Corfu Old Town Walking Tour (Self Guided), Corfu
Poseidon, the god of the sea, was obsessed with the beautiful nymph Korkyra, the daughter of the river god Asopus. Poseidon abducted Korkyra and carried her off to an unnamed island. He called the island Korkyra, after his lady love. This island later became Corfu.
By the 8th century BC, the Greek city Corinth had claimed it as a colony, and its ships became key players in the Peloponnesian War, taking place between 431 and 404 BC. The Romans and Byzantines followed, layering basilicas, walls, and bits of empire onto its coastline. Through centuries of raids and rivalries, Corfu’s role as a maritime outpost never quite let up.
When the Venetians arrived in 1401, they made sure the island would not be easy pickings. They poured nearly four hundred years into shaping Corfu, digging moats and stacking stone into the massive Old Fortress that still looms above the sea. Its bastions weren’t for show—Ottoman armies battered its walls more than once, but the fortress held, and Corfu never fell.
Yet Corfu’s strength has never been just military. Faith anchored the community through plagues and sieges alike, embodied in Saint Spyridon whose relics rest inside the 16th-century church that bears his name. The church's flickering lamps and silver work remind visitors of the centuries of devotion poured into keeping the saint's spirit alive. Corfiots still credit him with miracles, and his processions fill the narrow streets with incense, bells, and a sense of continuity that binds the living to their history.
Foreign flags flew over Corfu more than once - French, Russian, and British - with each departure left behind a piece of architecture or governance that made up the island’s identity. By the time it joined Greece in 1864, Corfu had already developed a cosmopolitan air: Venetian arcades, British cricket greens, and a skyline defined by fortresses and domes.
Today, the island doesn’t need to boast. It is ready to enthrall you, the same way Korkyra did to Poseidon. Come and be a part of its mosaic, one influence at a time.
By the 8th century BC, the Greek city Corinth had claimed it as a colony, and its ships became key players in the Peloponnesian War, taking place between 431 and 404 BC. The Romans and Byzantines followed, layering basilicas, walls, and bits of empire onto its coastline. Through centuries of raids and rivalries, Corfu’s role as a maritime outpost never quite let up.
When the Venetians arrived in 1401, they made sure the island would not be easy pickings. They poured nearly four hundred years into shaping Corfu, digging moats and stacking stone into the massive Old Fortress that still looms above the sea. Its bastions weren’t for show—Ottoman armies battered its walls more than once, but the fortress held, and Corfu never fell.
Yet Corfu’s strength has never been just military. Faith anchored the community through plagues and sieges alike, embodied in Saint Spyridon whose relics rest inside the 16th-century church that bears his name. The church's flickering lamps and silver work remind visitors of the centuries of devotion poured into keeping the saint's spirit alive. Corfiots still credit him with miracles, and his processions fill the narrow streets with incense, bells, and a sense of continuity that binds the living to their history.
Foreign flags flew over Corfu more than once - French, Russian, and British - with each departure left behind a piece of architecture or governance that made up the island’s identity. By the time it joined Greece in 1864, Corfu had already developed a cosmopolitan air: Venetian arcades, British cricket greens, and a skyline defined by fortresses and domes.
Today, the island doesn’t need to boast. It is ready to enthrall you, the same way Korkyra did to Poseidon. Come and be a part of its mosaic, one influence at a time.
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Corfu Old Town Walking Tour Map
Guide Name: Corfu Old Town Walking Tour
Guide Location: Greece » Corfu (See other walking tours in Corfu)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 8
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Author: DanaOffice
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
Guide Location: Greece » Corfu (See other walking tours in Corfu)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 8
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Author: DanaOffice
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
- Old Fortress
- Spianada Square
- Liston
- Cathedral of Saint James and Saint Christopher
- Town Hall
- Casa Parlante
- Saint Spyridon Church
- New Fortress
1) Old Fortress (must see)
A jagged rock rising from the sea, crowned with walls that have seen more as many cannons as boats floating in the sea. That’s Corfu’s Old Fortress, first fortified back in the 6th century AD when locals, tired of getting knocked around by Ostrogoth raids, hauled themselves onto this peninsula for safety. The Byzantines took over the project in the 12th century, adding towers on two peaks and giving the place its dual identity as Old Castle and New Castle.
