The Ionian Academy was the first academic institution established in modern Greece and it is located in Corfu. It was established by Frederick North, 5th Earl of Guilford in 1824.[1] It is also considered the precursor of the Ionian University. It had Philological, Law and Medical Schools.

The first period of existence of its Medical School was from 1824-1828. The second from 1844-1865 (when the Ionian islands united with Greece). Many of the physicians at the Academy had followed the traditional path of studying in Italy, and in particular at the medical School of Bologna.[2]. Their scientifical and educational activities in establishing the high level of the Medical School influenced the Greek medical science as a whole. In particular, George Therianos (Prof of General and Comparative Anatomy and Experimental Physics) from the island of Zante (Zakynthos) met the Earl of Guilford in 1825 in England and was given the position of professor of the Academy's Medical School.

The building of the Ionian Academy is found at the junction of Acadimias and Kapodistriou street. Its main entrance is from Spianada, from the south-west part of Ano Platia. The Academy was built by the Venetians in a Γ shaped design, near the city entrance.

The Ionian Academy initially, had three faculties: philosophical, law and medicine. Later on it added the polytechnic, the obstetrical and the pharmacology faculty. In 1865 after the unification of Eptanisa with the “Kingdom of Greece” (Greek: Vasíleion tīs Elládos) the academy ceased operating under the law RI/1865. After being turned into barracks the Academy housed the Public Library.

Today the building serves the administrative services of the Ionian University, while the auditorium has been designed to perform audiovisual projections, lectures and speeches.

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