The 17 meter long pediment depicts the snake-haired gorgon Medusa, flanked by lion like figures and her children. 6th century BC. Temple of Artemis. Corfu.
Photograph: Courtesy of Thomas Curtis.
The Archaeological Museum of Corfu is located in the Garitsa bay in Corfu town. It exhibits findings from excavations in Corfu ancient town 'Paleopolis', Corfu village Cassiopi and western Greece. It houses artifacts from the Upper Paleolithic period (35.000BC to 10,000BC), Neolithic period (6.500 BC to 3.200BC), Bronze Age (3.200BC to 1.050BC) and Ancient Historical Times (1.050BC to 324AD).
The most important items are:
- The monumental pediment of the mythical Gorco-Medusa from the west facade of the Doric temple of Artemis found in Paleopolis. It is the oldest pediment in Greece dated back to 6th century BC.
- The Lion of Menecrates, a funerary statue of a crouching lion which was found near the cenotaph of Meneca=rates, made by a famous Korinthian sculptor in the Archaic period.
- The left part of an Archaic pediment found near the Figaretto area. This pediment depicts a scene from a Dionysiac symposium, dating back to the 5th Century BC.
Location:1, Armeni Vraila Str.
Tel: (+30) 26610 30680
The Museum of Asiatic Art in Corfu is the National Centre for Asian studies in Greece and it is considered as on of the most important ones in Europe. It exhibits more than 11,000 artifacts dating from the 11th century BC to 12th century AD.
The main part of the collection comes from China and Japan, but it exhibits artifacts from Tibet, Korea, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Thailand and Cambodia.
The most important collections are:
- China's artifacts are from the Neolithic period to 19th century and includeinclude ceramics, bronzes, lacquer, painting, textiles, woodsculptures, items of precious materials and jewllery.
- Japan's artifacts are from the 4th century to the 19th century AD and include ceramics, bronzes, lacquer, painting, prints, textiles, everyday life items, Kabuki theatre masks, musical instruments, woodsculptures, glass and precious materials items, Samurai armour and weaponry.
- India's artifacts dating from the 2nd century BC to 19th Century AD include various religion sculptures and miniature paintings.
- Korea's artifacts from the 19th and 20th century, incude ceramics and paintings.
- Afganistan and Pakistan's artifacts from the 2nd century BC to the 5th Century AD include Gandhara grey schist buddhist reliefs.
The museum is housed in the palace of Saints Michael and George, a neoclassical , Georgian-Style building built in the 19th century by the British and since 1928 it houses the Museum of Asiatic Art.
Location: Saint Michael and George Palace (Palea Anaktora)
Tel(+30) 26610 30443
The Archaeological museum is currently closed. Contact before visiting.
The Byzantine Museum of Corfu is housed in a church dedicated to the Holy Virgin ''Our Lady of Antivouniotisa'', built in the 15th century AD. It is located in the historic part of Corfu Town in the area of Campiello.
The building itself is of high historical value and it was under major restoration works for more than a decade taking into consideration that this monument should serve both as a church and a museum. On August 23, 2000 the monument opened its doors to the public, both as place of worship and an exhibition in complete harmony.
In 2006 the 21st Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquites is formed, under the authority of the Ministry of Culture, whose responsibility is the preservation and protection of all Byzantine and Post-Byzantine monuments, the historic centre of old Corfu Town and the Museum of Antivouniotissa.
For more information visit the the official web site of the Antivouniotissa Museum.
Location: Arseniou Str.
Tel: (+30) 26610 38313
Built in the 15th century, a fine example of Heptanesian Basilica style, is one of the most important ecclesiastical monuments in Corfu.
Dionysios Solomos
(1798 - 1857)
Dionysios Solomos (8 April 1798 - 9 February 1857) was one of the most important Greek poets. He was born in the island of Zakynthos, and his most recognized work is the Hymn to Liberty, of which first two stanzas became the Greek National Anthem in 1865. He is considered to be the central figure of the Heptanese School of poetry and he is considered to be the national poet of Greece.
Solomos moved to Corfu in In 1828, just 7 years after the Greek revolution against the Ottomans. During those troubled years, Corfu was the most important intellectual centre of Greece. Corfu offered him a stimulating environment and a perfect place for contemplation and writing poetry. He spent his happiest years in Corfu.
The house that the poet lived, created and died is now the 'Solomos Study Centre' which also functions as the Museum of Dionysios Solomos. His office and personal belongings are preserved and displayed, along with old photographs, old maps, manuscripts and potraits of famous Corfiots.
