Vlacherna Monastery
The Vlacherna Monastery is one of the emblematic places on Corfu which attracts hundreds of tourists daily. It is often confused with Pontikonissi island (Mouse island) and both are not the same, although they lie very close to each other.
The monastery occupies a small islet just south of Kanoni peninsula and the international airport of Corfu. The islet is connected to mainland via a stone pier and people can easily walk to the monastery. Pontikonissi island is just behind Vlacherna but it can be reached only by boat (boat trips are offered many times a day in the summer). The Vlacherna monastery is the only building on the tiny islet and it dates back to 17 or 18 century. No matter they still call it monastery, it functioned as such only until 1980. Nowadays only the small church inside is used for celebrations and is open for tourists. In the yard there is also a shop for souvenirs.
Most photos of the Vlacherna Monastery are shot from the two cafe-restaurants on the shore. Both have open-air balconies with view of the monastery, Pontionissi and the airport with the landing and departing airplanes, so these three are often mentioned as one sightseeing. The airport itself is also an interesting place to see because airplanes pass by visitors very closely.
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highlights: one of the emblematic places on the island, religious sight in Corfu, Ionian Islands, Greece