To some, beautiful Corfu (in Greek, Kerkyra) is considered to be Greece’s Venice. The island voluntarily became one of Venice’s colonies from the mid-14th until the late 18th century and its town, reminiscent of the Venetian era, is a maze of narrow streets dominated by a 16th century fortress. One can find a chapel, an old mansion or a secret-garden square around every corner. The picturesque narrow streets around the Liston square house a number of imaginative small shops –the 'gold shops' being the most popular (the local craftsmen excel at creating exquisite gold jewelry in tempting prices). Corfu has amazing beaches, like Agios Gordis, Pelekas and Glyfada, with crystal clear aqua-green waters and the most amazing green landscapes. The most famous beach resort is Paleokastritsa. The island has a wide variety of hotels, seaside restaurants, beach bars and water sports facilities that make it the absolute experiential destination.