When during the VI century Corfu city (old town) was situated in the Kanoni area and was destroyed by the raiders the surviving residents decided to not to rebuild their town over the old ruins instead to use them in order to create a new city in a more easy to defend area.

The city of corfu was then rebuild within walls created around it forming a fortress. This is todays old Fortress located on a small island at the east end of the city of Corfu.

The entrance of the old Fortress is found oposite Liston near Spianada which will most defenately draw your atention with their majestic fortication walls and amazing colours a true miracle of military architecture.

In order to access it you must pass through a bridge that connects that small island with the city of Corfu. These are seperated with an artficial pit called Contra Fossa that was created in order to provide additional protection which is today used as a safe anchorage for small fishing boats.

A quick visit to the old fortress quickly reveals its apotential and the reason that it was placed onthis forticated location. Due to the fact that it has a wide view of the sea it was useful to both cover sea as well as land invasion attempts.

On top of the Byzantine construction on the fortress during the XVI the Venetians made more modifications in order to protect themselves form Turkish raids.

So the Venetians started ro reinforce the walls dig deeper pits around the fortress and smoothen the rocks drom the side walls in order to avoid raiders from climbing.

The statue in honour of field marshal Shoolenberg that was build by the Venetians beacause he helped the Corfiots to repel the Tourks has being moved to the arched entrance of the fortress.

That entrance will lead you through and arched pathway bringing you to the center of the acropolis and a coridor to your right will carry you straight to the north batlement of the fortress. At the end of this tunnel therre is a pathway that leads you to the abandoned military barracks. At the south end of the fortress the Saint George cathedral doric rytm build in 1840 by the British as a plase of worship for the British residents that 20 years later was turned into a catholic church and was decorated with picures taken fron the Saint Spiridonas church.

In the interior of the fortress many buildings are still salvaged amongst which a prison build in 1786 by the Venetians that was later expanded by the British a military chapel 2 army barracks build in 1850 and a miltary hispital that today hosts the Music Univerity of Corfu.

Near the main gate of the fortress an historical file in excibition concetrates more than 6 centuries of history where the byzantine collection found its place where you can find mosaics sculptures and paints of that time.

Besides the historical and cultural significance that makes it special the fortress is no doubt a wonderful panorama over the city of Corfu.