TerraKerkyra




Palaiopolis








Palaiopolis

Formed the centre of the ancient city of Corfu. Today, only a few remains of an archaic temple dedicated to Hera, otherwise known as Akraia, still exist. It was built around 600 BC, destroyed during the civil war of 428 BC between the democrats and oligarchs, rebuilt in 400 BC, and demolished by the Romans in 30 BC. The little that was left was used by the Venetians for their great work of fortifying the town. A little further on stands the Temple of Kardaki, which was found accidentally by the British in 1822. It is a temple in Doric style, probably dedicated to Apollo, and is in a very good state of preservation. Close by is the Convent of Agia Evthimias. In 1831, a summer villa was built in the Palaiopolis estate for the use of the British Lord High Commissioner, Sir Frederick Adam. It is neo-classical, with a Doric peristyle, probably from a design by John Chronis. In 1864, the Council of Corfu granted the use of this villa to King George of Greece, and subsequently it was thr summer home of the Greek royal family, better known by the name of Mon Repos (a name also used by Peter the Great for his summer villa at St. Petersburg). Following the abolition of the monarchy in Greece, there were many misunderstandings regarding the ownership of the estate, and after a legal battle with the former King Constantine of Greece, it fell under the jurisdiction of the Municipality of Corfu, and is now open to the public. Near the gate of the estate stand the ruins of the Palaiopolis Basilica, or Agia Kerkira, built in the 5th century using materials from buildings on the site ( a Doric temple, a Roman bathhouse, and others).