Saint Nicholas Hotel http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com Gouvia, Corfu Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:48:44 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= Honeymoon & Romance http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/honeymoon-romance-holidays-corfu-island/ http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/honeymoon-romance-holidays-corfu-island/#comments Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:21:13 +0000 saintnic http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/?p=3863

If you are considering a honeymoon or just a romantic escape in Greece then Corfu is the place to be… The Island that has enchanted Poets and Kings, the place that is filled with music, the island that welcomed Odysseus, the heaven chosen by Poseidon for his idyll with Amphitrite…

At Saint Nicholas Hotel, we want to fulfill your most romantic desires and make your stay with us a memorable one therefore we have designed a honeymoon & romance package that includes:

  • Room Service Breakfast for Two
  • Rose Petals & Candles (In-room decoration on arrival)
  • Fruits & Champagne (on arrival)
  • Specially Selected Welcome Hamper with Corfiot Delicacies
  • Late Checkout on departure day

For more info, other options, a tailor-made package or just reserving our special honeymoon package please email us at



]]> http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/honeymoon-romance-holidays-corfu-island/feed/ 0 Weddings http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/destination-weddings-in-corfu-island/ http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/destination-weddings-in-corfu-island/#comments Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:54:06 +0000 saintnic http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/?p=3842

Getting married in Corfu is something that you will treasure for life!

We know that… Your wedding is definitely one of the most important moments of your life; it must be special, unique and unforgettable… full of memories that will last for a lifetime!

And if your dream setting comprises lush emerald green vegetation and romantic scenery then our Saint Nicholas Hotel can be the perfect choice for your very special day; the perfect place to host your wedding ceremony, your wedding reception and needless to say a place where your guests can have an unforgettable stay and even a holiday.

Having hosted numerous weddings, as well as parties and receptions during our years of operations we know that our team can help with all arrangements and deliver results to exceed your expectations!

Some of the matters we can offer you direct help with are…

…paperwork and formalities… Wedding Flowers (Bridal bouquet / Groom’s boutonniere), Decoration of the wedding location, Wedding gifts, Wedding Cake, Wedding photography, Wedding videography, Wedding reception, Music, Fireworks, Hairstyling, Make up, Manicure/Pedicure etc…

…while we will be more than happy to introduce you to wedding planners specialized for destination weddings in Corfu.

Wedding Planning with Weddingsday
]]> http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/destination-weddings-in-corfu-island/feed/ 0 The Olive Trees http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/the-olive-trees-corfu-island-greece/ http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/the-olive-trees-corfu-island-greece/#comments Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:08:29 +0000 saintnic http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/?p=3722

“The whole Mediterranean, the sculpture, the palms, the gold beads, the bearded heroes, the wine, the ideas, the ships, the moonlight, the winged gorgons, the bronze men, the philosophers – all of it seems to rise in the sour, pungent taste of these black olives between the teeth. A taste older than meat, older than wine. A taste as old as cold water.”*
*”Prospero’s Cell” by Lawrence Durrell.

In prehistoric and historic Corfu, the olive tree was just a secondary cultivation. The island was then internationally well-known for the cultivation of the vine and for the famous “Anthosmias Oenos” (Thucydides), the wine that smelled like flowers.

The olive tree would predominate, the Corfu countryside in the Venetian period, when they financed the development of the olive groves, in order to reinforce production and trade of olive oil , both as a product for nutrition and as a means of light. Today Corfu and the nearby islands are full of olive trees.

Approximately four million trees, over six metres tall create the sensation of an extended forest. Special laws protect olive trees today reminding us that similar laws have existed since the time of the famous Athenian legislator Solon in the 6th century BC. The cultivation in Corfu is different from that in the rest of the world.

Here the olives are left to mature and to fall off the trees. This way, the oil which is produced has increased acidity, but it also has big amounts of substances which are beneficial to the function of the heart and the vessels.

