2 - UNESCO: World Heritage

DESCRIPTION
♦ The Church of Agii Iason and Sosipatros (c. 1000 AD) . This is the most important monument from the
middle Byzantine period (monastery catholicon in the late Byzantine period). One of the oldest examples of
a two-columned inscribed cruciform church (rectangular church with a dome) and one of the best-preserved
churches of this type in Greece. The normal style of church during the 11 th – 14 th centuries, it has certain
special features specific to this church. The three conches which protrude on the east do not have the
same shape. The triple arch (tribilus) by means of which the narthex communicates with the central space
is a survival from the early Christian era. The octagonal dome reconstructed in the 17 th century has small
built-in columns where it comes into contact with the body of the building.
At the lower levels the church is built of large tufa blocks from the ruins of the ancient city and higher up of
stone and brick (square stones surrounded by rows of bricks). Serrated strips are interspersed between the
horizontal joints while on vertical joints there are carved bricks with Kufic letters constituting part of the rich
ceramic decoration.
The built Baroque iconostasis dating from the 18 th century is made up of curved surfaces with elliptical
elements and upright marble slabs and it displays noteworthy Byzantine icons. The two large portable
icons of the honoured saints are by E. Tzannes. The preserved fragments of wall paintings belong to the
11 th – 14 th centuries. Outside, the annex on the NW corner belongs to the post Byzantine period and is
used as a residence for the priest.
♦ Agii Theodori Monastery (between 5 th – 6 th century) : An early Christian monument directly adjoining the
ruins of the temple of Artemis Gorgous. A three-aisled basilica was limited during Byzantine times to the
central aisle, which is today the catholicon of a convent. A characteristic feature of the early Christian
phase is the semicircular apse with a graduated roof and a trilobate arched window with heavy proportions.
The church was converted into a monastery probably during the 16 th century with an open square court
(which was normal for the catholicon complex). The courtyard is surrounded by arched colonnades with
Renaissance morphology along two floors on three of its sides while the fourth consists of the catholicon
and the bell tower. A particular feature of the entire morphology are the two fortified towers within the
complex. That the church once had three aisles can be seen today by the existence of sealed arched
colonnades.
♦ The Basilica of Jovian and its grounds (5 th century) : This is the most important early Christian
monument. A five- or three-aisled basilica built on the ruins of the Roman agora with a protruding transept,
a semicircular apse, two narthexes and an annex. It was limited during the Byzantine period to the central
aisle. Interventions were carried out during the 16 th and 17 th centuries. The great age of the monument
visible from the successive interventions made to it and its claim to be the great church of Paleopolis
indicate its significance.
♦ The Church of Panagia Neratzichas (11 th – 12 th century) : Located a short distance from the Agii
Theodori Monastery, this is a tower from the ancient walls transformed into a church. Only the northern wall
survives. The Byzantine addition to the ancient wall is built using slipshod stonework encased in bricks with
three characteristic arched vaults.
The Old Town of Corfu Nomination for inclusion on the World Heritage List 18
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