Corfu Asian Art Museum

Location: Town

The Museum of Asian Art in Corfu: The Museum of Asian Art in Corfu is the only museum of its kind in Greece. It is housed in an imposing neoclassical building near Liston promenade (Spianada Square), inside the Palace of Saint Michael and Saint George. The building was constructed between 1819 and 1824 by the British and initially served as the residence of the British High Commissioners of the Ionian islands.

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When the Ionian islands integrated into the Greek state in 1864, this building was used as a summer residence of the Royal Family. However, it declined as a royal residence because the King preferred to spend his summer months in Mon Repos Palace, a lovely palace surrounded by a lot of greenery, also situated near Corfu center; the Palace of Saint Michel and Saint George was mostly used as an office by the King rather than as a residence.

In 1967, the Palace was given to the Municipality of Corfu and housed the Archaeological Museum for some years. Then, until 1974, it functioned as a Sino-Japanese Museum. Later on, it turned into an Asian museum to host the collection of Gregorios Manos, an ambassador who had donated a great range of Asian items and works of art to the municipality. The exhibits of this museum were endowed with the collections of N. Hatzivassiliou, Ch. Hiotakis, and others.

Exhibits include items from China, Japan, India, Pakistan, Korea, Siam, Tibet, Nepal, Cambodia, and Thailand. Among the items displayed, you will find Samurai armor and weapons, masks of the Noh theatre, pieces of Chinese porcelains and bronzes and pieces of sculpture and ceramics.

The exhibits are compartmental. The ground floor of the museum used to be the hall of the Ionian Senate and portraits of the Senate's presidents are hung there. The second floor features the throne room, the ballroom, and the dining room, with the medals of the Chivalric order painted on the walls.

From time to time, the museum hosts other exhibitions and organizes shows on cultural matters.

How to get there

The Museum of Asian Art is located in Corfu Town, just a 13-minute walk away from the central bus station and a 10-minute walk away from a parking lot.

Private transfers: We recommend using an online pre-booked transfer service, which provides transfer by taxi, minibus, or private VIP car and arranging a pickup directly from the airport, port, or your hotel. Alternatively, there’s the option of arranging a pickup by a local driver directly at the following numbers: 0030 26610 39911, 0030 693 484 3704, or 0030 694 726 6811, or booking your taxi online.

Car rental: Τhere’s the option of renting a car and picking it up directly from the airport, port, or your hotel. Using a car rental allows visitors to discover The Museum of Asian Art and many other points of interest in Corfu at their own pace.

Public transfers: The central bus station of the island is located at Corfu Town. There are bus connections between this bus station and most areas of the island. Consider that time schedules might change according to the season. Check the official timetables here.
Tip: Since buses don’t always stop at every scheduled stop of their itinerary, our advice to visitors is to inform the driver about their final destination, so that he makes a stop there.