Achilleion (Corfu)
Palace in Greece / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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.