Old Fortress of Corfu
The emblematic Venetian fortress of Corfu on a rocky peninsula with two peaks, with the church of St George and panoramic views.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Old Fortress dominates a rocky peninsula with two peaks, from which the town took its name, Koryfo, and later the foreign name Corfu. The first fortifications date from the middle Byzantine period, when the Byzantines fortified the eastern rock, known as the Tower of the Sea or Old Castle.
The most important works were carried out after the 15th century by the Venetians, for whom Corfu had great commercial and strategic value. They opened the moat that turned the peninsula into an artificial island and fortified the western hill, the Tower of the Land or New Castle. The fortress withstood three Ottoman sieges; its greatest disaster came from the explosion of the gunpowder magazine of the Old Castle in 1718, which claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed most of the buildings.
Although it was never conquered, it passed in turn to the French, the Russians, the British, the Italians and the Germans, who added new phases to its architecture. After the Asia Minor Catastrophe, refugees were settled here. Today the British barracks and the Venetian prisons stand out, as well as the Latin chapel of Our Lady of the Carmelites from the early 17th century and the church of St George from 1840, built in Georgian style during British rule and later converted into an Orthodox church. The site houses the Music Department of the Ionian University, the Corfu Historical Archive, the Public Library and the Byzantine Collection of Corfu.
Highlights
- Church of St George (1840) in Georgian style
- British barracks and Venetian prisons
- Latin chapel of Our Lady of the Carmelites
- Winged lion of St Mark on the mezzaluna of the Tower of the Land
- Panoramic view over the Ionian Sea and the old town from the highest point
- Operated by
- Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού – Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Κέρκυρας
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
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| Reduced | €5 |
Free admission: 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September, 28 October, and the first and third Sunday of every month from 1 November to 31 March.
The Byzantine Collection of Corfu is housed inside the fortress and has its own opening hours.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
An accessible area for people with disabilities is available.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Πλατεία – Λιστόν
Bus line 2A, stop “Plateia – Liston”.
The fortress is 5 minutes on foot from Spianada Square and 10 minutes by car from the airport and from the port.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
Toilets are available on site.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | The Byzantine Collection of Corfu is also located inside the fortress. From the highest point there is a panoramic view. |
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