Corfu Town Attractions

From the Spianada Leofóros Dimokratías runs south along the seafront. 200m/220yd along this street, off on the right just beyond the Corfu Palace Hotel, is the Archeological Museum; its most notable exhibit is the Gorgon Pediment (C. 585 B.C.) from the temple of Artemi.

From the outside the museum is rather unimpressive, in a modern looking complex which looks more like a small apartment complex.

The Solomos Museum on Corfu, located in the restored house where the poet spent most of his life, houses a collection of items related to Solomos personal life and writing career.

The Feast of St Spyridon, the patron saint of Corfu, is held on the island on April 15 and 21.

The Ionian University aspires to emulate the prestige of the 19th century Ionian Academy. Its departments include History, Foreign Languages and Interpreters' School, Music and Archive and Library Science.

In the summer it operates as a Greek language center.

The Municipal Gallery of Cofu contains collections of the Samartzis, the Aglaia Papa, and Philippos Makotsis, as well as two works donated by Nikolaos Ventouras.

At the north end of Corfu town is the harbor, with the massive New Fort (16th C.) rising above it on the south. Offshore to the north, 1km/.75mi away, is the island of Vídos.

The fort also houses the Museum of Authentic Casts and New Fortress.

St Spyridon Church has a silver sarcophagus adorned with precious stones. It encloses the remains of Corfu's patron saint.

It also has wonderful icons and a fascinating collection of silver and gold votive offerings.

The Ste Theodora Augusta Cathedral in Corfu town contains the remains of the saint as well as a fine collection of Byzantine icons.

One km/.75mi west of Mon Repos Park, beyond the monastery of Áyios Theodóros, are the scanty remains of a temple of Artemi of the sixth century B.C.; its west pediment, known as the Gorgon Pediment, is now in the Archeological Museum.

500m/550yd beyond the Archeological Museum, on the right in the garden of a police station, can be seen the Tomb of Menekrates (seventh or sixth century B.C.), a low circular structure resembling a fountain-house which was discovered in 1843 during the demolition of the old Salvator Bastion. Leofóros Dimokratías ends at the bathing station of Mon Repos, at the southeastern end of the suburban district of Garítsa.

The Corfu Byzantine Museum is housed in the Church of Our Lady Antivouniotissa. The museum contains about 90 icons dating back to the 15th century.

Corfu town celebrates carnival with special festivities and customs on the last Sunday before Lent. Events include a parade of floats and bands, followed by the traditional burning of an effigy representing the spirit of Carnival.

The annual Corfu Festival is held in September. It includes concerts, ballet, opera and theater performances.

The Corfu Town Hall was built in 1663. It is a splendid example of Venetian architecture.

The Palace was built between 1889 and 1891, as a summer palace for "Sissi", Austria's Empress Elizabeth. The Villa also houses a museum.