A unique mosaic of civilisations
The Old Town of Corfu is a unique mosaic of history, architecture, and urban life. Since 2007, it has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as an outstanding example of a fortified Mediterranean town, where Venetian urban planning and successive European influences have remained almost untouched through the centuries.
Built between the Old and New Fortress, the Old Town unfolds through a dense network of narrow streets, the famous kantounia, where washing lines stretch between the buildings and everyday life coexists with historical memory.
Its oldest and most charming quarter is Campiello, to the north of the historic centre - a labyrinth of narrow alleys, tall stone buildings, carved wells, small squares, and ornate balconies with a distinctly Venetian character. Between Campiello and the Spilia district, farther south, lies Filellinon Street. At number 18, you will find the city's oldest surviving building, dating to around 1497.
The Spianada is the largest square in the Balkans, a place for strolling, events, and performances by the philharmonic bands. Right beside it, the Liston with its picturesque cafes was built during the French period and recalls a Parisian boulevard.
The two fortresses offer spectacular views over the town and the Ionian Sea, revealing the island's strategic importance as a western stronghold.
A true jewel is the Palace of St Michael and St George, the largest and most important building of the period of the United States of the Ionian Islands (1815-1864), which today houses the Museum of Asian Art of Corfu. From many points, you can also spot the bell tower of the Church of St Spyridon, where the saint's holy relic is kept.
As you walk through the streets of the Old Town, you will feel as though you are in an open-air museum. Free from cars, it is the ideal destination for experiencing history through sounds, scents, images, and, of course, music.
Built between the Old and New Fortress, the Old Town unfolds through a dense network of narrow streets, the famous kantounia, where washing lines stretch between the buildings and everyday life coexists with historical memory.
Its oldest and most charming quarter is Campiello, to the north of the historic centre - a labyrinth of narrow alleys, tall stone buildings, carved wells, small squares, and ornate balconies with a distinctly Venetian character. Between Campiello and the Spilia district, farther south, lies Filellinon Street. At number 18, you will find the city's oldest surviving building, dating to around 1497.
The Spianada is the largest square in the Balkans, a place for strolling, events, and performances by the philharmonic bands. Right beside it, the Liston with its picturesque cafes was built during the French period and recalls a Parisian boulevard.
The two fortresses offer spectacular views over the town and the Ionian Sea, revealing the island's strategic importance as a western stronghold.
A true jewel is the Palace of St Michael and St George, the largest and most important building of the period of the United States of the Ionian Islands (1815-1864), which today houses the Museum of Asian Art of Corfu. From many points, you can also spot the bell tower of the Church of St Spyridon, where the saint's holy relic is kept.
As you walk through the streets of the Old Town, you will feel as though you are in an open-air museum. Free from cars, it is the ideal destination for experiencing history through sounds, scents, images, and, of course, music.
