The Old Fortress is the most characteristic element of the city in the Eastern sea side, as “island in an island”. It constitutes one of the most impressive fortified constructions in Europe.

It is the result of the Venetian defensive policy which was to restructure the fortification of the existing walled and dense settlement of Xopoli (borgo), of the Byzantine period. At the same time the Venetians focus in the segregation of the small peninsula of the Old Fortress from the island, by constructing a sea ditch, the Contrafossa. Moreover, they extend the free space in the fortress, “Spianata”, (current Spianada) as an additional protective measure. The work was completed in 1558 giving the Fortress its impressive final form that made it impregnable.

The tour in the big and impressive Old Fortress gathers important and appreciable elements which deserve to be seen.

The entrance is from Spianada, where two small obelisks constitute the exterior gate of the Fortress. From there is the bridge that crosses the ditch of Contafossa and leads to the central gate of the Fortress. The current bridge is 60 meters, 15 meters above water and was built by the English in 1819. The initial bridge of the fortress was wooden and mobile so that it could be taken away from the island when needed.

The central entry is found in the middle conjunctive walls that connect the two similar pentagonal ramparts, Savorgnan and Martinengo, which were named after the Venetian engineers that constructed them.

Right after the group of gates there is an arid ditch, 22 m wide, which could flood constituting a second line of fortification. The ditch is bridged with a stoned arched bridge (1603), which replaced a wooden one and technically appears to be impressive for the length that it bridges.

The access to the other areas is via three vaulted corridors that are formed in the centre of the English barracks building. Two symmetric stone stairways lead to the tallest level of the Fortress. Here we find a marvelous polygonal well, appreciable heraldic monument with embossed representations and a sign of 1732.

The old Fortress of Kerkyra constitutes an exceptional fortified entirety, which symbolizes the 411 years of Venetian power in Eptanisa, but also an entirety where various cultures coexist from different historical periods. The best engineers of Venice worked for its construction and its continuous technical improvements, having in mind previous Byzantine constructions, while afterwards French, English and Greeks also worked hard in constructing it. Today it is an exceptionally beautiful tour which consists of a group of open, closed and underground areas and arcades, but mainly it’s a tour and submersion in the multicultural and complex history of this place.

It is removed from the mainland, by the ditch Contrafossa, in the eastern sea side of the city. Entrance from Spaniada.

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