Corfu, Greece

Corfu Town is the main port and regional capital of Corfu island in the Ionian Sea, housing roughly 30,000 urban residents. Controlled for four centuries by the Republic of Venice until 1797, the city developed a distinct Venetian architectural character unlike mainland Greece. The UNESCO-listed Old Town is guarded by two massive Venetian fortifications, the Old Fortress and the New Fortress. Central landmarks include the Liston promenade with its French Neoclassical arcades, Spianada Square, and Saint Spyridon Church with its red-domed bell tower. Travelers wander marble-paved pedestrian alleys, visit the Asian Art Museum in the Palace of Saint Michael and Saint George, and explore nearby Ionian beaches.