The
Old Fortress of Corfu
In
the 13th and 14th centuries, the already existing Byzantine fortification
on the islet was improved, and in the 15th century the walls were reconstructed
by the Venetians. In the 16th century, the erection of all the defensive
structures, designed by Venetian architects (Michele Sanmicheli), was completed.
From ca. 1500 onwards, the fortified islet was used as a military and administrative
centre. Few buildings of the Venetian period are preserved, such as the
central gate, the powder magazines, and the prisons. During the British
Protectorate (1815-1864) new defensive structures and new buildings were
erected, such as the barracks, the hospital, and the church of St. George.
In
the early 1980's, the Martinego bastion was consolidated and in 1993 the
land-side tower was restored. In the years 1992-1994, before the Summit
Conference, the Ministry of Culture restored the central gate, the former
"Latin chapel", the English barracks, the so-called "Forseer" building,
the church of St. George and the building of the 8th Ephorate of Byzantine
Antiquities. External areas were also remodelled and cleared. In 1994,
the Venetian bases of the canons in the fortress Campana were cleared of
the earth filling that covered them, and excavations were conducted on
the plateau where an early pavement came to light.
The
most important monuments of the site are:
The
Building of the Prisons.
The
Main Gate.
British
Barracks of the Officers.
The
Barracks of the British Protectorate.
The
English Hospital.
Church
of St. George.
Corfu
Kerameikos
The
archaeological site is situated in the modern quarter of Figareto at Kanoni,
which in antiquity was the workshop area of the city. Systematic investigation
of the site has prooved that the pottery workshop of Kerameikos actually
produced the Kerkyraean amphoras (which means that the type formerly called
"Corinthian B" is in fact Kerkyraean), as well as figurines and all the
necessary clay household equipment.Rescue excavations were first carried
out in 1983. Because of the great importance of the finds uncovered, the
land was purchased by the Archaeological Service and the area has been
organised as an archaeological site open to the public. In 1995, after
purchasing the land, the area of the kilns was roofed and fenced, a path
was constructed for the visitors and the restoration of the kilns started.
The
most important monuments of the site are:
Eleven
pottery kilns, dating from the end of the late Archaic period until early
Roman times.
Well
with a clay pipe and basins for washing the clay.
Deposits
of amphoras dated from the Classical until the Hellenistic period.
Deposit
of figurines.
Deposit
of moulds.
Sanctuary
of the workshop.
Inside
the sanctuary, an Archaic female stone statue was found, probably identified
as Artemis Epiklivania (of the kilns). |
