A 19th century noble mansion comes to life with lots of stories to tell in the heart of Corfu old town. The everyday life of the island’s 19th century nobility is recreated in "Casa Parlante". Through animated figures, using robotic technology, and the perfect reproduction of décor and furnishing, Casa Parlante promises to deliver you a true insight into Corfu day life in 19th century .
Mon Repos was built by Sir Frederick Adam, the British high commissioner of the Ionian islands. Among with Achillion, those Corfu Palaces are neo-classical buildings. Mon Repos construction began in 1828 and finished in 1832. When the Ionian Islands united with the rest of Greece (1864), Corfu Mon Repos was given to the Greek Royal family.
Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh was born in the villa which after several years of legal battles was returned to its rightful owners - the local administration.
The Solomos museum is actually the house where the Greek national poet, Dionysios Solomos, lived most of his life (1798-1857) in Corfu. Solomos was originally born in Zante but lived in Corfu and wrote the national anthem poet which was set to music afterwards from Nikos Mantzaros. The museum is now home to Solomos society for Corfiot studies.The poet's desk is preserved at the museum as well as a small collection of the poet's manuscripts and much photographic material.
The Old Fortress of Corfu is the first image of Corfu island for every visitor arriving by boat. The construction started from the Byzantines but when Corfu was conquered from Venice at the end of the 14th century, the Venetians strengthened the fortifications by adapting the fortification for the artillery and their construction included the moat-like trench - the "Kontra Fossa" which separated the fortress from the town making it in this way a virtual island and impossible for any attacker to breach the defences.
Corfu Floklore museum in Acharavi wouldn't exist without Corfu's long history and international influences. Corfu has been inhabited by people of various civilizations. The lasting remains of all these cultures have shaped the Corfiot tradition and the identity of the local civilization. The Italian tamperament, our folk dances and music, the customs and the feasts are all part of this heritage.
At the folcloric museum in Acharavi you will find historical momentos and texts,
The entrance of the New Fortress overlooks the old port area of Corfu town and is another fortification of the Venecians that was made to protect Corfu. Its construction started in 1572 and finished in 1645 on the hill of Saint Mark (we call it Corfu New Fortress because it was the last built of Corfu fortresses). It is a marvel of military architecture and on its well-preserved gates the emblem of the Lion of St. Mark can be seen, just as it appears in St. Mark's square in Venice. Though all the internal buldings were made by the British.
Corfu shell museum was created by a single Corfiot family who managed to collect many specimens from the beautiful world of the deep and the deserts and they have now put their amazing collection on display in their private Corfu museum in Benitses.After many years of dangerous expeditions in Australia through cyclones, tides, poisonous snakes, crocodiles and the shark-infested waters of the tropical seas.
The Corfu Museum of Banknotes, the only one of its kind in Greece, has been operating in Corfu since 1981. It is housed on the top floor of the Alpha Bank Building, a beautiful neoclassical mansion in St. Spyridon Square (Plakada). The exhibitions are spread out over five nicely decorated halls.
The moulds for the first greek banknotes are of great interest as well as the envelopes, stamps and rubber stamps which have great value to collectors.
The origin of the name for this magnificent Corfu fortress is not completely clear; some historians mention that in 1214 Michael I Komninos, priest of Epirus, sometimes called Michael Angelos, annexed Corfu to Epirus and following his death, his son Michael Angelos II, further fortified the area and named it after himself and his father, Angelokastro (castle of Angels).
Angelokastro is one of the most important fortified complexes of Byzantine Corfu.
In Corfu Archaeological Museum there are finds on exhibit of great archaeological and cultural value. The most representative and impressive item is the massive Gorgon Pediment, constructed around 585 B.C. which comes from the west side of the large Doric temple of Artemis.
It is believed to be the oldest stone pediment saved so far. The pediment covers an entire hall of the museum and is showing basically the Gorgon (mermaid).
Saint Spyridon church (or Aghios Spyridonas) is the most famous Corfu church. Once you arrive in the old town square the red bell tower of the church stands above the roofs of the buildings like a light house while the area around it is always busy. If the Esplanade is the heart of the town, St Spyridon is defenetaly the soul of Corfu.
Although Saint Spyridon lived and died in Cyprus, his reputation is connected with the history and the traditions of Corfu.
The museum of Eastern Art (or Asian Art), is housed in the Palace of St. Michael and St. George. The construction of the palace was ordered by the British ruler and lasted from 1818 until 1823. Made from sandstones which were imported from Malta, the design has 20 Doric columns on the frontage, two gates and bas-reliefs of the seven islands of the Ionian sea.
The monastery of the Virgin Mary in Paleokastritsa was built in 1228 and together with the Achillion Palace are some of Corfu's major attractions. It is a classic example of Greek monastic architecture.
The church of the Monastery is decorated with painted icons and frescoes covering the walls and the ceilings. The outer areas have a view over the steep sides of this promontory that separates the beaches of the Paleokastritsa resort. Whilst visiting the Monastery, don't miss the chance to view the traditional olive press and the small museum of icons, sacred books and relics from the Byzantine period.
Achillion Palace is one of Corfu major attractions. It is a neo-classical villa designed for the Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary, Elisabeth (Sissy) and hosts the famous dying Achilles statue in a setting of beautiful gardens and marbles.
