Achilleion

Achilleion is a palace in Gastouri on Corfu in Greece. The rooms open onto colonnaded walkways, while several levels of terraces lead down the hillside toward the sea.

Empress Elisabeth of Austria commissioned the construction in 1890 as a summer retreat after her son died. German Emperor Wilhelm II purchased the estate in 1907 and used it until the First World War.

The estate takes its name from the Greek hero whose story shapes the entire design. Frescoes, sculptures, and wall paintings tell scenes from the Iliad and show the warrior at different moments of his life.

The entrance sits along the road between Corfu Town and the southern part of the island, from where paths lead through the gardens. The upper terraces offer views over the coastline and the Ionian Sea.

During the First World War the building served as a hospital for French and Serbian soldiers. Scenes from the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only were filmed in the gardens and terraces in 1981.

Location: Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands

Inception: 1890

Official opening: 1962

Architectural style: Neoclassical architecture, neo-pompeian style

Address: Αχίλλειο 490 84

Opening Hours: April-October: Monday-Sunday 08:00-20:00; November-March: Monday-Sunday 08:00-16:00

Website: https://achillion-corfu.gr/?lang=en

GPS coordinates: 39.56244,19.90425

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:44