Location: 1, Arsenioy Str.
Tel: (+30) 26610 30674
Greek Original
Σὲ γνωρίζω ἀπὸ τὴν κόψι
Τοῦ σπαθιοῦ τὴν τρομερή,
Σὲ γνωρίζω ἀπὸ τὴν ὄψι,
Ποὺ μὲ βιὰ μετράει τὴν γῆ.
Ἀπ’ τὰ κόκκαλα βγαλμένη
Τῶν Ἑλλήνων τὰ ἱερά,
Καὶ σὰν πρῶτα ἀνδρειωμένη,
Χαῖρε, ὢ χαῖρε, Ἐλευθεριά!
Literal
I recognize you by the fearsome sharpness,
of your sword,
I recognize you by the gleam (in your eyes)
with which you rapidly survey the earth.
From the sacred bones,
of the Hellenes arisen,
and strengthened by your antique bravery,
hail, o hail, Liberty!
Poetic
I shall always recognize you
by the dreadful sword you hold
as the Earth with searching vision
you survey with spirit bold
From the Greeks of old whose dying
brought to life and spirit free
now with ancient valour rising
let us hail you, oh Liberty!
The Philharmonic Society of Corfu was founded in 1840 with a goal of becoming the first Greek music academy organized on European standards.
The first Artistic Director of the Philharmonic Society was Nikolaos Halikiopoulos Mantzaros - the composer of the Greek National Anthem - he administrated the Society from 1841 until his death in 1872.
The Corfu Museum of Music opened on 15th September, 2010 on the first floor of the society's building. It is named after its first Artistic Director ''Nikolaos Halikiopoulos Mantzaros'' who inspired a whole generation of composers and shaped the music of the Ionian islands during the 19th century.
For more information visit the official website of the Corfu Philharmonic Society.
Location: N. Theotoki 10
Tel: (+30) 26610 39289
The Museum is divided into 5 thematic sections; (i) Foundation & Administration, (ii) Educational activities, (iii) Concerts, (iv) The wind band and (v) People and their work.
The Banknotes Museum is housed in a neoclassical building in Corfu Town that operated as the first branch of the Ionian Bank. It's collection of Greek banknotes is wide and continuously expanding. The museum displays a near-complete collection of Greek Banknotes (roughly 2,000 notes) dating from 1822 to the last ones withdrawn in 2002 with the introduction of the Euro, including the first treasury bond issued by the newly liberated Greek state.
The Corfu Numismatic Museum exhibits a rare banknote designed in 1920 that depicts the Byzantine church of Hagia Sophia without the Ottoman minarets. Other important collection are the banknotes issued by the first Governor of Greece Ioannis Kapodistrias, and the banknotes issued by the occupying Axis Forces in World War II.
Location: Heroes Sqr. (Plateia Iroon)
Ioannis Kapodistrias (10 April 1776 - 9 October 1931) born in Corfu from a well known and respected family.
Kapodistrias was one of the most distinguished politicians of his era and the main contributor of the efforts of rebuilding the Greek state after the revolution against the Ottomans.
At the age of 25 he becomes one of the two administrators of the independent United States of Ionian Islands.
On 1813, as an unofficial ambassador of Russia was sent to Switzerland with the objective of helping relieve the country from the French dominance imposed by Napoleon. His mission was successful and Kapodistrias secured Swiss unity, independence and stability and actively faciliated the initiation of a new Constitution for the 19 states of Switzerland.
Ioannis Kapodistrias
(1776 - 1831)
On 1816 Ioannis Kapodistrias became the Foreign Affairs Minister of the Russian Empire until 1822.
On 1827 he became the first Governor of the independent Greek state, introducing major reform and modernisation programme. He re-organised the military and recapture Greek territories from the Ottoman republic, he signed the peace treaty that ended the War of Independence, introduced the first modern currency, Phoenix, organized the local administration among others.
He was assassinated in 1831 by the Petrobey's family in Nafplio for the imprisonment of Petrobey's Mavromichalis a infamous rebel family of that time.
His contribution to the European and Greek history is of major importance and he is honoured in numerus ways in Greece, Russia, Switzerland and Slovenia.
The museum of Kapodistrias, which is also the center of the Kapodistrian Studies and was founded in 1891. Maria-Desylla Kapodistria donated the family's summer house to the Greek State and soon after it was turned into an exhibition area where personal belongings, furniture and relics are displayed.
Location: Evropouloi
Tel: (+30) 26610 39528
