Gastouri, 49 084 CorfuTel.: 26610 56210, 56245Open daily: 09:00-16:00 - Entrance fee: 6,00 €
Located at approximately 10 kilometres southwest of the city of Corfu, the Achilleion Palace stands in an olive grove near the village of Gastouri. The palace was built between 1889 and 1891 by the Italian architect Raphael Carita for the Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary Elizabeth, better known as Sissy. The impressive halls of this fascinating relic of 19th century grand design, one of which has been transformed into a chapel, are crowded with a collection of statues, furnishings, interesting artifacts, 19th century paintings and personal items of the Empress. The Achilleion gardens are decorated with a number of statues including an 11.5-metre-tall statue of Achilles placed there by German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II, who bought the palace after Sissy's assassination in 1892, and added his own grandiose touches.