This location is #28 on our Best Travel Destinations In Greece & Greek Islands Map!
The Achilleion Palace, located on the island of Corfu, Greece, is a stunning neoclassical structure covering approximately 21,500 square feet, with its gardens sprawling across nearly 49 acres. The palace stands at about 98 feet in height, featuring three main floors with grand halls, staircases, and ornate rooms measuring roughly 65 feet by 33 feet for the largest spaces. Its iconic statue of Achilles, the palace’s namesake, towers at around 26 feet tall, dominating the meticulously landscaped gardens that slope down toward the Ionian Sea. The building’s facade, adorned with columns and intricate friezes, spans about 230 feet in length, creating an imposing yet elegant presence. The interior boasts frescoes, chandeliers, and marble floors, with key rooms like the reception hall measuring approximately 1,200 square feet, designed to impress visitors with their grandeur.
Built in 1890, the Achilleion Palace was commissioned by an Austrian empress seeking a summer retreat after personal tragedy. She chose Corfu for its mild climate and scenic beauty, and the palace was designed to reflect her fascination with Greek mythology, particularly the hero Achilles, evident in the numerous statues and artworks throughout the property. After her death in 1898, the palace was inherited by a German emperor who used it as a summer residence until World War I. During the war, it served as a military hospital, and later, it briefly housed a school and government offices. Its history reflects the turbulent shifts of European politics, transitioning from a private imperial escape to a public site, with its architecture and decor preserving the opulence of its original purpose.
Interesting facts about the Achilleion include its role as a filming location for a famous spy movie, adding to its modern cultural significance. The palace’s gardens, with over 100 plant species and pathways stretching nearly 1.2 miles, feature a notable statue of a dying Achilles, measuring about 13 feet long, which captures the hero’s final moments in dramatic detail. The palace’s Peristyle of the Muses, a colonnaded courtyard roughly 164 feet long, showcases statues of the nine Muses, blending art and mythology. It also houses a massive fresco, approximately 75 feet wide, depicting Achilles’ triumph, one of the largest of its kind in Greece. Today, the palace functions as a museum, drawing visitors to its blend of historical significance, architectural beauty, and mythological allure.
