The fortification constructions with primary representatives the Old and New Fortress, beyond their particular importance for the development of the city, are per se good examples of military art and building techniques of the era.
The Venetian Republic through their engineers and architects built one of the finest defensive Mediterranean complexes. Equipped with emplacements, barracks, administrative buildings, warehouses, arsenals, cisterns and many communication tunnels became impregnable.
The Old Fortress position corresponds to the Medieval Town of Corfu, developed around the Byzantine castle, in the early 10th century. It is the place that suffered the biggest changes over time and in order to fortified, it was cut off from the mainland with the canal of ‘Contrafossa’.
The Old Fortress has been preserved and is a wonderful place to walk, while it hosts permanent and periodic cultural activities.
Start from the Esplanade (Spianada square). It is a place you will definitely find yourself in the Old Town.
The entrance of the Old Fortress is centrally located across the road that separates the two squares (Upper and Lower) of the Esplanade.
Before the bridge (contrafossa) you will find the ticket office.
At the end of the bridge th visitor can meet the defensive front with two identical pentagonal bastions and the majestic main entrance of the fortress in the center of the connecting wall (cortina). This configuration is the work of M. Sanmicheli one of the best architects and theorists of the defensive system of the ramparts of the Renaissance era.
The tour starts from the complex entrance. After visiting the exhibition hall, to the right of the entrance and the shop on the left, cross the vaulted passages, underneath the English barracks.
The basic route includes the perimeter (where this is walkable) of the Fortress.
You can climb on the highest level of the Fortress, in one of the two fortified towers (the Tower of Land). To get there, cross the area where the walled Acropolis (Cittadella) of the medieval city located.
The route continues up the hill for a while, but in the end, you will be rewarded with a really wonderful panoramic view of the city,the bay of Garitsa and the island of Vido Greek mainland and Albanian coast.
An old paved road in the center of the north side of the fortress leads to the coastal area of the artificial harbor of Mandraki.(harbor of the medieval city). Here the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club is situated plus a restaurant. Do not forget to browse for the gate ‘Soranza’, one of the most beautiful gates of the Old Fortress.
The outdoor and indoor passages through galleries and gates, the steep paved stairways and narrow streets, the forts and buildings of the Old Fortress are of particular interest to everyone, not only for those especially interested in the history of military architecture.
The outdoor area of ‘Versiada’ often hosts mainly is Spring and Summer musical and theatrical events.
A complete tour of the Old Fortress lasts around 2 hours depending on your interests and your mood. Apart from the restaurant ‘Istioploikos’ in ‘Mandraki’ you can relax in the Cafe ‘Palaio Frourio’.
We have to be fair and let you know that the fortress is not completely open due to restoration processes. Also there is no details of what you see so consider that in order not to get disappointed. One thing everybody agrees on is that of the great view you get from the upper levels.