Then came the Venetians, and with them, big ideas. From 1386 to 1797, they carved the Contrafossa canal, severing the fortress from the town and turning it into a floating citadel. They stacked on bastions, underground passages, and towers robust enough to stare down three separate Ottoman sieges. The last, in 1716, dragged on for seven weeks until Count von der Schulenburg and his defenders forced the Ottomans packing. But the fortress wasn’t invincible—two years later, a lightning strike hit the powder magazine and blew the place sky-high, Venetian commander included.
Roll forward to the British in the 19th century, who added their own flair with a lighthouse and military barracks. Later chapters got grim: Italian bombs in 1923, and under Nazi occupation, the fortress became a holding prison for Corfu’s Jews before deportation—a story that ended in tragedy for most.
And yet, the fortress endures. Today it’s home to the Public Library of Corfu and the Ionian University’s Music Research Lab, and its courtyards double as stages for concerts and exhibitions. Wander the bastions, slip through shadowy tunnels, or just climb high for sweeping views over Corfu Town’s terracotta rooftops, the Ionian shimmer, and Albania’s distant peaks. Part monument, part cultural playground, the Old Fortress is history with a pulse.
Then came the Venetians, and with them, big ideas. From 1386 to 1797, they carved the Contrafossa canal, severing the fortress from the town and turning it into a floating citadel. They stacked on bastions, underground passages, and towers robust enough to stare down three separate Ottoman sieges. The last, in 1716, dragged on for seven weeks until Count von der Schulenburg and his defenders forced the Ottomans packing. But the fortress wasn’t invincible—two years later, a lightning strike hit the powder magazine and blew the place sky-high, Venetian commander included.
Roll forward to the British in the 19th century, who added their own flair with a lighthouse and military barracks. Later chapters got grim: Italian bombs in 1923, and under Nazi occupation, the fortress became a holding prison for Corfu’s Jews before deportation—a story that ended in tragedy for most.
And yet, the fortress endures. Today it’s home to the Public Library of Corfu and the Ionian University’s Music Research Lab, and its courtyards double as stages for concerts and exhibitions. Wander the bastions, slip through shadowy tunnels, or just climb high for sweeping views over Corfu Town’s terracotta rooftops, the Ionian shimmer, and Albania’s distant peaks. Part monument, part cultural playground, the Old Fortress is history with a pulse.
2) Spianada Square
Spianada Square in Corfu, whose name comes from the Italian spianare, meaning “to flatten,” lives up to its name—though not in spirit. It spreads out as the largest square in the Balkans, a broad stage where centuries of history have left their mark. The Venetians began the story in the 16th century, clearing away houses to create an open zone of defense for the Old Fortress. Later came the French, with their taste for order and neat urban planning, followed by the British, who sprinkled in their own additions. The result is a patchwork of empires, still visible in stone, gardens, and arcades.
At the heart of the square stands the Peristyle of Maitland, a circle of twenty Ionic columns raised in 1817 by General George Whitmore. It rests on top of what was once a water cistern, though the locals still call it the “Sterna.” Monuments dot the area like footnotes in marble—among them the statue of Count von der Schulenburg, remembered for repelling the Turks in 1716. In the “Boschetto” garden, fountains and busts of figures such as poet Konstantinos Theotokis and author Gerald Durrell soften the grandeur with quieter, more personal notes.
One side of Spianada is framed by the Liston Arcade, a French-era creation from 1807 inspired by Paris’s Rivoli street. Today its arcades shelter cafés whose tables are among the most coveted in Corfu. Not far off rises the Palace of Saint Michael and Saint George, a British-built neoclassical landmark from 1824, now housing the Museum of Asian Art. Together, they turn the square into a living open-air gallery of European design.
