Paleo Frourio (Old Fortress)

Originally a promontory attached to the mainland, its two peaks -- koryphi in Greek -- gave the modern name to the town and island; the promontory itself was for a long time the main town (and appears as such in many old engravings). The Venetians dug the moat in the 16th century, enabling them to hold off several attempts by the Turks to conquer this outpost of Christianity; the apparent Greek temple at the south side is in fact a British church built around 1840 and dedicated to St. George. Each peak is crowned by a castle; you can get fine views of Albania to the east and Corfu, town and island, to the west. The Old Fortress has an important museum of Byzantine art.

Also known as St. Mark’s fortress as the name suggests it was constructed by the Venetians. The fortress dominates the city’s skyline over the old harbour. Its construction begun in 1576 and was completed in 1645 – the same period the city walls were built. St. Mark’s fortress was made up of two distinct fortress and was later reinforced by two guard towers. Walls extended from it to the beach-front and to the city itself unifying Kerkyra’s defences. For its construction it was necessary to destroy many buildings and old churches – among the casualties was also the then famous Porta Reale – the Royal Gate.

It is one of the most important examples of fortress building in the age of early gunpowder weaponry. Of the extended fortification only two beautiful gates remain today with the coat of arms of the Republic of Venice.

The city's center of life, night and day. The Spianada is said to be the largest square in the Balkans.

Town Hall ‘San Giacommo’

The foundation stones of this imposing building was laid out in 1663 and its construction lasted 30 years. During the 17^th century it was used as a gentlemen’s club while in 1720 it was turned into a theater. Since 1903 it houses the city’s town hall.

Reading Company ‘Anagnostikh Etairia’

With a library of more than 30,000 tomes, manuscripts and engravings this building houses the oldest cultural center in ‘modern’ Greece established in 1836. This shows the importance, and strength, of Ionian culture – the rest of Greece languished under Turkish Ottoman rule while in the Ionian the Renaissance was happening. The Company is housed on a traditional building on Arseniou street. The Company’s buildings today house some of the departments of the Ionian University.

Palace of St. Michael and St. George

The palace was built between the years 1819 and 1824 while the Ionian were a British crown protectorate. It was originally used as the residence of the British Commissioner for the Ionian islands, Sir T. Maitland, and later it was used as the House of Senate while its last use was as the seat of the order of St. Michael and St. George. The palace is the only example of Georgian architecture to be found in the Mediterranean. The façade of the palace is decorated by Doric-style columns and has two arc-gates with the names of the Saints. The symbols of the Ionian islands, Eptanisa in Greek, are displayed here made by the great Ionian sculptor Paulos Prosalentis.  In 1837 in the garden of the Palace a bronze statue of the new English commissioner Frederic Adam was unveiled, a work of Prosalentis as well, to honor him for the creation of the islands waterworks.

The palace houses a museum of Asian and Oriental art. It has a vast collection of 11,000 pieces. The centerpiece of the museum is the collection of Chinese porcelains, bronzes, and other works from the Shang Dynasty (1500 B.C.) to the Ching Dynasty (19th century). There are also strong holdings of Japanese works -- woodblock prints, ceramics, sculpture, watercolors, and netsuke (carved sash fasteners). You may not have come to Greece to appreciate Asian art, but this is one of several unexpected delights in Corfu.

The palace’s right wing houses the municipal gallery of Kerkyra with works mainly from the 19^th century. The gallery is also home to many works of greek painters from the 16^th to the 18^th century such as Damaskinos, Prosalentis, Kalosgouros and others. The gallery has a famous artists’ café.

Square of the Saint

Referring to Kerkyra's patron saint - St. Spyridonas the square has three beautiful churches.

St. Spyridonas

St. Spyridonas is the patron saint of the island. The church was built in 1589 and had the highest bell-tower in the island. The saint’s relic are guarded here displayed only during the town’s litanies.

The Mitropolis

Panagia h Spiliotissa – Blessed Mary of the Strangers is a 16^th century greek orthodox church. The remains of the Empress Theodora (of Justinian fame) are here.

Church of St. John

Monastery of Platytera

Interesting icons of the Ionian and Cretan schools of painters. The tomb of Ioannis Kapodistrias, first president of the new greek republic is housed here.

Mon repo

About 3 kilometers from the town center lies Mon Repo – the summer residence of the British Commissioner Frederic Adam later used as a palace of the new Greek kings. The estate was once home to the Botanical Gardens of the Ionian Academy and thanks to that we still encounter today a wide variety of plant-life. The archaelogical findings made at Mon Repo also suggest that this was the original site of the ancient city of Kerkyra.

