The old Venetian Fortress of Corfu is built on a rocky peninsula. The first inhabitants, the survivors of Corfu after the destruction of the ancient city, arrived here after the 6th century and made this place the main town of the island from the 11th to the 15th century. In the 16th century the Fortress was turned into a military site. The fortifications were built in stages and this took 15 centuries in total. There are three main historical phases:
- The Byzantine period – the East hill is fortified (Castel Vecchio)
- The early Venetian period - the Western hill is fortified (Castel Novo)
- The Late Venetian period - the fortifications were completed and were ready to face the new threat of the modern era: the cannons.
The buildings in front of the Old Fortress were destroyed and Spianada Square was created which is until nowadays the entrance to the fort. The fortress is a masterpiece of military supremacy and it has seen many different owners depending on the political situation and the era: Byzantines, Venetians, French, Russians, Englishmen, Greeks, Italians and Germans.
