Gate of Old Fortress

The entrance to the Old Fortress is located between the Martinengo and Savorgnan bastions, right in the centre of the connecting wall (cortina). At first, connection with the city of Corfu was through a wooden bridge over the sea moat, which during the period of British rule (1814-1864) was replaced by a 60m-long bridge. A central vaulted traffic corridor and two vaulted halls on either side form the entrance complex. A monumental composition surrounds the unique arched opening of the entrance (the imposing wooden nailed door is still preserved to this day) with two slits in the rectangular stone framing, through which the chains for the suspension of the mobile part of the bridge went. This configuration was designed by the Venetian Michele Sanmicheli (1484-1559), one of the best architects and theorists of the defence system of bastions during the Renaissance. References/Reference list: Αγοροπούλου-Μπιρμπίλη, Α. Η Αρχιτεκτονική της πόλεως της Κέρκυρας κατά την περίοδο της Ενετοκρατίας, Αθήνα 1976.