Corfu

The town of Corfu resembles much more an Italian of French town than a Greek one, due to the long occupation of the Venetians, with its old building with arches, the labyrinthine alleyways and the venetian lanterns that scream out Belle Epoque. The town attractions include the main square, Spianada, the largest plaza in the Balkans, the Mansion of Saint Michael and Saint George, the temple of Agios Spyridonas, the Liston, the Old and New Fortresses, a plethora of museums and much more.

Archaeological Museum Corfu

The museum opened its doors in 1967 and it is located in the town of Corfu. Its collection includes excavation findings from all over Corfu, the most important of which are the small bronze status of Kouros and Hercules, the grave offerings of an official of the 3rd century B.C., the coin collection, the lion sculpture of Menekratis (7th century B.C.), the pediment of Gorgo, the pediment of Fygaretos and the 13 identical statuettes of goddess Artemis. Telephone 26610 30680.

Archaeological Museum of Paleopolis

This museum is housed in a beautiful neoclassic building of the Mon Repo estate. It exhibits finding from the Archaic Period up to the Roman Period of Corfu, found at the archaeological digs of Paleopoli.

Byzantine Museum Corfu

The Byzantine Museum of Corfu is found at the renovated space of the main gate of the Old Fortress. Here you can see fragments from mosaic floors and sculptures from the early-Christian basilica of Paleopoli, murals from the church of Agios Nikolaos at Korakiana, and finally marble suffixes and architraves from various byzantine monuments all over Corfu.

Museum of Antivouniotissa

This museum is dedicated to the metabyzantine art and it was named after the temple in which it is housed. It is one of the most important centers of ecclesiastical painting development with 90 icons from notable hagiographers, the older of which are dated back to 1500 A.C. The temple itself of the 15th century is worth your time, as to admire the curved wooden roof and the gilded wood carvings, or attend the ceremony that is held on August 23. Telephone 26610 38313.

Museum of Asiatic Art

It is housed in the Mansion of Saint Michael and Saint George. It has the only collection of Asiatic art work in Greece and is one of the largest of its kind in Europe. There are more than 10.000 which include statues, religious items, figurines, manuscripts and items of everyday use from countries of the East like China, Japan, Siam, Pakistan and Afganistan. The thing that stands out is the collection of Hellinoboudistic art, a fusion of Greek and China-Indian artform, that flourished from the Hellenistic period up until the 6th century A.C. Telephone 26610 30443.

Banknote Museum of the Ionian Bank

It operates in the town of Corfu since 1981 and it is housed in the traditional building where the offices of the Ionian Bank first opened up. Here you will see banknotes from various periods, like the first banknotes that were printed in Greece (Finikes) and the banknotes printed during the German occupation. Besides banknotes the collection consists of iron molds, books, seals, old manuscripts, stamps, coins, etc.

Historical and Folklore Museum of Middle Corfu

It was founded in 1982 and it is housed in an old two-floor traditional house in Sinarades village at the west, at about the same height as Corfu town. The first floor is shaped to represent the typical house of the 19th century, with its entrance (portigo), the bedroom, the dinning room, etc along with the appropriate furnitures. On the second floor there are collections of manuscripts, traditional costumes of Corfu, local musical instruments, pottery, fishing tools and other items of everyday use.

Agios Spyridonas

Agios Spyridonas is the patron saint of Corfu and its temple is one of the most important metabyzantine monuments of Corfu. It is a simple basilica of 1589 with a very tall tower-shaped steeple - identical with that of the Greek church of Agios Georgios in Venice - that is visible from far away. The interior of the church has a rich decoration with its marble temple standing out, the dome with the golden frames picturing the miracles performed by the saint and of course the relic of the saint stored in a silver casket. During the summer there is a litany at the temple, on August 11th, with the escort of the brass bands, to celebrate the salvation of Corfu from the Turks.

Liston

The famous Liston is the largest building in the main plaza of Corfu town which is two centuries old. It is an impressive building with venetian lanterns and arches hosting many restaurants, shops and cafeterias.

Kanoni

This is the most photographed place of Corfu and it is named after the battery of artillery placed here by the French in 1798. Right in front of Kanoni, in the sea, you can see the Vlahernon Monastery of the 17th century, and right across the tiny green islet with the church of Pantokratoras, the famous Pontikonisi, which you can visit by boat.

Mon Repo

In a scenery of rare beauty, long history and great archaeological importance in Paleopoli lies the Mon Repo Estate. Here there used to be the Ireon of Corfu, the largest and most important temple of the island during the ancient times, from which there are now only a few ruins left. On the estate there is a rich vegetation with more than 2000 species of plants from the British colonies. Mon Repo has served as the summer home of the royal family in the past, while today is hosts the Museum of Paleopoli.

Achillio

Achillio is the mansion built at the orders of the empress of Austria Elisabeth in honor of her favorite hero of the Trojan War Achilles. It is a neoclassic building decorated with various works of art like the four seasons of Giuseppe Galore, the statues of the 9 Muses, the painting with Achilles dragging the body of Hector and more, but the most famous of all is the Dying Achilles with the arrow of Paris stuck in his heel. There is an entrance fee, but is you visit Achillio you will not regret it. You will find it In Gastouri, a bit south of Corfu town.

Old Fortress

The Old Fortress is standing over the Spianada square. It began being built from the 8th century by the Byzantines, while later on the Venetians and the British made some additions. It is connected to the town by a bridge passing over the moat, and inside the castle there are some buildings like the church of Agios Georgios, one of the biggest and most impressive found in Corfu.

New Fortress

It is also called Fortress of Agios Markos, and it is located between the Old Fortress and the harbor. It was built on the 16th century and it is equipped with ramparts and a moat at its west side, where the two engraved lions of Saint Mark (the symbol of Venice) are found. Part of the Fort houses the Nautical Station of Corfu while another hosts cultural activities.

Nymphs Waterfall

The waterfall of the Nymphs is hidden in a verdant area with oaks and yews in Nymfes village, at the north side of Corfu. There are two other, smaller waterfalls, close by.