Corfu Old Town

The Old Town of Corfu occupies a narrow peninsula on the island's east coast and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2007. Its origins reach back to the 8th century BC, but the town's present character comes largely from nearly four centuries of Venetian rule between 1386 and 1797, followed by periods of French and British administration that each left their own mark on the streets and buildings.

Three fortresses, designed by Venetian military engineers, once guarded the town's strategic position at the entrance to the Adriatic Sea, among them the Old Fortress, built on its own promontory, and the New Fortress. Much of the housing stock is neoclassical, some of it Venetian in origin and much of it rebuilt in the 19th century, and the arcaded Liston promenade still carries the French style introduced during Corfu's period under French control. UNESCO cites the resulting mix of fortifications and townscape as an outstanding and authentic example of a fortified Mediterranean port.

Narrow lanes, the Spianada esplanade and the harbour below the Old Fortress make the town easy to explore on foot in a few hours, which is part of why it remains a popular stop for gulet charter guests exploring Corfu between anchorages further up or down the coast.