August is a great time to visit Corfu! The 11th of the month is a day of celebration for the Corfiots seeing that they commemorate one of St Spyridon’s greatest miracles that took place in Corfu town in 1716.
(You can read all about this miracle, and a lot more on St Spyridon in this post.)
For a few days near August the 11th, the whole island celebrates with public concerts and varkarolas, the latter being whimsical night shows in the sea with illuminated boats and music.
In the morning of August the 11th, there is a grand procession of St Spyridon in Corfu town, and for three consecutive nights the three greatest philharmonic orchestras of the island perform public concerts in the bandstand (Palco), which is in Spianada square near Liston (the bandstand is pictured in the first poster below).
In detail:
PUBLIC CONCERTS IN THE BANDSTAND IN PREVIOUS YEARS:
PERFORMED BY THE ORCHESTRAS, “MANTZAROS”, “KAPODISTRIAS” AND “THE OLD PHILARMONIC (PALIA)”.
I may be partial, but if I were you I wouldn’t miss the one played by “Mantzaros”, which traditionally does their concert in the eve of the big day. They play a piece that is very close to my heart and is quite special in its execution as well.
In one of the ancient Venetian buildings on the side of the square, at an open window, a trumpet player joins the orchestra from afar in what I can only describe as an absolutely magical musical conversation in the still of the night. I highly recommend you witness this at least once! My grandparents used to take me to these concerts in the 80s and 90s, and we always enjoyed this particular piece together.
All concerts start around 21:00-21:30.
VARKAROLAS AROUND THE ISLAND FROM PREVIOUS YEARS:
THEY TAKE PART ANNUALLY IN PETRITI, IN PALEOKASTRITSA AND, SOMETIMES, IN CORFU TOWN TOO – IN GARITSA AND UNDER THE OLD FORTRESS (AKA FALIRAKI).
YOU MAY WANT TO CHECK OUT LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS TO SEE WHERE ELSE THERE WILL BE VARKAROLAS THIS YEAR.
For more events around Corfu this August, go HERE
For detailed info on the life and miracles of St Spyridon, go HERE
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