Old Fortress

The history of the Old Fortress begins in the middle of the 6 th century AD when the ancient city of Corfu on the peninsula of Kanoni (or Hersoupoli, today's Paleopoli) was destroyed by barbarian raids. Then, its inhabitants gradually began to move to the naturally fortified two-peak peninsula of the Old Fortress where the Byzantine city of Coryfo (from which the foreign name of the island Corfou or Corfu emerged) arose. The Byzantines and later the Angevins (1267-1386) walled the peninsula and built towers on its two peaks. At the same time, a settlement began to develop to the west of the peninsula, at the approximate location of the newer town, known as Xopoli or Borgo. The current form of the Old Fortress fortifications is mainly due to the defensive works carried out during Venetian rule (1386-1797). The Venetians occupied Corfu because of its strategic and commercial importance. For this reason, they modernized the defensive works of the fortress so that it could withstand the Ottoman attacks. The works were based on the new developments brought about by the introduction of heavy artillery in the art of war. Initially, the peninsula was separated from the island by the construction of a sea moat, the so-called contrafossa. At the same time, a non- built-up area was created between the fortress and Xopoli (spianata, the so-called Spaniada) for defensive purposes. After the siege of Corfu by the Turks in 1537, the Venetians modernized the fortifications of Coryfo again. The great architect Michele Sanmicheli from Verona and his nephew Gian Gerolamo Sanmicheli gave the fortress its characteristic form, according to the principles of the bastion system (fronte bastionato). Their main works are the front of the Spaniada Square and its two pentagonal bastions, the wall between them and the entrance opening in the middle of it. The connection with the mainland was achieved by a movable bridge. During the second half of the 16th century, Cape Kavosidero, at the northeastern end of the peninsula, was also fortified. At the end of the 16th century, the capital was moved to Xopoli, but Coryfo mainly remained a military base. During British rule (1814-1864), large-scale interventions were made in the area of the Old Fortress with the construction of new buildings mainly for military use. During the Second World War, important Venetian buildings, such as Palazzo Prefettizio and Quartier Pasqualigo, were destroyed during the bombing. Today, the Old Fortress, as well as the New Fortress, the Old Town of Corfu, and its fortifications are classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.