Easter in Corfu
Corfu is one of the most popular destinations in Greece for experiencing Greek Easter and has its own unique traditions.
On Palm Sunday the holy relic of St. Spiridon, the island’s patron saint is carried through the streets of Corfu Town in a ceremony that dates back to the original Good Friday.
On Good Friday every parish parades its funeral bier through the streets, accompanied by orchestras and choirs, eventually merging with each other. In Corfu Town all the street lights are turned purple especially for the procession.
On Easter Saturday ‘pot throwing’ takes place in Corfu Town, when meter high specially made ceramic pots, ‘botides’, filled with water, are thrown out of the windows after the first bell of the Resurrection tolls at 11am. The noisy spectacle lasts 3 – 5 minutes and is a draw for thousands of people, mostly tourists.
Traditional Easter meals include `magiritsa’, a soup made from offal, kokoreti, skewered intestines, spit roast lamb, Greek pies, salads and sweets, and eggs dyed red to symbolise the blood of Christ.
CV Travel has a selection of Corfu villas available over the Easter holiday, including a magnificent villa for 12 which comes with its own chef on Easter Day to prepare a Greek Easter spread, a family house for 10 and smaller family villas in the heart of the Easter festivities.
Party sized villa with chef to prepare a Greek Easter feast
For a spectacular and traditional gathering of friends and family at Easter CV Travel is offering a private chef to prepare a Greek Easter feast in a glorious contemporary villa for up to 12 guests with a large, private pool on the island of Corfu. Villa Lefki Thea is set in a hillside location above the popular harbour of St. Stephano with far-reaching views over the water towards Albania’s mountains. A week’s rental is currently on offer for £4680 (usually £6060), including the Easter Day chef service (excluding food), a welcome champagne reception, welcome hamper, daily maid service and luxury toiletries. Flights available on request.
Family house for 10 with pool and spa
A heated pool and central heating ensure a warm welcome over Easter, 4th April, at St. Nicholas Beach House, a spectacular detached cliff-top family house for up to 10 guests on Corfu’s north-east coastline, available for a week’s stay at Easter for £2800, excluding flights. The house has its own private pool and a virtually private beach, reached by steps down from the house, as well as and ozone therapy spa, a sauna/steam room and an indoor electric paddle pool with reverse swimming.
Villa for 6, and take a trip to see the Easter pot throwing
Close to the popular harbour of Kassiopi on Corfu’s north east coast, Villa Lithari is a lovely family house for up to 6 guests, set in the middle of pretty lawned gardens, with views to Albania’s mountains and the coast. The house provides a convenient base in spring for walking, visiting Mount Pankrator and the inland ruined village of `Old Perithia’ or take a trip down to Corfu Town to witness the Easter Saturday pot throwing festivities. Villa Lithari is available for £1620 for up to 6 sharing for a week over Easter, excluding flights.
Villa for 4 on Corfu’s north east coast
Villas don’t have to be vast and Villa Mimosa near the harbour town of Kassiopi, is a lovely example of a small family villa for four in an exceptional location, close to the shingle beach at Coyevinas on Corfu’s north east coast. The house is available for a week’s rental of £1060 at Easter for 4 sharing (excluding flights) and is close enough to walk into Kassiopi to see the Easter parades and firework display.
For more information and bookings, visit CVtravel.co.uk.
