent quality wine which is famous internationally. There is a range of local varieties such as kakotrygis (white), Petrokorytho and Skopelitiko (red). • The tradition of ginger ale dates back to the British rule on the island of Corfu. The drink is known as tsitsimbira among the locals. Chistopher Cheimarios and his family has adopted a British recipe to produce ginger beer which have remained unaltered since 1920. • Corfu has a long history of apiary because of the wide biodiversity of flora, characteristic of the Mediterranean climate. There are several beekeepers on the island who produce excellent quality honey and other products. • Noumboulo Foumikado is a traditional Corfiot dry-cured ham that is usually thinly sliced and served uncooked. It is made of pork meat which is marinated in local seasonings and wine. It matures naturally and has a slightly smoked taste by hanging over burning aromatic branches of Mediterranean herbs. • You can find a wide selection of traditional Corfiot products for your breakfast such as bread, butter and several varieties of jams. Kumquat jam is the most widely known but you can also find bergamot, orange, apple, pear, plum, figs and berries jams and marmelades. • Mandola is a characteristic sweet in the Ionian islands made of caramelized almonds or other nuts, sugar and sometimes sesame. Their name originates form the Italian word 'mandorla' which means almond. • There is a variety of natural cosmetics which is based of traditional Corfu products such as olive oil, herbs, fruit and various bee products. They are naturally produced without any additional chemical substitutes. You can find a range of olive oil soaps, shampoo, face cream, eye cream, feet and hand creams and various shower gels and body perfumes. • The art of hand crafted items and furniture dates many centuries back in Corfu. According to Homer, the olive tree was sacred; Odysseus made a bridal bed out of olive tree wood and Polyphemus his bat. Olive wood is carefully crafted traditional items with a unique feel and creative flair.