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Old Town of Corfu

Corfu · Greece

Background

World Heritage since
2007
Type of site
Cultural
Town founded
8th c. BC

The Old Town of Corfu, in a strategic position at the entrance of the Adriatic, has its roots in the 8th century BC. UNESCO says its three forts, designed by renowned Venetian engineers, defended the trading interests of the Republic of Venice against the Ottoman Empire for four centuries, and were repaired and partly rebuilt under British rule in the 19th century; the mainly neoclassical houses are partly Venetian, partly 19th-century.

Corfu, or Kerkyra, is the capital of its island and of the Ionian Islands region, with about 23,500 residents. Its Spianada is laid out like the royal gardens of Europe, and the Liston arcades beside it were built in 1807 under the French, inspired by the Rue de Rivoli in Paris.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. 8th c. BCThe first settlement at Corfu
  2. Venetian ruleThe three forts are built and the Ottomans repulsed
  3. 1807The French build the Liston arcades
  4. 19th c.The British repair and rebuild the forts
  5. 2007Inscribed as World Heritage

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    Old Fortress
    The Byzantine fort rebuilt by the Venetians, which held off the Ottoman sieges; open to 20:00 in summer.
  2. 2
    New Fortress
    The second Venetian fort above the harbour.
  3. 3
    Liston and the Spianada
    The arcades and the great esplanade, once a Venetian firing range.
  4. 4
    Old Town Lanes
    Venetian and neoclassical streets between the forts.
  5. 5
    Museum of Asian Art
    In the Palace of St Michael and St George.
  6. 6
    Vlacherna and Kanoni
    The monastery on its causeway, with planes landing overhead.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Airport 2 km Away
Wikivoyage: Corfu's airport is 2 km south of town with flights from all over Europe, mostly April to September; bus 15 runs to Saroko Square.
Easter and Carnival
Corfu's Greek Easter is the most famous in Greece, and its carnival the oldest, with 450 years of history.
Evening on the Liston
The GoGo guide ends the day with ginger beer and kumquat liqueur under the arcades.
Ferry to Albania
Butrint's ruins are a ferry ride across the strait.

Forts and Arcades

From the GoGo Corfu guide · Open the Corfu Guide ›

  1. 09:30
    Liston and the Spianada1 hr
    The arcades and the esplanade.
  2. 10:45
    Old Town Lanes1 hr
    Venetian streets.
  3. 14:30
    Old Fortress75 min
    The Venetian fort.
  4. 16:00
    New Fortress1 hr
    Views over the harbour.
  5. 21:30
    Drinks on the Liston1 hr
    Under the arcades at night.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep. Rainy season Nov–Dec.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Dec (155 mm), driest Jul (16 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Pair It With

Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance

WORTH A NIGHTDAY TRIPSAME DAYDistance not to scale · tap a site
Do These Together
Butrint in Albania is 16 km across the strait, and Berat and Gjirokastra 53 km; Meteora is 146 km away on the mainland.
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 978 · Wikipedia: Corfu (city) · Wikivoyage: Corfu Town (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo Corfu guide · UNESCO listing