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Sissy's Achillion Palace

The Achillion Palace is ideally located in the picturesque village of Gastouri. This magnificent Palace was built exclusively for Elizabeth (Sissy), the Empress of Austria (King Otto of Greece was her uncle), in 1890. The palace used to serve as her summer retreat.

With the classic Greek statues that surround it, the palace is a monument to platonic romanticism as well as escapism and was, naturally, named after Achilles: Achilleion. The place abounds with paintings and statues of Achilles, depicting the heroic and tragic scenes of the Trojan war. The architectural style is Pompeian.

The impeccably landscaped palace garden is absolutely top class and makes for a picture perfect setting. Empress Sissi was captivated and awestruck by ancient Greek legends and mythology. Her favorite was Achilles on whose honor she dedicated the palace. The Palace garden is replete with rather artistically sculpted statues of the pantheon of Greek Gods and Goddesses that makes for a truly mythical setting.

The popularity of the Achillion Palace can be gauged from the fact that the much hyped James Bond movie – “For Your Eyes Only” was shot at this magnificent palace and immortalized.

• Location information
• www.corfu.gr