Corfu Old Town
The Old Town is the historical center and the heart of Corfu Town, the capital of Corfu. The Venetian presence from the past is most distinguishable here and walking in the narrow alleys between the almost touching buildings and hanging ropes with clothes would make you wonder if you are in Italy instead of Greece.
The Old Town spreads roughly between the New Fortress and the Old Fortress, including a labyrinth of narrow alleys to get lost in and the Spianada square. Spianada claims to be the largest square in Greece and it comprises of the area between the Old Fortress, Liston and the Palace of St. Michael and St. George with the park next to it. Liston comes from the Venetian word for "square" although it was designed by the French Commissioner Mathieu de Lesseps during the period when Corfu was under French rule. De Lesseps was inspired by the famous Rue de Rivoli, Paris and that is why the Corfu Liston reminds of the French capital as well, with a few arcade buildings. Liston is full of small cafeterias with numerous tables where you can have a drink while watching the passers-by and namely here the special Easter in Corfu takes place every year.
Except for Liston, the narrow alleys reveal other tiny squares, churches, local bakeries, cafes and tavernas, and of course - plenty of souvenir shops. The road traffic around the Old Town is organized as one-way - you come from one side and exit from the other, with a few large parking spaces along the seashore. Liston and most of the streets behind it are pedestrian only.
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highlights: the historical center of Corfu with the Spianada, Liston and numerous narrow alleys, historic sight in Corfu Town, Corfu, Greece