VIP Cultural Tour of Old town of Corfu

Detailed Itinerary

You will picked up by your private escort and private driver from your hotel for a 4 hours walking tour in the old town of Corfu including a visit to 3 of the most famous Churches:

Agios Georgios (Saint George) Church

Is located inside the Old Fortress. Was a former Anglican Church for the British soldiers, decorated with drawings by Antony Emmet. It has the architectural shape of an ancient Greek Temple with Doric columns. The interior was destroyed by the German bombardment of Corfu in 1943, but reconstructed to its original form in 2008.

Saint Spyridon Church

The Church of St. Spyridon, built in 1589 in the form of a single-aisled basilica Heptanesian. St. Spyridon is the island's patron. Although Church’s external decoration is very austere, the interior of the church is rich in decoration, with particularly impressive iconostasis of 1864 made from Paros marble. The equally remarkable icons of the iconostasis are works of the famous Corfiot painter Spiros Prosalentis. 

The world famous "sky" of the church is divided into 17 parts with gold frames, originally painted by the great Corfiot painter Panagiotis Doxaras, in 1727. In 1852, the "sky" was restored and regained color and vibrancy of the hands of painter Nicholas Aspiotis. Among the many tributes that Saint Spyridon received (and still receiving every year), two large candles are distinguished, dated back to 1716, the year that Saint Spyridon rescued Corfu from the Turkish invation!

Corfu Cathedral Church

Built in 1577. Since 1841 is the Cathedral Basilica. It has undergone internal and external interventions. Amongst the many images that adorn, stand those of M. Damaskinos (16th c.), Emm. Tzanne (17th c.), Paramythiotis (18th c.), while the lateral image of “Dimosiana Lady”, is the oldest (15th century) and most significant image of the church.

After the visit of the 3 churches you will treated a traditional snack (ouzo with meze), which is a Greek aperitif and small appetizers.

The Palace of St Michael and St George

Then we move on, for a visit on the “Palace” which hosts the world famous Asian Art Museum of Corfu. It is a unique museum in Greece and Europe. Holds many thousands of special objects and artifacts, donated by private collectors, mainly from the Far East and the Indian continent (China, Korea, Japan, India, Pakistan, Indochina, Tibet, Nepal).

From the exhibits, stand out early Chinese cult vessels of bronze (1200 -1027 BC) and the collection of figurines (6th-9th c.), Chinese porcelains from the 14th to the 19th century and painted cylinders (12th-18th c.), the Japanese origin weapons and armor parts of Samurai (16th-18th c.), the theater masks 'Noa' (1338-1578m.Ch.), wooden items as lacquer and the only prints on fabric and paper (17th-19th c.).

 Of particular interest is the unique Helleno collection of sculptures from Gandhara, Pakistan, dating from the 1st to the 5th AD which underlines the Hellenistic influence and legacy of the presence of Alexander the Great in the region.

Ending our walking tour, we will visit the Old Fortress

The Fortress hosted the town of Corfu, on the top, from the 6th century AD c. and there on. It was constructed by the Byzantines but in its current form reconstructed by the Venetians, with some additions by the English in the first half of the 19th Century.

The area dominated by two impressive bastions which bear the names of Italian engineers Martinengo and Savorgnan . It is kept in a very good condition and today it houses parts of the Ionian University, the headquarters of the Byzantine Antiquities, the Historical Archives and the Corfu’s Sailing Club. Old Fortress houses also the "Corfu Byzantine Collection".

Leaving the Fortress, you will have some time for strolling around the streets and shops of old town.

You will then return to your hotel by your private car and driver with your escort.

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