2 CORFU PANORAMA English_1

Old Palaces of
Saints Michael and George
It is located on the north side of the Esplanade square and
one of the most impressive sights of Corfu. The building was
designed by the English Engineer Colonel George Whitemore
and built during 1819-1823, during the administration of the
English Commissioner, Thomas Maitland.
The palace originally housed the Ionian Senate, while it was
used as a residence by the Maitland himself. Then it hosted
the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, founded in
1818 and was named after the saints. For nearly fifty years
(1864-1913) it was used by the Greek royal family as
ceremonies and banquet halls, and is nowadays housing
the Asian Art Museum and the Municipal Gallery with
numerous exhibits.
The main gate was named St. George’s gate and the other
Saint Michael’s Gate. Both are located on the square.
The names of the saints were engraved above these gates.
On the pediment of the palace are carved the coats of arms
of the seven islands. In the middle is the English coat of arms.
It is undoubtedly the most important monument of the
British rule and one of the first neoclassical buildings in
Greece. It is grand and elegant, despite its size.
It is the second largest palace in Greece after the palace of
King Otto in Athens (that is today’s Parliament).
They are made of Maltese stone and its facade is adorned by
a Doric peristyle.
The upper part of the Palace is decorated with allegorical
representations of the Ionian Islands, works of the Corfiot
sculptor Paul Prosalentis.
There we can see Corfu represented by an ancient ship
symbol, “Apidalon Nafn” (a ship without paddles).
Even more impressive is the interior of the Palace with
luxurious ballrooms, banquet and catering rooms, decorated
with marble fireplaces, chandeliers and illustrations of the
honorary decorations of Saint Michael and Saint George.
In June 1994, the renovated Palace hosted some of the
events of the Summit Meeting of the European Union.
The Old Palaces of Saints Michael and George,
which were built by Thomas Maitland,
are the most important monument of the British rule.
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