But Spianada is no museum piece. Cricket matches—an odd British legacy—still play out on its lawn, while Easter parades, concerts, and festivals keep the square buzzing with life. It is Corfu’s civic heart, where military history, imperial flair, and everyday social life continue to mingle in the open air.
At the heart of the square stands the Peristyle of Maitland, a circle of twenty Ionic columns raised in 1817 by General George Whitmore. It rests on top of what was once a water cistern, though the locals still call it the “Sterna.” Monuments dot the area like footnotes in marble—among them the statue of Count von der Schulenburg, remembered for repelling the Turks in 1716. In the “Boschetto” garden, fountains and busts of figures such as poet Konstantinos Theotokis and author Gerald Durrell soften the grandeur with quieter, more personal notes.
One side of Spianada is framed by the Liston Arcade, a French-era creation from 1807 inspired by Paris’s Rivoli street. Today its arcades shelter cafés whose tables are among the most coveted in Corfu. Not far off rises the Palace of Saint Michael and Saint George, a British-built neoclassical landmark from 1824, now housing the Museum of Asian Art. Together, they turn the square into a living open-air gallery of European design.
But Spianada is no museum piece. Cricket matches—an odd British legacy—still play out on its lawn, while Easter parades, concerts, and festivals keep the square buzzing with life. It is Corfu’s civic heart, where military history, imperial flair, and everyday social life continue to mingle in the open air.
3) Liston (must see)
Liston's name is up for debate. Depends who you ask. Scholars will point to the Venetian lista—a term for a grand promenade. Locals with a taste for legend prefer the tale of a literal “list” of aristocrats who alone were allowed to strut along here before Corfu joined Greece in 1864. Whichever story you choose, the walkway has been Corfu’s living room ever since.
The French put their stamp on the place between 1807 and 1814, shaping the arcades to mirror Paris’s Rivoli street. With its neoclassical arches stretched along the edge of the Spianada, the Liston gave Corfu a dose of cosmopolitan flair. Today, those same arches frame cafés that never seem to empty, their terraces packed with conversations and clinking cups.
Geography keeps the Liston at the heart of it all. It links Spianada Square to the Old Town, just steps from the Old Fortress, the Palace of Saint Michael and Saint George, and Saint Spyridon’s Church. At Easter, the arcades glow purple with lanterns, processions wind past, and locals toss clay pots from balconies in a thunderous ritual that rattles the air. On quieter days, you might hear folk music, watch a cricket match on the lawn, or stumble into a street exhibition.
And then there’s the simple pleasure: sipping coffee under the shade, nibbling kumquat sweets, or raising an eyebrow at the polished chaos of traffic and cricket sharing the same square. The Liston is a performance that never ends, starring whoever happens to be passing through, which today, happens to include you.
The French put their stamp on the place between 1807 and 1814, shaping the arcades to mirror Paris’s Rivoli street. With its neoclassical arches stretched along the edge of the Spianada, the Liston gave Corfu a dose of cosmopolitan flair. Today, those same arches frame cafés that never seem to empty, their terraces packed with conversations and clinking cups.
Geography keeps the Liston at the heart of it all. It links Spianada Square to the Old Town, just steps from the Old Fortress, the Palace of Saint Michael and Saint George, and Saint Spyridon’s Church. At Easter, the arcades glow purple with lanterns, processions wind past, and locals toss clay pots from balconies in a thunderous ritual that rattles the air. On quieter days, you might hear folk music, watch a cricket match on the lawn, or stumble into a street exhibition.
And then there’s the simple pleasure: sipping coffee under the shade, nibbling kumquat sweets, or raising an eyebrow at the polished chaos of traffic and cricket sharing the same square. The Liston is a performance that never ends, starring whoever happens to be passing through, which today, happens to include you.
