Corfu New Fortress

Location: Town

The New Fortress (Fortress of Saint Mark) in Corfu: The Fortress of Saint Mark in Corfu is also referred to as the Fortress of San Marco. It was built by the Venetians and is strategically located in close proximity to the Old Harbour of the town. It took a rather long time to be built (1576 and 1645). Construction of this impregnable fortress was completed soon after the infamous Turkish invasion. The design and construction of the Fortress were undertaken by the renowned Italian military engineer, Ferraute Vitteli.

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The fortress played a pivotal role as far as protecting the town of Corfu and its residents were concerned. The entire fortress is an intricate network of compartments and galleries. The ramparts of the Fortress was built by the French and afterward by the British colonial rulers who completed the entire construction.

The fortress has a dry moat that meanders along its western side which is typical of the 17th-century architectural style. The moat begins from the place where the vegetable market is presently located and culminates into the New Harbour. Of particular significance are the two winged lions of Saint Mark, which were incidentally the official emblem of Venice along with two distinct Venetian inscriptions.

The two main gates of the fortress seem to have somehow withstood the ravages of time and are still very well preserved. The first gate faces to the Old Harbor's square while the other faces down south. Both the gates are replete with the official emblem of Venice, that is the winged lion of Saint. Mark. A section of the fortress was demolished by the then British colonial rulers as per the agreement of 1864 that united Corfu with the rest of Greece.

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How to get there

The New Fortress is located in Corfu Town just a 9-minute walk away from the central bus station and a 7-minute walk away from a parking lot.

Private transfers: We recommend using an online pre-booked Corfu 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 694 5452 338, 0030 697 3372 289 or book your taxi online.

Car rental: Τhere’s the option of renting a car in Corfu with as little as 12 euros per day and pick it up directly from the airport, port or your hotel. Using a car rental allows visitors to discover the New Fortress and many other places of interest in Corfu at their own pace.

By Public transfers: The central bus station of the island is located at Corfu Town. There are bus connections between this bus station and the 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 in 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.

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