Cricket, the English heritage
Corfu is one of the only places in Greece where cricket is so successful! On April 23, 1823, this sport was introduced by the Royal Navy during the English occupation of the island. After the departure of the English in 1864, two local cricket groups were formed, the Gkogkakis Company and the Kampitsis Union, which later joined to become the Corfu Athletic Club. Of the twenty cricket teams in Greece, ten are based in Corfu. The Spianada, the main square of the city of Corfu, was the historical place where the English played.
A paradise for swimming and relaxing
In the Ionian Islands are the most beautiful beaches in Greece and even in the whole Mediterranean! In Zakynthos, the Bay of the Shipwreck (Navagio) has often been elected as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world by travel magazines. In Kefalonia, the beach of Myrto looks like a postcard. In Lefkada, the endless white sand beaches like Porto Katsiki or Egremni, south of Athani, give the impression of being in the Caribbean. In Paxos or Ithaca, small coves with crystal clear waters attract sailing enthusiasts. It is difficult not to succumb to the sea, even out of season we only want to dive in!
Many beach activities
Although the Greek islands are not the Caribbean or the Great Barrier Reef, they remain an exceptional spot for swimmers and divers. The Ionian Sea has many surprises in store for you.
Scuba diving is offered by a number of diving schools, especially in Corfu, Lefkada and Zakynthos. A large part of the waters is protected by a marine park and there are beautiful wrecks to explore in Corfu and Kefalonia. You can also explore sea caves and gorges in Zakynthos, where the natural marine park is populated by Caretta caretta
turtles, dolphins and monk seals. Not to be missed!Kitesurfing, windsurfing or sailing are very popular activities, especially off the windy coast of Leucate, in the area of Vassiliki. For those who don't have the sea legs, it is possible on almost all the islands to rent a boat without a license for a day and to go for a ride on the small adjacent islets.
Jet-skiing, towed buoys, water-skiing and wakeboarding are also very popular in high season. Few tourist beaches do not rent them.
Canoeing and paddling are also great opportunities to go for a ride on the sea.
On land too, something to do
If the blue leisure activities are obviously the most popular, Corfu and the Ionian Islands also offer great opportunities for the practice of green leisure activities. On land, you can practice many sports to discover the nature of the islands. All the islands are quite green and full of natural treasures. Specialized agencies and local information centers will guide you to unique experiences. Bring good shoes and prefer spring and Indian summer.
Hiking. Corfu and Lefkada are ideal for hiking due to their extremely varied ecosystems. They offer the traveler many natural parks. In Kefalonia, the Natural Park of Mount Ainos is a preserved massif where you can admire semi-wild horses and an exceptional flora.
On horseback, you can also enjoy beautiful walks, especially in Lefkada. Equestrian centers allow you to ride in the nature or on the beaches, in magical sceneries.
Golf. The Corfu Golf Club offers a superb course, very famous, which will please the amateurs.
Paragliding. You can also practice paragliding, especially on the island of Lefkada
