Corfu’s old town is home to dozens of churches, most of them dating back centuries. Apart from the most famous churches of the old and historic town, such as the Church of Agios Spyridon and the Church of the Holy Metropolis of Corfu, Paxos & Diapontia Islands, there are many more that have not had luck on their side. Thus, today, only a part of their ruins are preserved.
Perhaps the best-known case of such a church is that of Annunziata. Annunziata was built at the end of the 14th century and is one of the oldest churches in the old town of Corfu. More specifically, today’s monument is only the bell tower of the church, as the building itself was destroyed during the bombings on September 13, 1943. Annunziata functioned as one of the most essential Latin churches in Corfu, serving as a point of reference for the Christian faith in the whole of Europe. Just recently, after many years, the restoration efforts of the bell tower were completed, and the results have beautified the site.
The Holy Church of Agia Aikaterini may not be one of the best-known churches in the old town, but it has a significant history. With the fall of Chandax (Heraklion) in 1669, many Cretans settled in Corfu. One of them was the scholar Hieromonk Nicodemus Karofyllatos. At his own expense, the Church of St. Catherine was built in its present location at the end of the 17th century. The church hosted important hagiographies and icons of the 14th century. With the arrival of the French in Corfu, the income of all the island’s churches was seized. Thus began the decline of the church, which has lasted until our days. A few years ago, the fully restored building complex was inaugurated, giving life to the church again.
Many churches in the city of Corfu were either destroyed or demolished. One of them was the Catholic Church of the Virgin Mary of Rosario. It was built in the 18th century and was demolished in 1837 when the British opened up various spaces and streets throughout the old town of Corfu, resulting in the loss of many more monuments. A similar fate befell the church of the “Kera of Platytera,” which was located at the present location of the Palco in the Upper Spianada Square. Although the exact year of its construction is unknown, we know that it existed as early as the 16th century.
A stroll through the square of Lemonia will allow you to observe the ruins of the Evangelistria, also known as Troulinos. This particular church is recorded in the mid-18th century, although it is believed to have existed long before that. Its demise is more or less known. During the bombings of 1943, the church was destroyed, remaining neglected to this day. In the bombings of 13 September, the church of the Odigitria, which was probably built before the 16th century, also finally succumbed. Over the years, it has experienced various difficulties, one of them in 1750 when it suffered severe damage due to a fire that broke out in the area.
The religious history of Corfu is such that we could mention many more cases of temples and churches that, over time, were lost and gave way to new buildings and infrastructure. The written and folkloric tradition of the island has preserved the details and testimonies of the existence of these churches, highlighting the unbreakable relationship and mutual influence between the people of Corfu and religion. Unfortunately, although many of them were allowed to resurface, even as mere reminders of an earlier era, this did not happen as modern urban planning and the Antiquities Authority did not consider it appropriate to highlight their history.
