Achilleion (Greek:  Αχίλλειο or Αχίλλειον ) is a palace built in Gastouri (Γαστούρι) on the Island of Corfu for the 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 about ten kilometres south of the city of Corfu and provides a panoramic view of the city to the north, and across the whole southern part of the island to the Ionian Sea.^[3]

he 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.

The Achilleion property was originally owned by Corfiote philosopher and diplomat Petros Brailas-Armenis, and was known as "Villa Vraila". In 1888, the Empress of Austria after visiting the place decided that it was the ideal location for her own palace on Corfu.^[7]

The palace was designed by Italian architect Raffaele Caritto and built on an area of 200,000 m². Elisabeth's husband, Emperor Franz Josef of Austria, had owned some nearby land as well.^{[1][8][9][10]} The German sculptor Ernst Herter was commissioned to create works inspired from Greek mythology. His sculpture Dying Achilles (Ancient Greek: Αχιλλεύς θνήσκων), created in Berlin in 1884 as inscribed in the statue, forms the centrepiece of the Achilleion Gardens.