  Welcome to our December 2007 Newsletter
Looking North-East from Kommeno - taken December 6th, 2007
 Weather
The first days of December have been delightful – crisp mornings, blue skies with brilliant sunshine and invigorating light. Certainly the winter light is more intense and with the lack of any summer heat-haze the distant views from the island are breathtaking. Snow is building up on the higher mountains on the mainland and when the wind blows from the North and East there is a distinctive chill in the air. Apart from that, there is warmth from the sun and walking around the island’s many footpaths at this time of the year is a genuine thrill.
Renovations in the Old TownRenovations in the old town of Corfu continue with two more notable buildings clad in scaffolding and protective netting. The ‘Reading Society’ building, in Mouragia, which is the most ancient spiritual institution of the youngest Greece and the Daniel Cobici building on Nikiforou Theotoki Street in the ‘Pinia’ district. Reading Society Daniel Cobici building - last renovated at 1728
Feature Property For SaleAn independent and unique apartment of 180 sq.m, in a historical building in Mouragia, Corfu Town. Built in 1836, it played a significant role in the towns defence against various enemies. With an arched doorway, original flagstone floors, high vaulted ceilings, private and secluded garden, large windows and balcony with amazing sea views, this apartment is full of character and a part of the town’s history. Mouragia is the famous strech of frontage after the Palace's archway, towards the New Fortress. The word derives from the Italian “Mouraglia” which means walls. It is part of the perimetric defence walls which were finished in 1588 by the famous architect Ferrante Vitelli. Still visible around the town, this part was built on the steep sea rocks and the houses behind it, were responsible for the defence against the enemies coming from the sea. The current kitchen area, used to be the store room for the gun powder and the canon balls.
The neighbourhood, which is one of the most famous in Corfu Town, has beautiful, tall old houses and amazing, uninterrupted views to the sea, to Vidos island, to mount Pantokrator and to the Greek and Albanian mountain ranges. Asking price: €750,000 – £542,067 For further details please click here
Lesser known facts about CorfuWhile Turkish rule (1453-1821) left Greece sleeping in spiritual poverty, another wind was blowing in the Ionian Islands. Education and the culture of western civilisation were the gifts of the various occupants. Under the influence of the Venetians, the French and the British, Corfu developed a particular culture of its own. The influence is plain to see: in their houses, food, festivals, the narrow streets and squares, their customs, language, even their Christian names. Here were established:   The New Municipal Theatre one century ago The first theatre of San Giacomo and today’s City Hall ‘Nobile Teatro di San Giacomo’ -named after the nearby catholic cathedral of Corfu - is now the town’s City Hall. Inaugurated in 1693, the building was originally functioned as the loggia of the island’s Venetian nobility, but in 1720 it was converted into a theatre and thus became the first modern theatre on Greek soil. Initially, it seems that it staged strictly theatrical performances, but in 1733 opera was performed for the first time: "Gerone, tiranno di Siracusa". For almost two hundred years between 1771 until 1943 nearly every major operatic composition from the Italian tradition , as well as many others of Greek and French composers, were performed at the stage of the San Giacomo theatre. Operatic performers who found success at the theatre were distinguished with the accolade "applaudito in Corfu", "applauded in Corfu", as a tribute to the discriminating musical sensibility of the island’s audience.
San Giacomo was converted into the City Hall and the beautiful New Municipal Theatre (picture above) took its place in 1901. It maintained the operatic tradition vividly until its destruction during World War II as a result of a 1943 German air raid. Kostas Kardamis, “San Giacomo and Greek ottocento", XI Convegno Annuale di Societa Italiana di Musicologia, Lecce, 22–24 October 2004
A moment in Corfu’s HistoryOn December 12th we have the name day of Saint Spyridon, patron saint of Corfu. Probably by far the most common name in Corfu, Spyros/Spyridonas for males and Spyridoula for females. Originally born in Cyprus towards the end of the 3rd century AD, Saint Spyridon was a simple shepherd, married with one daughter called Irene. He used all his means to help the needs of his neighbours and the homeless. After the death of his wife he was appointed the Bishop of Tremithus (306-337) Cyprus. As a bishop, the saint did not change his manner of life, but combined pastoral service with deeds of charity.    During his lifetime he gained the reputation as a wonder worker and has a number of miracles and divine gifts attributed to him. St. Spyridon died around the year 350 – his relics remained in Cyprus until the middle of the seventh century, when, because of the incursions made by the barbarians at that time, were taken to Constantinople, where they remained, being honored by the emperors themselves. However just before the fall of Constantinople, which took place on May 29, 1453, a certain priest named George Kalokhairetes, the parish priest of the church where the Saint's sacred relics were kept, took them away on account of the impending peril. Traveling by way of Serbia, he came as far as Arta in Epirus, a region in Western Greece opposite to the isle of Corfu. He passed over to Corfu around the year 1460. Still after nearly seventeen hundred years after his repose, Saint Spyridon’s body remains incorrupt - never decomposed - in his silver sarcophagus in the Church after his name in the old part of Corfu town. It is said generating an untold number of miracles. He is taken and paraded around the city three times a year. Easter Sunday, 11 August and the first Sunday of November.
A character from Corfu's past  the water carrier (the photo is from the book of Maria Sgourou-Krokou “Η Κέρκυρα που έφυγε“)
We wish you a Merry Christmasand a safe, happy and prosperous New Year 
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