Corfu Town

Spianada is the central square and the meeting point of Corfu's residents and visitors. It is built in the style of the Royal Gardens of Europe. At one time it was a firing range for Venetian troops.

The Liston is a building complex with long arcades built in 1807 by the French imperial commissioner Mathieu de Lesseps, father of the constructor of the Suez Canal. It is an excellent example of architecture from Napoleonic period, when Corfu was part of the First French Empire. The design was inspired by the Rue de Rivoli in Paris. The Liston runs along the west side of the Spianáda.

A Byzantine fort rebuilt under Venetian rule. The fortress successfully repulsed Ottoman sieges in 1537, 1571 and 1716. The old Fortress houses the church of St. George, the Public library and the Hellenic Music Research Lab of the Ionian University. It was the location of a scene from the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only, in which the Mercedes of Emile Locque, the evil adversary, gets pushed off a cliff by Bond. Cash and card payments accepted.

The club is only accessible from the fortress (or by boat). As well as a bar and restaurant there is a small beach you can swim from.

Less impressive, the new fortress was built by the Venetians on the 16th century atop the San Marco Hill. The most significant attractions of the New Fortress are: the British barracks, the underground stoas, water ducts, ammunition storage rooms etc. The Museum of Ceramic Art is housed here. Theatrical performances, exhibitions and concerts are also held on the fortress premises.

The museum hosts collections of archaeological finds, including the impressive Gorgon pediment from the Temple of Artemis, dating from 585 BC. It is the oldest stone pediment in Greece and is described in the New York times review of the museum as the finest example of Archaic temple sculpture extant. Of particular note is the 'Lion of Menecrates', the work of a Corinthian sculptor of the Archaic period, dated to the end of the 7th century BC.

More than ten thousand objects, from China, Japan, India, Tibet and Southeast Asia. The museum is housed in the former Royal Palace, an imposing three-storied building and a fine example of neoclassical architecture, located at the northern end of the Spianada.

A small church dedicated to Our Lady of Antivouniotissa, now housing a collection of Byzantine and post-Byzantine icons.