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Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. The island is bound with the history of Greece from the beginning of Greek mythology, and its history is laden with battles and conquests, whose legacy can be seen in the form of castles punctuating strategic locations across the island.
Corfiotes have a long history of hospitality to foreign residents and visitors, which was immortalised in the 20th century by Gerald Durrell's childhood reminiscence My Family and Other Animals. The North East coast has largely been developed by a few British holiday companies. Package holiday resorts populate the north and east coasts, while the southern resort of Kavos also provides tourist facilities.
Up until the early 20th century, Corfu was mainly visited by the European royals and elites, including Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany and Empress Elisabeth of Austria. Today Corfu it is also widely visited by middle class families, making it an extremely popular holiday destination. It is still well-loved with the global elite however, and in the island's northeast the homeowners include members of the Rothschild family and Russian oligarchs.