For those seeking history and culture, there is plenty to discover in Corfu Town. With a very rich historical background and architecture quite unique amongst the Ionian islands, due to the town's long-lasting ties with the Venetians, Corfu Town flaunts impressive fortresses and is full of monumental churches, museums, elegant mansions and tourist streets. Since it is full of historical and cultural heritage, walking through the old town will make you feel like you are in a well-preserved, open-air museum.
Due to its strategic placement between the Ionian and the Adriatic Seas, Corfu had always been a point of conflict. From 750 BC onwards, many inhabitants and conquerors (like the Romans, the Byzantines, the Venetians, the Goths, the English, and the French) have left their mark on the island and, especially, Corfu Town. The town served as the administrational and commercial centre of the island and was also the ideal spot to control trades and military routes from all around the sea. So, to no surprise, large and awe-inspiring castles were built atop two of the city's largest hills by the Angevins in the 13th century, although the fortresses are mostly associated with the Venetians. Soon, under Venetian rule, new fortresses were built, and along with these new thicker defences, the town became almost impenetrable. Their architectural aesthetic left a cultural mark in Corfu Town, with Campiello and Nobile Teatro di San Giacomo (which now houses the Town Hall) being prime examples of it.
After the Republic of Venice crumbled, Napoleon was the one to step foot onto Corfu for a few years, enough to create even more eye-catching sights and streets, while the British were next in line, leaving an aristocratic and Neoclassical flavour behind, with grandiose art statements and palaces, like the Palace of St.Michael and St.George.
Around the middle of the 19th century, Corfu became a part of the Greek independent state while still being a meeting point for high-class society. However, during the Corfu Incident in 1923 and the Second World War, a large part (around a quarter) of the town was obliterated due to successive bombings. What remains sound is still a cultural landmark of the Mediterranean and a global tourist attraction, and UNESCO inscribed Corfu Town as a World Heritage Site in 2007.
Corfu Town has an old town area and a new town area, giving holidaymakers the best of both worlds. In the old town, you can discover quaint cafes, charming shops selling local food and goods and stunning Venetian architecture. The new town offers a great selection of restaurants, bars and boutiques while nightlife can be found in the commercial centre which is just outside of the town. Explore the markets and sample fresh fruits and local wine. For those seeking history and culture, there is plenty to discover in Corfu Town. Visit St. Spyridon Church, where the mummified remains of the patron saint of Corfu are kept.