Achilleion (Corfu)

For other uses, see Achilleion (disambiguation).
Achilleion
Αχίλλειο/Αχίλλειον
The entrance of the museum, with Doric columns
Map
LocationΑχιλλειοι 49084, Greece

The Achilleion (Greek: Αχίλλειο, Katharevousa: Αχίλλειον) is a palace built on Corfu for Empress (German: Kaiserin) Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sisi, after a suggestion by the Austrian consul Alexander von Warsberg.[1][2] Elisabeth was deeply saddened by the tragic loss of her only son, Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria following the Mayerling incident in 1889, and a year later she had this summer palace built as a refuge.

Achilleion is located at Gastouri, a village about ten kilometres south of the city of Corfu, and provides a panoramic view of the city to the north, and the southern part of the island, framed by the Ionian Sea to the east.[3]

The architectural style was designed to suggest an ancient palace of mythical Phaeacia.[4] The motif centers on the hero Achilles of Greek mythology, from which the name is derived. Corfu was Elisabeth's favourite vacation destination and she wanted a palace to gratify her admiration for Greece, its language and its culture.[5]

The property currently operates as a museum under the management of Hellenic Tourism Development Company,[6] within the Greek National Tourism Organization.

  1. ^ Greek National Tourist Organisation information notice at the Achilleion Grounds
  2. ^ George Kritikos; Nikos Poulis; Carolyn Simpson; T. (M. Toubis) Spiropoulos, John Palogiannidis (1996). Achilleion Corfu: A Guided Tour in the Majestic Palace of "Sissi". Seven Islands Pub. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  3. ^ Mima Nixon (1916). Royal palaces & gardens. A. & C. Black, ltd. pp. 158–166. Retrieved 4 May 2013. Sunset, The Achilleion, Corfu The sunsets are wonderful in Corfu, and from the Achilleion one looks at the sinking sun across the whole width of the island, which is about six or eight miles at this, its southern end. I think it was on the ...
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Freely2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Murad, Anatol (1968). Franz Joseph I of Austria and His Empire. Ardent Media. pp. 116–. GGKEY:DQ4K12079NF. g. ... to gratify her admiration for Greece, Greek culture, and the Greek language, which she cultivated assiduously.
  6. ^ "The History of Achilleion Palace". www.achillion-corfu.gr. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2018.