Museums in Corfu
The entire island of Corfu can be portrayed as a living museum that provides a beautiful journey throughout the history and culture of this place. Particularly the town is home to many museums which provide insights into the island's various influences.
Of special interest is the Archaeological Museum of Corfu which is enriched by many findings from the ancient cities of the island. The most impressive ones come from the Archaic period like bronze and marble statues, clay pottery, and parts of ancient temples. Also worth seeing is the Byzantine Museum of Antivouniotissa that features rare icons, frescoes, and ecclesiastical items. The church is actually a monument itself built in the 15th century.
Among the most impressive museums to visit and unique in its kind is the Asian Art Museum housed in the Palace of Saint Michael and George. Visitors can view a fascinating collection of Asian items like weapons, swords, masks and sculpture works. All exhibits come from the private collections of Indian countries. One of the places that Greeks can be proud of is Solomos Museum, the old house of the famous Greek poet who also wrote the National Hymn.
Outside Corfu Town, in the picturesque Benitses, it is a pleasure to visit the Sea Shell Museum. There you have the chance to a large collection of shells, fossils and rare fish from the Pacific and the Indian Ocean. The Music Museum aims to honor and present the history of the Philarmonic society with a great photo archive of concerts and other educational activities. You can also the Arachavi Folklore Museum which hosts a private collection of traditional items, the Numismatic Museum, and the Municipal Gallery.
Museum of Asian Art
The Museum of Asian Art of Corfu is the only Asian museum in Greece and is housed in the Palace of Saint Michael and Saint George. It was founded in 1927 after an ambassador, donated hid private collection of 10,500 objects of Sino-Japanese origin to the prefecture.
Byzantine Museum
This museum is housed in the church of Antivouniotissa, one of the oldest and richest churches in Corfu Town. In 1979, this church was turned into a museum and it exhibits a rich collection of Byzantine and post-Byzantine icons and relics, representing more than five centuries of religious fervor and art.
Municipal Art Gallery
The Municipal Gallery of Corfu is housed inside the Palace of Saint Michael and Saint George. It houses brilliant works of local artists of the 19th century and frequently it hosts important exhibitions.
Archaeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum was built to house the Gorgo pediment from the temple of Artemis which was found in the area of Paleopolis. Visitors can also admire other findings from excavations from the archaeological sites of the island, the ancient town of Cassiopeia and items from a private collection.
Sea Shell Museum
The Sea Shell Museum of Corfu was founded after a private initiative and houses rare pieces from around the world, such as the Indian Ocean and the Meditteranean Sea. It is located outside the village of Benitses.
Museum of Music
The Museum of Music "Nikolaos Halikiopoulos Mantzaros" opened in October 2010 with the initiative of the Philarmonic Society of Corfu. In fact, it is dedicated to the founder of this society and the composer of the Greek National Anthem and the Olympic Anthem.
Acharavi Folklore Museum
Just across the Roman baths of Acharavi lies a Folklore Museum with interesting exhibits that depict the historical course of the island from 1700 till today. The museum is a personal effort of Spyros Vlachos and is housed in an exhibition building of 1,000 sq.m.
Casa Parlante
Casa Parlante opened its doors to the public in March 2014 and is actually a living history museum. With animated robotic figures, traditional furniture and real smells and sounds, the museum represents the daily life of a noble 19th-century family.
Sinarades Folklore Museum
The Historic and Folklore Museum of Corfu is housed in a traditional two-story house in Sinarades, a lovely village west of Corfu Town. It was established in 1982 by the Historical - Folklore Society of Corfu and exhibits items from the period 1860-1960.
Banknote Museum
The Numismatic Museum of Corfu was founded by the Ionian Bank in 1981. It is housed in a building designed by a local architect, Ioannis Chronis. It hosts a rich collection of banknotes, coins, bank documents, stamps, and other bank objects as well as a reproduction of the modern manufacturing process of banknotes.
Solomos Museum
Dionysius Solomos is the poet who wrote the lyrics of the National Greek Hymn. He lived the major part of his life on Corfu island, where he wrote a great part of his work.
Kapodistrias Museum
The Kapodistrias Museum is a building in the village of Evropouli that boasts the life, work, and everything surrounding the first governor of the modern Greek state, Ioannis Kapodistrias.