Museums of Corfu

The island of Corfu and particularly its capital, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage cultural monument since summer 2007, is an open-air museum. Beyond that, the turbulent history, marked by invasions and conquests, along with the culture and traditions, are expertly collected and presented within Corfu’s museums.

In Corfu Town‘s historic centre, you’ll find important museum exhibitions right next to the two fortresses that dominate the city, amongst many other historic buildings. The richest historical collection is housed in the Archaeological Museum, where you can admire artefacts from the Temple of Artemis, a Doric structure dating back to 580 BC and discovered during the Napoleonic Wars. In its day, it was one of the most imposing temples, featuring two rows of 8 columns at the front and back, and two rows of seventeen columns each along the longer sides. The Temple of Artemis in Corfu and the Parthenon are the only two Greek temples with two rows of eight columns supporting the entablature.

Corfu is also home to the Museum of Asian Art, founded in 1927, the only one of its kind in Greece and among Europe’s finest. Housed in the Palace of Saints Michael and George, a neoclassical building constructed between 1819 and 1824 that represents the most important monument of British rule. The east and west wings of the first floor house the Museum and contain more than 11,000 pieces, including terracotta and bronze vessels, Buddha statues, ceramics and Japanese artwork. In a separate section is the Corfu Art Gallery, which showcases works from the 19th and 20th centuries by Corfiot painters and sculptors.

Must-see

• The 15th-century Orthodox church, dedicated to the Most Holy Virgin Mary Antivouniotissa, is not only one of the island’s most important religious monuments but has been transformed into a museum to house the religious expression of the Byzantine tradition. This seven-island basilica is remarkably well preserved and hosts icons and relics of great significance.
• The house of Greek poet Dionisios Solomos is home to the museum bearing his name.