Archaeological Museum of Corfu

The Archaeological Museum of Corfu stands at 1 Armeni Vraila Street on the seafront south of the Spianada in Kerkyra, Greece. It was built in the 1960s to house finds from ancient Corcyra, the Corinthian colony founded on the Kanoni and Palaiopolis peninsula in the 8th century BC. The museum's centrepiece is the Gorgon Pediment from the Temple of Artemis, dated to about 580 BC. This enormous limestone pediment, around 17 metres wide, is regarded as the oldest surviving monumental stone pediment in Greek architecture. It shows the snake-haired Gorgon Medusa at the centre, flanked by her children Pegasus and Chrysaor, with panthers beside her and smaller scenes of mythological battles in the corners. Visitors can walk along the full length of the pediment and see details of the sculpted figures at close range. Other highlights include the Lion of Menekrates, a funerary monument from the 7th century BC discovered near the tomb of the Corcyrean leader, along with architectural fragments, terracotta figurines, pottery, coins, and bronze objects from sanctuaries and cemeteries across the island. Some exhibits reflect links between Corfu and the wider Greek and Roman world. The collection is arranged in a few rooms, and a visit normally takes 1 to 1.5 hours. The galleries are air-conditioned, making the museum a good break from the heat in the middle of the day. Crowds are usually moderate, with the busiest period coinciding with cruise-ship visits around late morning and early afternoon. In summer the museum opens from 08:00 to 20:00 and closes on Tuesdays, while winter hours are shorter. The last entry is 20 minutes before closing. The museum is about a ten-minute walk along the seafront from the Spianada. Labels are in Greek and English, and an audio guide may be offered.