Visit the Byzantine Museum of Corfu

Written by Greek Boston in About Corfu Greece, Greek Travel Guide Comments Off on Visit the Byzantine Museum of Corfu

The Greek island of Corfu is known for its beautiful beaches, scenery, wonderful sightseeing opportunities, and its history. Anyone who enjoys history will want to explore the Byzantine Museum. Here’s what you should know about the Byzantine Museum of Corfu in Greece.

About the Byzantine Museum of Corfu

The Byzantine Museum of Corfu, also known as The Byzantine Museum of Antivouniotissa, is located in the Quarter of Mouragia in Corfu Town. The museum is housed in the Church of Virgin Mary Antivouniotissa, which was built during the 15th century. The church features a timber-roof basilica and characteristic Corfiot architecture. The outside of the church has arched windows and doorways. The church of Antivouniotissa has a bell-tower with arched openings at the top.

The descendants of the founders of the church gave a donation to the church of heirlooms and portable icons. They were donated on the condition that the church became a museum. The Byzantine Museum of Corfu was inaugurated in 1984.

The museum showcases portable icons from the Byzantine and post-Byzantine empires. These icons date from the 15th to 19th century and were made by both famous and anonymous artists. At the Byzantine Museum of Corfu there are wall frescoes that came from churches around the island of Corfu, clothes that belonged to priests, manuscripts, liturgical objects, and heirlooms.

Tour the Byzantine Museum of Corfu

The Byzantine Museum of Corfu is an important museum in Greece. As you tour the museum you will see Byzantine frescoes, silverware, paintings, and early Christian sculptures. The tranquil environment of the museum will allow you to explore at a relaxed pace. The entry fee to the Byzantine Museum is small. You can also go upstairs to admire more of the church area.

In addition to spending time at the Byzantine Museum exploring its contents, you can also walk around Old Town Corfu. The narrow, cobbled streets are charming and will instantly take you back in time. As you walk around the Old Town, you will see three fortresses that were used to defend the area for four centuries.

Getting to the Byzantine Museum of Corfu

The Byzantine Museum is located on the island of Corfu. You can get to Corfu by plane or ferry. Different ports, including Patra and Igoumenitsa, have ferries that travel to Corfu on a daily basis. The quicker of the two trips is from Igoumenitsa at 1 – 2 hours long. Flights to Corfu are received throughout the year from Thessaloniki, Athens, Preveza, and some European countries. The best ways to get around on the island of Corfu are by foot, by bus, or by rental car. The Byzantine Museum is conveniently located in Corfu Town, so getting there on foot is easy and inexpensive if you’re staying in town. You will find the museum in the Quarter of Mouragia.

When spending time on the island of Corfu in Greece, spend some time at the Byzantine Museum and learn more about the history of the area.

Categorized in: About Corfu Greece, Greek Travel Guide

This post was written by Greek Boston