Walk under the shadow of the olive trees. Stop to have a picnic in the olive groves. Search, and if you’re lucky, you will find trees over 1000 years old. You will recognize them by the size of the trunk. Such olive trees can be found i.e. in the area of Agios Matthaios, at Agios Prokopios, at Arkadades and in many other places of Corfu and Paxos.
]]> http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/the-olive-trees-corfu-island-greece/feed/ 0 My Family & Other Animals http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/gerald-durrell-my-family-other-animals-durrell-corfu-island/ http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/gerald-durrell-my-family-other-animals-durrell-corfu-island/#comments Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:54:03 +0000 saintnic http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/?p=3717

“With March came the spring, and the island was flower-filled, scented, and a-flutter with new leaves. [...] Waxy yellow crocuses appeared in great clusters, bubbling out among the tree-roots and tumbling down the banks. [...] Vetch, marigold, asphodel and a hundred others flooded the fields and woods. Even the ancient olives, bent and hollowed by a thousand springs, decked themselves in clusters of minute creamy flowers, modest and yet decorative, as became their great age.

It was no half-hearted spring, this: the whole island vibrated with it as though a great, ringing chord had been struck. Everyone and everything heard it and responded. It was apparent in the gleam of flower-petals, the flash of bird wings and the sparkle in the dark, liquid eyes of peasant girls. It the water-filled ditches the frogs that looked newly enameled snored rapturous chorus in the lush weeds. In the village coffee-shops the wine seemed redder and, somehow, more potent. Blunt, work-calloused fingers plucked at guitar strings with strange gentleness, and rich voices rose in lilting, haunting song.”
]]> http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/gerald-durrell-my-family-other-animals-durrell-corfu-island/feed/ 0 Corfu in the Winter http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/corfu-in-the-winter/ http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/corfu-in-the-winter/#comments Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:57:36 +0000 saintnic http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/?p=3708

A unique time of the year to enjoy the island’s beauties in almost absolute privacy. Smiling locals will greet and welcome you everywhere you go. You will enjoy walking, driving around the island, smelling the wood burning in the fireplaces, talking to the locals and drinking their wine.

Morning walks in Corfu town exploring the Unesco’s Heritage Monument; stop for a Greek Coffee or Tsitsimpira under the arcades of Liston; drive through the island and enjoy its unique nature that gathers so much wild life. You can play golf, go horse riding, go hiking, and even swim in the quiet sea particularly during the Halcyon days of January.

As for Christmas and New Year Corfu is full of music, hymns, carols; a peaceful, decorated place, with a mild climate, and a noble finesse.
]]> http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/corfu-in-the-winter/feed/ 0 Corfu: The Local Cuisine http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/corfu-the-local-cuisine-greece/ http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/corfu-the-local-cuisine-greece/#comments Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:45:19 +0000 saintnic http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/?p=3703

If you wander about Corfu, you will easily see that the local cuisine is a distinctive mixture of the Mediterranean diet. Orchards, vineyards, fishing boats and flocks of sheep and goats are all evidence of the locals’ agricultural habits.

Salads, vegetables, fish, a little meat, cheese, virgin olive oil and plenty of fruit are part of their daily dinner. Bearing the influence of Italy, the Balkans, and England and based on the traditional ancient Greek cuisine, Corfiots cook masterpieces. They are particularly fond of red pepper (paprica), garlic, onions and parsley. Typical dishes include bourdeto (fish in paprika sauce), bianco (fish in garlic sauce), pastitsada (beef in red sauce and spaghetti), stakofisi, cod with onions, cuttlefish with pasta, vegetables in red, paprika sauce, veal lungs, sofrito.

Food in Corfu is accompanied by exquisite wine, especially “Kakotrygis” wine, known since the time of Thucydides.

