Must-see attractions in Ionian Islands

This selection highlights the architectural and political history of the Ionian Islands, shaped significantly by Venetian and British rule. It includes the UNESCO-listed Corfu Old Town, established in the 8th century BC, and the neoclassical Maitland Monument. In Kefalonia, the list features the De Bosset Bridge Obelisk and monuments dedicated to influential British administrators like Sir Charles Napier. These sites represent the diverse heritage and strategic importance of the archipelago through the centuries.

Must See — Map

Ian Pitchford / CC-BY-SA-3.0

A

Corfu Old Town

A UNESCO World Heritage site, this picturesque old town has history reaching back to 8th century BC.

Balázs Sommer / CC-BY-SA

B

De Bosset Bridge Obelisk

A stone monument situated on the 19th-century De Bosset Bridge in Argostoli. It was erected in 1813 to commemorate the British administration and the construction of the bridge, which remains the longest stone bridge over sea in the world.

C

Maitland Monument

A neoclassical rotunda located at the southern end of Corfu's Spianada Square. Built in 1821 with twenty Ionic columns, it commemorates Sir Thomas Maitland, the first British Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands.

D

The Bell Tower Square (St. Marco or Liberty Square)

A historic square in Argostoli featuring a reconstructed clock tower. It is known as the site where the Libro d'Oro, the directory of local nobility, was burned in 1797 to mark the end of Venetian rule.

E

Bust of Sir Charles Napier

A memorial dedicated to the British general who served as the Resident of Kefalonia from 1822 to 1830. Napier is credited with modernizing the island's infrastructure, including the construction of major roads and the De Bosset Bridge.

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