Arhontiko

The Old Fortress in Corfu, Greece, is a 15th century Venetian fortress, with origins going back to the Byzantine period, that is located on a promontory in Corfu that was where the old town of the city was originally located. An imposing and massive building, it looms over everything else in the area and dominates the landscape – if you're visiting Corfu town, you won't be able to miss it! It is also a symbol of pride for the town and home to cultural events and exhibitions, attracting thousands of visitors each year. If you have found a vacation rental in Corfu, make sure to pay it a visit!

The Corfu Museum of Asian Art is the only museum in Greece exclusively dedicated to Asian art and antiquity and is housed in the Palace of Saints Michael and George. The palace alone is reason enough to visit. It is a stunning neoclassical gem that was built in the 19th century during the Ionian Islands British occupation. In the 19th century it came into the possession of the Greek State and is now home to the museum.

Built across three floors, four halls on the ground floor are open to the public and three are used for the Museum’s temporary exhibitions and the permanent galleries of the museum are found in the two first floor wings. The east wing, called the Gregorios Manos wing, houses part of the Museum’s Chinese collection and the west wing, known as N. Hadjivassiliou wing, is home to artefacts from India and its wider surrounding area, as well as some pieces from Japan.

The entire collection is made up of about 10,500 objects, many of which come from the original private collection of Gregorios Manos (1850-1928), a Greek ambassador to Austria, who bought up around 9,500 Chinese, Korean and Japanese artefacts at auction in the 19th and 20th centuries.

This week on Easy Reserve, we have been talking about the incredible island gem that is Corfu. A luxury destination in the Ionian Islands in Greece, it is a place for sun, sea, and fun. The landscape of the island is rugged and charming with lots of opportunities for hiking and exploration and also boasts perfect beaches (such as the beach of Porto Timoni that we discussed in our last post) and glittering sapphire waters made for relaxing, sunning oneself, snorkelling, and lazy days on a boat. However, in addition to the overwhelming natural beauty and perfection of the island, Corfu is also an unexpected cultural gem. Having spent time under under Venetian, French, and British rule throughout the centuries before being united with Greece in 1864, it is a place with a diverse and rich cultural heritage and history, which is reflected in the range of architectural styles that one stumbles past on the island and in the excellent cultural institutions on the island, such as the Museum of Asian Art of Corfu.

The Museum of Asian Art of Corfu is located in in the Palace of St. Michael and St. George in Corfu City on the island of Corfu. This Greek Revival style neoclassical gem by Colonel George Whitmore was originally commissioned by Sir Thomas Maitland as the residence of the British Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands and was built between 1819 and 1824. It was then used as a Royal residence after Corfu became part of Greece, until the Second World War. While it survived the Italian bombardment of the city during the Corfu Incident in 1923, it was later used for the temporary housing of refugees from Epirus during the Greek Civil War in the 1940s, which left it in a state of disrepair. Thankfully, with the help of a private trust organised by Sir Charles Peake, the then British Ambassador to Greece, the state was able to restore the palace interiors in 1954. The Greek king continued to use the palace for some state occasions until the 1960s but, today, it is solely used to house the Museum of Asian Art of Corfu.

The culinary adventures that come with travel and are, for many, the true highlight of visiting other countries. Certain destinations, in particular, are a must for the discerning foodie on holidays, like Corfu. This beautiful Greek island is home to lots of delicious traditional dishes and a hearty and wonderful cuisine that brings together Greek and Italian influences and unique local ingredients. Sure to please almost all members of any party of travellers with its more exotic and specialised dishes as well as Corfu inflections on dishes that seem quite familiar, it is the perfect place to travel to if good eating is one of your main priorities when on holidays. So, while travel is not quite yet possible, we suggest that when you think ahead to your next getaway, you consider Corfu and Greece as your next destination. If you're not yet convinced by the beautiful scenery, wonderful beaches, and peaceful pace of life, then check out this list of just five delicious dishes that you can try while in Corfu and try to say no.