Achilleion

Corfu is popular not only with today's tourists but also with the Austrian Empress Sissi, who had the Achilleion Palace built here at the end of the 19th century. The central theme of the palace is Greek mythology, especially the stories of Achilles. The palace is situated on top of a high cliff and offers spectacular views of the surrounding area, including the Ionian Sea.

Palace Gardens

The Palace and Sissi

Sissi fell in love with the picturesque scenery during her first visit to Corfu. Here she sought refuge from the bustle of the Viennese court and the official protocols she hated. In Corfu, she found peace and a connection with Greek mythology that fascinated her. Personally, I have long wanted to see the palace, as the world of Greek heroes is very close to my heart and I was guided through my childhood by the stories of Sissi. And the palace did not disappoint. I can understand why Corfu fascinated her and also why she took refuge here. The place is captivating and the inner peace is perhaps felt by every visitor.

view from the Achilleion Gardens

The palace, completed in 1890, was designed by the eminent Italian architects Raffaelle Carito and Antonio Landi. The central figure is Achilles, the hero of the Trojan War. The palace is decorated with numerous statues and works of art, including the famous statue of "Dying Achilles". She may have felt a connection with Achilles, as life in Vienna was, in turn, her Achilles' heel, and at court, she felt she was suffocating and slowly dying. She spent many months of the last years of her life here, finding refuge, especially after the tragic suicide of her only son, the heir to the throne, from which she never recovered.

gardens and sculptures

After Sissi's assassination in 1898, the palace was abandoned for several years until it was purchased by the German Emperor Wilhelm II in 1907. Wilhelm made several alterations to the palace and its extensive gardens, further developing the motifs of classical Greece. He also added the statue of the victorious Achilles, which is the exact opposite of Achilles as Sissi needed to see him. During both world wars, the palace fulfilled various military functions, including that of a hospital and headquarters.

The Victorious Achilles

The palace at present

At the end of the 20th century, the palace was declared a national cultural heritage site and the Greek government attempted to restore the original beauty of the site, which had been in a state of decay since the First World War. Today, the Achilleion Palace is a major tourist attraction, showcasing its historical grandeur through carefully restored rooms and gardens filled with statues and panoramic views of the Ionian Sea. We visited Corfu in the summer of 2022 and unfortunately, the palace was being renovated at the time, so we were only able to see the gardens. We were very sorry about that, as this particular site was the main reason why I wanted to go see this island.

Achilleion Palace

The gardens were open and full of statues with ancient themes. Not only the Satyrs were depicted here, but also the god of wine, Dionysos.

gate to the gardens

The central monument of the gardens is the statue "Dying Achilles", created in 1884 by the German sculptor Ernst Herte. The detailed white marble statue vividly depicts the Greek hero at the moment of his death with an arrow stuck in his heel, his only vulnerable spot. This heart-touching sculpture captures Achilles' vulnerability, but also his fighting spirit.

Dying Achilles

During our visit, the children were extremely bored. Our eldest daughter, who was also enthralled by Sissi's stories, was disappointed because she had been looking forward to visiting the palace. Even though we only saw a small part of the palace, the visit was well worth it. It must have been amazing to be able to walk around the palace as well and follow one of the few women you read about in every history book, who was largely responsible for several reconciliations in a tense Europe in the late 19th century.

How to get here

Achilleion is located a short distance from the capital and can be easily reached by bus, organised excursion or rental car. Plenty of free parking spaces are available.