The Basilica of the Old City (Palaiopolis)

Dedicated to St. Kerkyra this is a monument of the 5^th century B.C. and lies near Mon Repo. It is the oldest Christian monument on the island. 

About 2 kilometers south of the town near the hill of Kanoni lies one of most commonly visited tourist attractions of Corfu - and one of the most photographed. The tiny convent of Vlaherna is associated in island myth with a ship of Odysseus' fleet turned to stone by the sea god Poseidon in revenge for blinding the Cyclops Polyphemus, one of Poseidon's sons.

Pontikonissi, literally meaning Mouse Island, can be reached by boat from the dock at Vlaherna.

This is a very busy spot of Corfu so it is best to come early or late to avoid the masses.

The Achilleon is situated approximately 4 kilometers south of the town of Kerkyra. It features a rather unique, and some say unfortunate,  blend of Teutonic and Neoclassical style it was built in 1890 as a summer residence for Elizabeth, Empress of Austria. It also known more affectionately as Sissy's palace.

The house itself is severe and grandiose although the surrounding gardens make for a pleasant walk with spectacular views. There is a small museum in the building which has relics and ordinary objects from Sissy's collection and portraits of her and her time on Corfu.

The Achilleon received its name from the statue of the dying Achilles found in its gardens.

It is quite a busy destination and it is best to arrive early to avoid the throng.

Full of pleasant surprises this picturesque Mediterranean settlement lies 18 kilometers from Corfu town. It has about 1,000 inhabitants and a great musical tradition of chorus. The village has 37 (!) churches, ranging from Old Byzantine basilicas to newer buildings. The village is also a center for ceramic artwork on the island from ancient times to today.

Dont miss out on the Byzantine Church of Archangel Michael (St. Michael as the locals call it, St. Jacobs a 15th century church, and Prophet Hlias with murals and paintings from the 16th century. Last, St. George and St. Athanasios with the best preserved greek orthodox murals from the 17th century.   

Leykimmi is really made of of five settlements Rigklades, Anaplades, St. Theodoroi, Potamoi and Melikia - the Pentachora. It is the largest settlement of southern Corfu and is located 42 kilometers from Corfu town. Situated on a fertile plain with olive groves, vineyards and orchards. The town is divided in the middle by a river which offers, especially during Winter time, safe refuge from smaller boats. The town is an excellent place to sample the famed Corfu wines. 

Do visit the monastery of the Virgin Mary of the Angels, a 17th century convent. The convent was used as a refuge during the cholera pandemic that hit the island in the 18th century. The British burned the entire complex, except the church, to sanitize the place.

The fortified convent of Virgin Mary of Arkoudilla.

There are daily excursions offered to the islands of Paxoi.

Leykimmi is a well developped spot with numerous bars and cafes. If you are here to party and to relax at the beach  it is probably a better alternative than Corfu town proper. 

25 kilometers north from Kerkyra town lies Palaiokastritsa. A resort town on a scenery of great natural beauty it is definetely worth a visit. 

Visit the impressive Castel Sant Angelo located at the top of a cliff. The public road stops before the top and it is necessary to walk up through a narrow footpath. The castle was built in the 13th century by Michail Aggelos, first despot of Epirus, and the fortifications were later expanded by the Goths and Venetians. The view is extraordinary.

The Monastery of the Holy Source (Zoodochou Pigis). Originally built in 1225 but most of the building surviving today are from a much later period (18th-19th century). The monastery is home to a museum of byzantine art and a collection of shells and even whale-bones. 

The Church of St. Kyriaki. Probably one of the oldest proto-christian churches it is located inside a small cave. Exact dating is unknown although sources have suggested as early as the 2nd century A.D. Some of the churches adornments are from much later periods.  

Corfu's highest mountain. At the first peak of the mountain (400m) we encounter Spartyla, a settlement with cubic stone houses and balconies perched on the cliff-side. Its picturesque town square and buildings are worth seeing. Continuing upwards the road worsens afters a while turning into a dirt road. At the top of the mountain (906m) we encounter the Monastery of the Almighty (Pantokratoras) with numerous cells and a stone church dedicated to God Almighty. The murals are from the 14th and 15th centuries making this one of the few remaining truly Byzantine churches. The view from the mountain top is truly breath-taking reaching to Ipirus on the Greek mainland and Albania further North.

The Church celebrates on the 6th of August with the litany to the Ypsilone (High-one) lasting six days.