The ancient city of Corfu was built during the 8th century BC and it stood south of where today's city is placed, between Garitsa bay and the lake Chaliopoulou. The center of the ancient city stood where Palaiopoli is today, up to the cannon. The market must have been opposite the palace of Mon Repo and it is believed that in the place of Analipsis, stood the Acropolis. The most important monuments are the following:

The temple of Artemis

Only a few ruins of the temple (6th century BC) have been preserved near the monastery of Agion Theodoron. Near the sanctuary many other architectural parts have been found. It can therefore be concluded that there were more buildings around. In the estate of Mon Repo, more ancient temples were found: one in doric order, in Kardaki, possibly dedicated to Apollo and another, the biggest one, possibly dedicated to Hera, by which some pieces from the 7th century BC were found.

Palace of Saint Michael and George. As it has been mentioned earlier, the English domination also had positive effects, like the development of the economy, the education and the arts. Around this time, an impressive building of Georgian style was built. This was the residence of the High Commissioner. The palace on the outside is decorated with themes of the Ionian Islands which are carved in relief, while on the inside there is a central hall with two rows of steles of Ionian order and painted themes of Odyssey. A magnificent staircase leads to the first floor, which is decorated with steles of Corinthian order. The first floor also has three main rooms: the ballroom, the throne-room and the symposium-room.

The palace was used, in the past, by the Ionian Senate and by Saint Michael and George's Order. For a half a century, it was the summer residence of the Greek Royal family. Since it has been restored, it functions as a museum and it houses the Revenue Department of Classical Antiquities. It has also accommodated the leaders of the European Community for the summit meeting of 1994.

The Ancient fortress.

During its turbulent history Corfu needed to entrench it self against its conquerors. In the beginning of the 8th century BC the Byzantines built the first walls and the first moat, the "Contra Fosa", which separates the fortress from the city. In the 16th century, the Venetians, fearing a Turkish attack, extended the bulwark and the moat, creating a second and a third line of defense. The bare rocks around the hills made the fortress impenetrable, which is a masterpiece of architectural art. While on the other hand, it offers the visitor an incredible view to the city, the sea ford up across the land and the hills of Epirus. Worth visiting inside the fortress is the chapel of Saint George, which was built by the British in 1840.

The new fortress.

Over the old harbor stands the new fortress, which was built in 1570 by the Venetians. It is characteristic that for its construction they needed to tear down 2.000 houses and churches as well as Porta Reale, one of the most magnificent gates of the city. A great part of it was destroyed after an order given by the Great Forces during World War II. Today it is used by the Navy.

The Saint Spiridon

It is the most famous religious monument of the city with obvious influences by the Italian art, which is met in all the Ionian islands. It is dedicated to Saint Spiridon, who is the Saint of Corfu, and according to the legends he saved the inhabitants of Corfu, in the past, from epidemics and he appeared twice as a monk, helping them against Turks in 1673 and in 1716. The temple's roof is impressive. It is separated in 17 parts and it portrays scenes taken by Saint Spiridon's life and the Evangelists. His relics is kept in a silver casket of the 19th century.

Town hall

The building that was being built for 30 years, from 1663 it had been the "loggia nobili". Later it became a theatre, which got the name San Giacomo. In this theatre Operas had been played and the director manager had been Mantzaros. The building was turned into a townhall in the begining of the 20th century and it is the only building with ashlar-work.

After loosing her family members, she decided to buy the place, where today the palace is built, and reside in Greece, which she so loved so much because of its natural beauties, its greek history and mythology. Her love for the mythology is obvious by the name she chose to give to the impressiveneo-classical building, which was build between 1890 and 1891 by the Italian architect Rafailo Karito. She, herself cared for the decoration in and outside of the building, in the garden. She decorated the gardens with beautiful flowers and statues of her choice. Unfortunately, she did not have the time to enjoy this dreamy mansion because she was killed by an an Italian anarchist who wanted to to revenge her for the suppression of North Italy.

The entrance of the building is decorated with many statues and balconies. In the balcony of the first floor there are two vis-à-vis centaurs whereas in the balcony of the second floor there are four brass statues, which represent the mouses holding fire in their hands and serve as lights. In the same floor there is another brass statue from Hermes. Inside the building you come across on the right, a room functioning as a chapel and on left there is a dinning room and smokers room. In the center there is the reception room with many paintings of well-known painters like the "four seasons" by the Italian painter Galopi and the "triumph of Achilles"by the Austrian Frank Matt.

In the first floor there are the rooms of Elisabeth and in the second floor there are the rooms of Frank Jozef and of the archduchess Maria Valeria. In the balcony of this floor there is a peristyle of Ionian order which is decorated by the heads of philosophers and the statues of the nine mouses. Wonderful statues decorate the gardens of the palace, like the 'dying Achilles', the' Satyre with Dionysus on his shoulder', the' Lord Byron', an impressive statue of Achilles of 11,5m height and many more. Until a few years ago, the palace was used as a casino. Now the palace is used as a museum.