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Easter on Corfu Island
Easter on Corfu is considered to be the most magnificent celebration in Greece. Thousands of tourists (foreign and Greek) gather every year to experience this unique occasion, a combination of rich Corfu history with traditional religious customs.
Bella Studios, our Corfu hotel serviced apartments, are an ideal base from which to enjoy the Easter celebrations in Corfu. The hotel serviced apartments are located in Benitses village, only 12 kilometers / 7.5 miles away from the cosmopolitan Corfu town centre.
The apartments cost during Easter in Corfu from €56 double occupancy self catering per night inclusive of all taxes and services. Full Greek Breakfast is available at hotel Bella Vista nearby at an extra charge.
We strongly advise early confirmation of bookings due to the high demand for hotel rooms and apartments during Easter on Corfu. Should you specifically require accommodation in Corfu town centre we provide relevant information about hotels in Corfu town at the bottom of this page.
A Greek Orthodox Easter on Corfu Island, Greece
Sunday before Easter - The first ceremony of the Easter period starts at 11 o'clock on Sunday morning when the body of Saint Spyridon, the Patron Saint of the Island, is carried through the streets of Corfu Old Town. This maintains a tradition started in the year 1630 to commemorate the relief of the Island from famine which in the year 1629 killed great numbers of Corfiot people. This litany is the biggest, and all fourteen of Corfu's philharmonic bands are present.
Good Monday - During the day everyone is shopping and in the evening all Corfu churches on the Island celebrate Mass.
Good Tuesday & Wednesday - The churches are full of people and the priests recite passages from the Bible.
Good Friday - The Mourning procession starts early in the morning carrying an effigy of the body of Jesus (Epitaph). At 4 o'clock in the afternoon a bigger Epitaph (procession) starts from the Church of St. George (in the Old Fortress). This continues until the night when each church in the town, with the exception of the Church of St. Spyridon, starts its own Epitaph accompanied by one of the bands. At 9 o'clock at night the last and most magnificent Epitaph begins. This starts from the Metropolitan Church. Philharmonic bands are playing mourning melodies such as Adagio from Albinoni. The choir of the Metropolitan Church, accompanied by representatives of the secondary schools and Boy Scouts march together in this procession.
Good Saturday - The day starts in the Church of St. Mary where the real earthquake is simulated at 6 o'clock in the morning. This represents the earthquake described in the Bible after Jesus' resurrection. At 9 o'clock the Epitaph starts from the Church of St. Spyridon in the Old Corfu Town centre. In the year 1574 the Venetians forbade the Corfiot people from making this procession on Good Friday. Therefore, it still takes place on Good Saturday. The pomp is moving rhythmically together with the music of the three best philharmonic bands. The first philharmonic band, Old Philharmonic (1840), starts from the old City Hall and plays Hamlet by Italian composer Faccio. The second philharmonic band, Mantzaros Philharmonic (1890), plays Calde Lacrime (Hot Tears) by Michelli and the final philharmonic band, Capodistrias Philharmonic (1980), plays Beethoven's Heroika.
By 11 o'clock in the morning the crowd is waiting for the so-called First Resurrection. When Mass is over at the 'Metropolis' (The main Cathedral), bells from all the Corfu churches in town and Corfu Island start ringing. While the bells are ringing thousands of ceramic doses filled with water are thrown down from balconies overlooking the streets of the Old Town. This tradition comes from a passage in the Bible. Late in the evening, at 11 o'clock, everybody gathers in the big square where the Holy Mass takes place. Everyone holds a candle which has been lit from the holy flame. By the end of the Mass everybody on the square has a burning candle. Moreover, every house in the Old Town has dozens of burning candles on their balconies. This creates a unique and unforgettable atmosphere in the town. At midnight exactly the Second Resurrection happens and as soon as the priest says 'Christos Anesti' a huge and magnificent bonfire starts. Everyone shakes hands and wishes a Happy Easter to everyone around them.
Tradition says that every family must boil some eggs and paint them red (also from the Bible). Every member of the family has their own egg and tries to break the eggs of the other members of the family. Whoever's egg breaks all the other eggs without breaking itself will have good luck all year round.
Holy Sunday - At 7 o'clock in the morning the congregation from all Corfu Town churches comes out on to the streets with a symbol of resurrection, together with school students, philharmonic bands and choirs. In the afternoon the Navy Base in the New Fortress, following tradition, gives meze (a mixture of meat) to the people while dancing groups are performing. This day is also the last day of 40 days fasting and therefore on Sunday afternoon every Greek family grills a whole lamb and has a big feast to celebrate Jesus' resurrection.
Easter in Corfu Hotels
Information and prices for Corfu Town hotels during Easter
Corfu Palace
5*
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€
282 room/day, incl
breakfast, 4 days min stay, tel
+30 26610 39485
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Cavalieri
4*
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€
230 room/day, incl
breakfast, 5 days min stay, tel
+30 26610 39041
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Bella Venezia
3*
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€
170 room/day, incl
breakfast, 4 days min stay, tel
+30 26610 46500
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Arcadion
3*
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€
138 room/day, excl
breakfast, 7 days min stay, tel +30
26610 30104
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Konstantinoupolis
2*
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€
115 room/day, excl
breakfast, 3 days min stay, tel +30
26610 48716
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Atlantis
2*
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€
110 room/day, incl
breakfast, 3 days min stay, tel
+30 26610 35560
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Corfu town hotel and apartments prices are particularly high during Easter in Corfu. Hotel rooms outside Corfu town are much cheaper over the Easter period. What plays an important role in selecting a hotel or apartment for Easter outside Old Corfu Town centre is the distance between the resort and Corfu town itself. However visitors who choose to stay outside Corfu Town centre do not face the Corfu Town heavy Easter traffic or the Easter Corfu town parking search.
Why choose Benitses village and our apartments for Easter in Corfu
Location - Excellent location as Benitses lies by the seafront and is only 12 kilometers south of Old Corfu town centre. Benitses is a traditional tourist destination for guests arriving from mainland Greece and all over the world.
Restaurants - Excellent choice of local traditional restaurants offering a selection of local dishes along with the traditional Easter menu.
Churches - A variety of lively local churches which keep the Corfu Easter traditions alive by making Easter in the village a very special occasion. Easter is traditionally celebrated at Saint Nicholas church and then followed up in the village main square where the celebration is concluded with the traditional fireworks and church celebrations. One of the most moving parts of Easter at the Benitses church is listening to the local Benitses church choir which is amongst the best in Corfu Island.
Children's activities - The local children's playground is the meeting point of locals and visitors where children have the chance of mingling with each other.
Sightseeing - The Corfu Sea Shell Museum at Benitses village offers a unique choice of beautiful corals and seashells. The Roman baths and ruins are to be found at the village centre. The well known Achilleion Palace of the 'sad princess Sissy of Austria' is located at just 2 kilometers distance. The 'Mouse Island" is also located at only 5 kilometers distance from Benitses on the way to Corfu Town thus offering a wonderful sea view on the way to town.
Shopping (limited) - The village offers the basic souvenir shops for basic shopping at excellent prices cheaper than Corfu town centre.
Transportation - Frequent public transportation to and from Corfu town centre (blue bus) as well as connections to Southern part of Corfu (green bus).
We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you for Easter on Corfu in our hotel serviced apartments Bella Studios!
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