The Old Town Of Corfu

The Old Town of Corfu, on the Island of Corfu, is a major tourist attraction and has played an important role since the 8th century B.C. The three forts of the town, designed by renowned Venetian engineers, were used for four centuries to defend the maritime trading interests of the Venetian Empire against the Ottoman Empire. In the course of time, the forts were repaired and partly rebuilt several times, more recently under British rule in the 19th century. The mainly neoclassical housing stock of the Old Town is partly from the Venetian period, partly of later construction, notably the 19^th century.

Corfu was a well thought of example of fortification engineering, designed by the architect Sanmicheli, and it proved its worth through practical warfare. Corfu has its specific identity, which is reflected in the design of its system of fortification and in its neo-classical building stock. As such, it can be placed alongside other major Mediterranean fortified port cities. Since 2007, the old town of Corfu has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List because the urban and port ensemble of Corfu, dominated by its fortresses of Venetian origin, constitutes an architectural example of outstanding universal value in both its authenticity and its integrity.