4) Cathedral of Saint James and Saint Christopher
If Corfu Town has a soundtrack, the Cathedral of Saint James and Saint Christopher hums in the background. Built at the urging of the Venetian authorities in the 16th century, it gave the island’s Catholic community its central stage of worship, consecrated in 1533. The building, though, has known no easy life—scarred by Ottoman sieges, rattled by explosions, shaken by earthquakes, and battered again during World War II. Each rebuilding left its fingerprint, so what stands today is less a single monument and more a palimpsest of 17th- and 18th-century Venetian vision, patched and polished through necessity.
Step inside and the mood shifts: a wooden-roofed basilica, arches quietly binding its chapels, and marble columns that still carry the grace of their 17th-century carving. Venetian refinement lingers in the vaulted nave and side chapels, but Corfu’s blend of East and West shows through in the details, especially in Konstantinos Tzanes’s 1654 Virgin and Child, a painting that fuses Byzantine depth with Western naturalism. Outside, the Tuscan pilasters and triangular pediment keep a disciplined face, while the Gothic bell tower climbs skyward.
Wandering past the Spianada or the Liston, this cathedral may appear subdued compared with Corfu’s louder landmarks, but it carries a quiet authority. It invites less spectacle and more reflection—on a city where Catholic and Orthodox traditions lived not in opposition but in uneasy, enduring conversation.
Step inside and the mood shifts: a wooden-roofed basilica, arches quietly binding its chapels, and marble columns that still carry the grace of their 17th-century carving. Venetian refinement lingers in the vaulted nave and side chapels, but Corfu’s blend of East and West shows through in the details, especially in Konstantinos Tzanes’s 1654 Virgin and Child, a painting that fuses Byzantine depth with Western naturalism. Outside, the Tuscan pilasters and triangular pediment keep a disciplined face, while the Gothic bell tower climbs skyward.
Wandering past the Spianada or the Liston, this cathedral may appear subdued compared with Corfu’s louder landmarks, but it carries a quiet authority. It invites less spectacle and more reflection—on a city where Catholic and Orthodox traditions lived not in opposition but in uneasy, enduring conversation.
5) Town Hall
Picture yourself standing in the heart of Corfu’s Old Town, where the Town Hall claims pride of place on its namesake square. At first glance, it looks like something Venice might have misplaced, with its marble arches, sculpted masks, and a façade that seems far too elegant to be just another civic building. And in truth, it wasn’t built for that purpose at all. Between 1663 and 1693, this was the Lodge of the Noblemen—an exclusive Venetian-era club where Corfu’s elite gathered to talk politics, throw parties, and remind everyone else of their status.
The Venetians left their fingerprints all over the place, quite literally in the stonework. Step closer, and you’ll spot the masks, engraved emblems, and intricate flourishes decorating the walls. Standing guard on the eastern wall is a bust of Admiral Francesco Morosini, the Venetian naval commander whose résumé included campaigns across the Mediterranean. He’s not alone up there: four small figures representing his virtues keep him company, in case anyone forgot he was meant to be admired.
As the centuries rolled on, the building reinvented itself. In 1720, it became the Noble Theatre of Saint Giacomo, where aristocrats would be just spectators. Then, in 1903, it swapped curtains for council meetings and officially became Corfu’s Town Hall. The archives of the theatre were tragically lost in 1943 during a German bombing, with only the main stage curtain surviving—today it’s preserved in the New Municipal Theatre as a rare fragment of that era.
For visitors today, the Town Hall is less about bureaucracy and more about standing in front of one of Corfu’s finest Venetian legacies. Its Renaissance style and central location make it a natural stop for anyone exploring the Old Town. The building still carries the air of a stage—only now, the players are tourists, locals, and the daily life of Corfu itself.
The Venetians left their fingerprints all over the place, quite literally in the stonework. Step closer, and you’ll spot the masks, engraved emblems, and intricate flourishes decorating the walls. Standing guard on the eastern wall is a bust of Admiral Francesco Morosini, the Venetian naval commander whose résumé included campaigns across the Mediterranean. He’s not alone up there: four small figures representing his virtues keep him company, in case anyone forgot he was meant to be admired.
