The Museums of Corfu
Corfu, an island with a long history and strong cultural influences, is home to some of the most impressive museums in Greece. Visitors can travel through time, from antiquity to the period of Venetian rule, explore the influence of the Orthodox Church, experience the daily life of a 19th-century Corfiot aristocratic family, and admire rare collections from Asian civilizations and cultures. Each museum on the island tells its own unique story, highlighting different aspects of Corfu’s cultural identity.
At the heart of the Old Town lies the Museum of Asian Art, the only museum in Greece exclusively dedicated to the art of the Far East. It is housed in the Palace of St. Michael and St. George, an impressive neoclassical building constructed during the period of British rule. The museum was founded in 1928 when Gregorios Manos, a Corfiot diplomat, donated his personal collection of Asian art objects. Over the years, the collection was enriched with donations and acquisitions, and today it includes more than 15,000 exhibits from China, Japan, India, Nepal, and Tibet. Visitors can admire Chinese porcelain, Japanese swords and samurai armor, Indian sculptures, and Buddhist religious artifacts. The aesthetics of these exhibits, combined with the unique atmosphere of the palace, create a magical environment that transports visitors to an exotic world thousands of miles away from Corfu.
Another important museum in Corfu Town is the Archaeological Museum, which offers a rare opportunity to explore the island’s ancient history. Located near the city center, it houses significant artifacts dating from the Geometric to the Roman period. The most impressive exhibit is the pediment of Medusa from the Temple of Artemis, one of the oldest surviving stone pediments in Greece, dating back to the 6th century BC. The pediment depicts the terrifying gaze of Medusa, surrounded by mythological figures. Besides this, the museum features Corinthian ceramics, funerary steles, figurines, and ancient inscriptions that shed light on the daily life and religious practices of the ancient Phaeacians. Corfu’s archaeological heritage is revealed in a unique way through these objects, highlighting the island’s role as one of the most significant commercial and cultural centers of the ancient world.
For those interested in religious art, the Museum of Antivouniotissa is a priceless treasure. It is housed in the Church of Panagia Antivouniotissa, one of the oldest temples on the island, dating back to the 15th century. The museum holds a rich collection of post-Byzantine icons and ecclesiastical artifacts that showcase the development of Corfiot hagiography from the 15th to the 19th century. Among the exhibits, works by great Ionian painters stand out, such as Michael Damaskinos and Emmanuel Tzanes, who combined the Byzantine tradition with Western influences. The church’s atmosphere, with its ornate iconostasis, old oil lamps, and sacred paintings, lends the museum a sense of solemnity, making the visit a unique experience for those interested in Orthodox art and spirituality.
A few meters away, in the heart of the Old Town, visitors can discover a different perspective on Corfu’s history through Casa Parlante, an interactive museum that recreates the life of a 19th-century aristocratic family. The museum is housed in a mansion in the city’s historic center and uses wax figures, automated movements, sounds, and scents to create an immersive experience. As visitors walk through the rooms of the house, they encounter the daily lives of its inhabitants: the master of the house reads his newspaper, the lady enjoys her tea, the children play, and the servants prepare the meal. Through the furniture, clothing, and period objects, Casa Parlante offers a unique opportunity to understand the lifestyle of Corfiot aristocracy and feel as if they have traveled back in time.
For those who wish to remain in the past and, more specifically, the 19th century, another museum worth visiting is the Kapodistrias Museum, dedicated to Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first Governor of Greece and a Corfiot native. The museum is located in the “Koukouritsa” estate in the village of Evropouloi, a lush green area just outside Corfu Town, and is housed in Kapodistrias’ family home. Inside, visitors can see personal items, letters, documents, and historical relics that shed light on the political and diplomatic achievements of this great leader. Through the exhibits, visitors gain a deeper understanding of Kapodistrias’ personality, vision, and the challenges he faced during his tenure as Greece’s first head of state.
The museums of Corfu represent an invaluable cultural treasure, revealing different aspects of the island’s history and art. Whether it is antiquity, Byzantine art, the daily life of nobles, or Kapodistrias’ political legacy, each museum offers a unique experience that connects the past with the present. If you choose to take the time to explore them, you will discover the true soul of Corfu through the collections and stories they preserve.
