Corfu has a rich culture that has been crafted by the various peoples who have inhabited the island. The inhabitants have created a distinctive culture, traditions, and legends. Even in modern times, stories and urban legends have their roots in the distant past but continue to fascinate to this day.
Perhaps one of the best-known Corfiot legends is mentioned in the story by Iakovos Polylas, “The Three Florins,” and it is none other than Moros. Moros is a ghostly element that often takes the form of a large black-clad man. Legend has it that the Moros are the souls of people killed by the lords in the foundations or in the “Sagrado” (basement) of their mansion to keep the treasure for them. The word is probably derived from the Italian Moro, meaning “dark-skinned.” Legend has it that these spirits were not only harmless but often beneficial since by helping random passers-by find the treasure, they completed their work and freed themselves from their bonds.
Well known to all Corfiots is the urban legend concerning the “House of the Doctors.” This particular building is located just before the traditional village of Ano Korakkiana, and for many years, it has acquired a unique but not-so-pleasant reputation. The story begins as early as 1836, when two Italian doctors, Atanasio Baseti and Tito Savelli, came to Corfu, fleeing due to their involvement in the Italian unification movement. Gradually, the house became a place of initiation for the “Young Italy” (Giovanne Italia) organization. The house acquired the reputation it has today as the fate of the two young doctors is not known. In the first instance, the doctors returned to Italy, where they were arrested and executed. The second possibility is that they committed suicide in the house. In earlier years, many gangs of bandits took advantage of the reputation of the house by dragging chains to frighten the villagers who abandoned their carts and products fleeing from the scene.
Another well-known legend of the Corfiot countryside is found in the northern part of the island, near the village of Valaneio. It is said that in ancient times, in the location of Paleokastro, a wealthy lord built a large tower to watch over the area in case of invasions. His daughter, Argyro, loved walking through the lush forests and swimming in the nearby river. Upon seeing smoke from the tower one day, she realized her family was lost. In despair, she blindfolded herself and her mule, tragically plunging over a nearby cliff. Her story is still remembered by locals today.
The most renowned urban myth concerns the old British hospital located in the Old Fortress of Corfu. The stories surrounding this building are countless and based on its use over the years. The old British hospital complex was built in 1835 for the purpose of treating the British army that was then on the island. It was used extensively during the First World War, and during the Second World War, it passed into the hands of the occupying forces. There are many accounts of torture taking place in many of the hospital’s rooms and executions in its backyard. During the bombings of 14 September 1943, the hospital and those inside it were burnt to the ground. The hospital was rebuilt two more times, with the last one not being completed. Thus, the hospital was completely abandoned in the 1980s. The gruesome fate of the building created some stories that are still heard today. Sounds, chains, shadows, gunshots, and even execution scenes are said to take place in the old British hospital.