As the centuries rolled on, the building reinvented itself. In 1720, it became the Noble Theatre of Saint Giacomo, where aristocrats would be just spectators. Then, in 1903, it swapped curtains for council meetings and officially became Corfu’s Town Hall. The archives of the theatre were tragically lost in 1943 during a German bombing, with only the main stage curtain surviving—today it’s preserved in the New Municipal Theatre as a rare fragment of that era.
For visitors today, the Town Hall is less about bureaucracy and more about standing in front of one of Corfu’s finest Venetian legacies. Its Renaissance style and central location make it a natural stop for anyone exploring the Old Town. The building still carries the air of a stage—only now, the players are tourists, locals, and the daily life of Corfu itself.
6) Casa Parlante (must see)
Imagine stepping into a 19th-century Corfiot mansion where the walls quite literally have something to say—that’s Casa Parlante. This Venetian-style house museum sits in the Old Town, not far from Liston and Spianada Square, and it whisks you straight into the refined world of Corfu’s aristocracy during the British protectorate. Furniture, portraits, and heirlooms set the scene, but the twist is how the place “talks.” With animatronics, sounds, and even scents, the mansion feels less like a static exhibit and more like a home mid-conversation.
As you move through the rooms, you’ll cross paths with the count and countess, their children, and the staff, all frozen in moments of daily routine yet curiously alive. You might hear a waltz seeping through the walls, smell dishes simmering in the kitchen, or find yourself in the middle of an afternoon tea that looks convincingly underway. Every chamber doubles as a slice of noble life, complete with rocking chairs that creak, music that lingers, and details that give the sense you’ve caught the household by surprise.
The Talking House doesn’t feel like a typical museum; it’s closer to walking through a living play where history is staged with a wink. It turns the aristocratic past into something tangible, not only to observe but to experience, making a centuries-old lifestyle both memorable and oddly familiar.
As you move through the rooms, you’ll cross paths with the count and countess, their children, and the staff, all frozen in moments of daily routine yet curiously alive. You might hear a waltz seeping through the walls, smell dishes simmering in the kitchen, or find yourself in the middle of an afternoon tea that looks convincingly underway. Every chamber doubles as a slice of noble life, complete with rocking chairs that creak, music that lingers, and details that give the sense you’ve caught the household by surprise.
The Talking House doesn’t feel like a typical museum; it’s closer to walking through a living play where history is staged with a wink. It turns the aristocratic past into something tangible, not only to observe but to experience, making a centuries-old lifestyle both memorable and oddly familiar.
7) Saint Spyridon Church (must see)
Saint Spyridon Church in Corfu isn’t just a building you pass by—it’s a 16th-century heavyweight in both history and faith. Raised in 1589, it honours Corfu’s patron saint, Spyridon, a 4th-century figure celebrated for his miracles and steadfast belief. After his death, his relics were safeguarded in Constantinople until the city fell, then ferried to Corfu, where they eventually found a permanent home in this church within the old city walls.
Its Venetian stamp is hard to miss. The red-domed bell tower—tall enough to make its presence known across the Ionian Islands—dominates Corfu Town’s skyline. Inside, it’s all about detail and devotion: golden flourishes, a painted ceiling narrating episodes from the saint’s life, and at the heart, the silver casket holding his relics. These remains are central to Corfu’s identity, carried through the streets in processions that mark the island’s brushes with sieges, plagues, and survival against the odds.
The crypt adds its own intrigue, with a double sarcophagus encasing the saint’s body, surrounded by 53 incense burners—18 fashioned in gold, the rest in silver. Even the Romanov coat of arms above the west door tells a story of connections that looks hard to believe at first glance.
Step inside today, and you’ll find a place where Orthodox devotion meets Venetian elegance, where pilgrims kneel in reverence and curious visitors look upward in awe. The church and island are in good hands, as Saint Spyridon had centuries to master his craft. Even though not always in physical form.
