New Fortress, Corfu (must see)

The first Ottoman siege of Corfu ended in 1537. The Ottomans did not succeed, but the siege revealed the urgent need to expand fortifications. The Old Fort might not be enough next time. With the Ottomans, there always seemed to be a next time. The Venetians hastened to build fortifications for parts of the town outside the walls.

They razed some 2,000 homes and built new walls and fortifications in their place. With the walls completed, they proceeded to build the New Fort on the hill of St. Mark. All this had the effect of widening the defense perimeter of the old citadel inside the Old Fort. The work is said to have started in 1577. The finish date could be 1645.

The fortress complex is on two levels. A three-story building called "Punta Perpetua" and a pentagonal-shaped bastion are on the lower level. Inside are arched rooms, galleries, staircases, and ramps. There are two Baroque gates. A dry moat on the west side runs from the vegetable market to the new harbor.

The New Fortress has two bastions, "Skarponas" and "Epta Anemoi." They are on the second level, accessed by the Bell Castle (Castello della Campana). The town defenses were further reinforced on the three hills to the west in the 18th century. Vidos Islet was fortified by French occupiers in the early 19th century.

Below the bastion is the former British military barracks. Today it is a venue for art exhibits and events. Two inscribed monuments survive, attached to the ramparts. The better-preserved one dates from 1728. It shows the symbol of Venice, the Lion of St Mark, and the arms of Marco Antonio Diedo, Supreme Governor.