Local desserts are not as easy to find as nowadays they are rare delicacies made from local, old specialists with experience and knowledge. It’s mainly marmalade desserts , dry figs, fig pies (a dessert of dry figs and spices), mandoles (almonds and honey), pergamonto (plain or with chocolate), mandolato, as well as desserts based on almond kernel or whipped cream . You will recognize them by the fine scent of the Corfu bergamot (pergamonto) (a special white kind which only grows in Corfu), of the tiny tangerine and the kum-kuat.
]]> http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/corfu-the-local-cuisine-greece/feed/ 0 Easter in Corfu http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/easter-in-corfu-greece-in-spring/ http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/easter-in-corfu-greece-in-spring/#comments Sat, 16 Apr 2011 08:58:15 +0000 saintnic http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/?p=3390

Easter in Corfu is so spectacular and special that it is more than worthy of continuation to retain as part of the island’s cultural inheritance. Everything that you will see and hear during this particular period, especially during the last 3 days of the Holy Week – all the events, in combination with a town which has a variety of architectural styles and incredible streets, will offer you an unforgettable “fabulous picture” to hold in your memory for ever after.
]]> http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/easter-in-corfu-greece-in-spring/feed/ 0 And the Winner is… http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/competitions-free-holidays-corfu-island/ http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/competitions-free-holidays-corfu-island/#comments Sat, 16 Apr 2011 07:34:25 +0000 saintnic http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/?p=3322

Our first competition for the season of 2011 has started and ended with great success! The first winner for a 4 days / 3 nights stay for two persons in a studio overlooking the pool and Gouvia Bay during Easter (April 22nd to April 25th 2011) is Mr. Konstantinos Papalias whom has already been notified and we are in the process of confirming his stay.

Our team will update you with more news for Mr. Papalias stay with us.

More competitions will be running for this season! Join our Facebook Page and you will be regularly updated!
]]> http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/competitions-free-holidays-corfu-island/feed/ 0 Corfu Town http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/corfu-town-greece/ http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/corfu-town-greece/#comments Thu, 17 Feb 2011 01:03:13 +0000 saintnic http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/?p=3193

Corfu town was founded in the 8th century BC and it took its current looks form 9 centuries ago.

A very well preserved medieval town, built between two castles, reflecting European history of over a thousand years.

This is the main reason for which the entire historic center of the town was included in the monuments of world cultural heritage of UNESCO in June 2007.

UNESCO World Heritage (Year of registration: 2007)
]]> http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/corfu-town-greece/feed/ 0 Corfu History http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/the-history-of-corfu/ http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/the-history-of-corfu/#comments Thu, 17 Feb 2011 01:01:20 +0000 saintnic http://www.saint-nicholas-hotel.com/?p=3188

A beautiful island, a historic place, with a blessed nature, full of history and culture, and welcoming locals are awaiting…

The island is connected to the history of Greece from the beginning of Greek mythology. Its Greek name, Kerkyra or Korkyra, is related to two powerful water symbols: Poseidon, god of the sea, and Asopos, an important Greek mainland river. According to myth, Poseidon fell in love with the beautiful nymph Korkyra, daughter of Asopus and river nymph Metope, and abducted her. Poseidon brought Korkyra to the hitherto unnamed island and, in marital bliss, offered her name to the place: Korkyra, which gradually evolved to Kerkyra (Doric). Together, they had a child they called Phaiax, after whom the inhabitants of the island were named: Phaiakes. This term was transliterated via Latin to Phaeacians.

The island’s history is laden with battles and conquests. The legacy of these struggles is visible in the form of castles punctuating strategic locations across the island. Two of these castles enclose its capital, which is the only city in Greece to be surrounded in such a way. As a result, Corfu’s capital has been officially declared a Kastropolis (“castle city”) by the Greek government.[3] Corfu was long controlled by Venice, which repulsed several Turkish sieges, before falling under British rule following the Napoleonic Wars. Corfu was eventually ceded by the British Empire along with the remaining islands of the United States of the Ionian Islands, and unification with modern Greece was concluded in 1864 under the Treaty of London.

In 2007, the city’s old town was designated for the UNESCO World Heritage List, following a recommendation by ICOMOS.
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