Its Venetian stamp is hard to miss. The red-domed bell tower—tall enough to make its presence known across the Ionian Islands—dominates Corfu Town’s skyline. Inside, it’s all about detail and devotion: golden flourishes, a painted ceiling narrating episodes from the saint’s life, and at the heart, the silver casket holding his relics. These remains are central to Corfu’s identity, carried through the streets in processions that mark the island’s brushes with sieges, plagues, and survival against the odds.
The crypt adds its own intrigue, with a double sarcophagus encasing the saint’s body, surrounded by 53 incense burners—18 fashioned in gold, the rest in silver. Even the Romanov coat of arms above the west door tells a story of connections that looks hard to believe at first glance.
Step inside today, and you’ll find a place where Orthodox devotion meets Venetian elegance, where pilgrims kneel in reverence and curious visitors look upward in awe. The church and island are in good hands, as Saint Spyridon had centuries to master his craft. Even though not always in physical form.
8) New Fortress (must see)
High above the old harbor, the New Fortress of Corfu looms like a stony reminder that Venice never did anything halfway when it came to defense. After the Ottomans came knocking in 1537, it became clear that the Old Fortress wasn’t enough. So in 1577, the Venetians rolled up their sleeves, flattened entire neighborhoods, and raised this new citadel on the hill of Saint Mark. By 1645, the work was largely done, and what emerged was a masterclass in military engineering—bastions, moats, and underground passages all stitched into the fabric of Corfu’s skyline.
The fortress is built on two levels, each with its own perks. The lower level holds a three-story building and a pentagonal bastion, strung together with arched halls, staircases, and labyrinth-like ramps. Baroque gates and a long, dry moat added extra muscle. Higher up, the bastions of Skarponas and Epta Anemoi command the town and sea, reached by way of the aptly named Bell Castle. Later centuries left their fingerprints too—the 18th-century Venetians fortified the western hills, the French shored up Vidos Islet, and the British, practical as ever, added their barracks.
For adventurers, the payoff is layered. You can wander through its shadowy tunnels, touch the thick stone walls, and read the Venetian lion carved in relief since 1728, all while imagining the fortress as the shield it once was. Or, climb to the higher bastions and let the view unfold—the tiled rooftops of Corfu Town, the sweep of the sea, and the Old Fortress standing watch in the distance.
Today, the former barracks host art exhibitions and cultural events. The New Fortress, in its mix of grit, history, and unexpected beauty, shows how Corfu has always been more crossroads than outpost.
The fortress is built on two levels, each with its own perks. The lower level holds a three-story building and a pentagonal bastion, strung together with arched halls, staircases, and labyrinth-like ramps. Baroque gates and a long, dry moat added extra muscle. Higher up, the bastions of Skarponas and Epta Anemoi command the town and sea, reached by way of the aptly named Bell Castle. Later centuries left their fingerprints too—the 18th-century Venetians fortified the western hills, the French shored up Vidos Islet, and the British, practical as ever, added their barracks.
For adventurers, the payoff is layered. You can wander through its shadowy tunnels, touch the thick stone walls, and read the Venetian lion carved in relief since 1728, all while imagining the fortress as the shield it once was. Or, climb to the higher bastions and let the view unfold—the tiled rooftops of Corfu Town, the sweep of the sea, and the Old Fortress standing watch in the distance.
Today, the former barracks host art exhibitions and cultural events. The New Fortress, in its mix of grit, history, and unexpected beauty, shows how Corfu has always been more crossroads than outpost.
Walking Tours in Corfu, Greece
Create Your Own Walk in Corfu
Creating your own self-guided walk in Corfu is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Paleopoli Ancient Ruins Walking Tour
The Archeological sites trace the history of ancient Corfu from the 8th century BC to the 6th century AD. The Temple of Artemis Gorgon, located near the monastery of Agoi Theodori Stratias, dates from circa 590 BC. The pediment is thought to be the oldest stone pediment found.
Artemis, in the form of Gorgon, is running as she faces the observer. Her children, Chryssaor and Pegasus, are by her... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Artemis, in the form of Gorgon, is running as she faces the observer. Her children, Chryssaor and Pegasus, are by her... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
10 Things To Do In Corfu, Greece
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