Achilleion

The Achilleion, Αχίλλειον in Greek, is a summer palace built on the island of Corfu, approximately 10 kilometres south of the capital, for the Austro-Hungarian Empress Elisabeth, famously known as Sissi, in 1890—just a year after losing her only son.

The construction of the residence, designed by Italian architect Caritto in Pompeian style, revolves, as its name suggests, around the myth of the hero Achilles.

Now transformed into a museum, it houses numerous works inspired by Greek mythology, including the famous sculpture of the Dying Achilles, the centrepiece of the Achilleion’s magnificent gardens, where palms, roses and prickly pears enhance the palace’s splendour alongside its stunning views over the sea.

The entire Achilleion complex is a monument to platonic love, featuring countless depictions of heroic and tragic scenes.

The Achilleion residence was used during the First World War as a military hospital by French and Serbian troops, and later served as a film set for the twelfth instalment of the James Bond franchise, For Your Eyes Only.