CORFU OLD TOWN

Imbued with Venetian grace and elegance

Some History & Fun Facts

Influenced by many cultures
View from the sea at hotels in corfu town center

Influenced by many cultures

From Venetians to French and British

When approached by sea one gets a glorious impression of the town’s dense and impressive architecture which has been preserved, alive and substantially unaltered, until the present day. Largely built by the Venetians with important additions in time by other major European countries.

Corfu holds some majestic architecture!

ARCHITECTURE

History meets culture

Despite the high walls forming the ring road around this rich historical town connecting two large fortresses it allowed for the creative coexistence of many cultures to which it was home to including Venetian, British and French. The northern walls which look towards the Straits of Corfu and the main port of Corfu offering strategic views, were instrumental at deflecting an Ottoman invasion which occupied the rest of mainland Greece. As a result, the cultural and historical formation of Corfu and the Ionian Islands as a whole was very different to a general definition of being Greek.
Safeguarding Cultural Landscapes

UNESCO

From both an aesthetic and a cultural point of view Corfu Town constitutes one of the most glorious examples of fortified towns preserved, not only in Greece, but across the Eastern Mediterranean more widely. In recognition of its unique cultural entity of a high aesthetic value, both in the structure and form of the town, as well as in its arts, letters and social life, Corfu Town has been granted UNESCO World Heritage status.
Famous Liston

Liston in Spianada

Corfu became a cradle of science and a culture synonymous in importance to other European cities. The Liston, for example, strongly evokes the “Rue de Rivoli” of Paris which the French began to build in 1807 and is a typical example of European architecture in that era. The prevailing theory is that only those included in the Libro d’Oro could walk here. The personal signature of nobles was a precondition to enter the closed for many Liston area, where only the elite and privileged could enjoy a walk or a drink. While the distinct cosmopolitan flair still remains everyone can a drink and the customary evening stroll along the Liston just around the corner from Sopra Mura.

Protector of the island

Saint Spyridon

Built in 1589 Saint Spyridon is the largest church on Corfu dedicated to its patron saint and protector of the island. Said to have performed miracles which rid the town from the plague and stopped the invasion of the Ottoman fleet St Spyridon is celebrated on a couple of occasions in the year and is visited by many Christian Orthodox worshipers from around the world. The sound from its large bell tower resonates throughout the town and can be seen from a long distance as one arrives in Corfu by sea. It is customary for visitors to light a candle when visiting.

Music tradition of Corfu

Music is our thing

Corfu has a strong music tradition which includes philharmonic orchestras, choirs and a well-respected music department at the Ionian University. There are 17 brass bands in Corfu four of which are based in Corfu Town and the rest in various villages with a total of membership of around 2000 musicians. It is estimated that more people play an instrument per capita than anywhere else in Europe. Easter in Corfu town is a huge event with music being instrumental so to speak, in creating a very unique ambience. Sopra Mura has a front row seat in all the Easter celebrations in Corfu.

Theatre of Corfu

The Municipal Theatre of Corfu was the main theatre and opera house in Corfu, Greece, from 1902 to 1943 when sadly it was destroyed during a WW2 air raid. During its 41-year history it was one of the premier theatres and opera houses in Greece, and as the first theatre in Southeastern Europe, it contributed to the Arts and to the history of the Balkans and of Europe. It is said that if a play was applauded in Corfu it would surely do well elsewhere.

fun-facts

1| Sotto Mura

1| Built into the northern walls of Corfu Town called Mouragia is a small cave like church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The single step into it is almost at sea level and its original name was Limniotissa or Sotto Mura meaning the one beneath the walls in Italian. One can still visit the church today beneath Sopra Mura which is where the name of this luxury town house has been inspired from: above the walls rather than bellow.

2| Corfu Like Mermaid

2| If you look at the satellite image of Corfu island it looks like a huge mermaid like being looking up towards the north west of the island with long hair flowing out behind her towards the north east. Her tails starts around the height of Corfu Town, the front of her knees are at Korission Lake and the tip of her tail is in Lefkimmi. With a little bit of imagination you too will be able to see The Mermaid Island©.

3| First in Corfu

3| The first Greek parliament was created in Corfu, the first Greek Prime minister came from Corfu and the Greek national anthem was written in Corfu. The Ionian University was the first university in Greece, the first Psychiatric Hospital and Prison were all in Corfu too. The first tennis club in Greece also comes from Corfu, founded by the English in 1896 as well as a very first modern opera and theatre house of Greece. That’s a lot of firsts!

4| The Garden of Gods

4| On the island you can find about 6,000 different species of herbs and flowers, of which there are rarely encountered elsewhere such as 55 species of wild orchids. The oldest Olive Tree is called Evdokia and is estimated to be between 1086 and 1200 years old in the village of Strongili. The island is famous for its large amounts of olive trees with an estimated 4 million of them both wild and cultivated.

Ask Your Queries

[wpforms id="7"]

Ask Your Queries

Tooltip content

Click the icon above if you wish to contact us through our website.

Or
Make A Booking