A glimpse into the private life of Princess Sisi

The estate that so enchanted Empress Elisabeth of Austria (1837-98) when she first visited the verdant Ionian island of Corfu is one of the subjects of an exhibition that was recently inaugurated at its Museum of Asian Art.

The deed of purchase of the estate, known at the time as Villa Vraila, is among its fascinating displays. It was found in the local records office and reveals how the empress - who was known by the nickname Sisi - purchased the property from the distinguished Corfiot diplomat and poet Petros Vrailas Armenis (1814-64). She went on to demolish the original house that stood on the estate and build the Achilleion Palace.

A pair of elegant gloves gifted to the Austrian empress by a local family, two porcelain vases, pages from her diary, poems, newspapers of the time, photographs and postcards are also included among the displays of this small...