The Museum of Asian Art Corfu, housed in the grand Palace of St Michael and St George, a neoclassical building on the Esplanade, is the only museum of its type in the country, holding around 15,000 Chinese, Japanese and other Asian works of art. This guide covers the palace, the collection, the highlights and how to visit.
The museum is a cultural treasure of the capital, a refined highlight of the wider Corfu tours and travel guide. It occupies the grand palace at the north end of the Spianada. The sections below cover the visit.
What is the Museum of Asian Art?
The Museum of Asian Art is the only museum dedicated to Asian art in Greece, housed in the stately Palace of St Michael and St George, a neoclassical landmark on the north side of the Spianada in Corfu Town. It holds around 15,000 works from China, Japan and across Asia.
The museum is unique in Greece. It occupies the imposing Palace of St Michael and St George, which the British raised in neoclassical style to dominate the northern side of the Spianada, or Esplanade, the great square at the heart of Corfu Town. Within these elegant rooms is gathered an extraordinary collection of around 15,000 works of Asian art, the only such museum in the country, built up over the years from private collections and individual donations. The combination of a stately British palace and a world-class Asian collection makes it one of the most unexpected and rewarding sights in the capital, set within the wider Corfu Town. The collection is remarkable.
What is in the collection?
The collection comprises around 15,000 works, including about 3,500 Chinese and 6,200 Japanese items, plus art from India, Gandhara, Siam, Cambodia, Nepal, Tibet and Central Asia. It spans ceramics, bronzes, sculpture, prints, weapons and screens across many centuries.
The breadth of the collection is its glory. At its core lie about 3,500 Chinese pieces and some 6,200 works of Japanese art, ranging across porcelain and ceramics, bronzes, woodblock prints, lacquerwork, screens and samurai armour and weapons. Beyond these, the art of Southeast Asia is represented by pieces from India, the ancient region of Gandhara, Siam, Cambodia, Nepal and Tibet, while around 200 items reflect the nomadic art of Central Asia. The works span many centuries and traditions, assembled largely through the passion of Greek collectors and donors, set out alongside the guide to the Old Fortress nearby. The palace itself is a highlight.
What is the palace like?
The palace, dedicated to St Michael and St George, is a grand neoclassical building raised under British rule in the 1820s as the residence of the Lord High Commissioner and seat of the Ionian Senate. With its colonnaded façade facing the Esplanade, it is a landmark of Corfu Town in its own right.
The setting matches the collection. Built in the 1820s during the British protectorate to serve as the residence of the Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands and the seat of the Ionian Senate, the palace is a fine example of Georgian neoclassical architecture, its long colonnaded front and ceremonial rooms facing the green sweep of the Esplanade. Designed by Colonel George Whitmore, the same architect behind Mon Repos, it later housed the royal family before becoming the museum. Wandering its grand halls is part of the pleasure of a visit, the elegant interiors forming a striking backdrop to the Asian treasures, set out alongside the guide to Mon Repos. Visiting is straightforward.
How do you visit the museum?
The museum is on the Esplanade in Corfu Town, open Tuesday to Sunday and closed on some public holidays. Allow at least 1.5 to 2 hours for a thorough visit. It is spread over several floors, usually served by lifts, so it stays accessible, and lies within easy walking distance in the Old Town.
The museum is simple to fit into a day in the capital. It stands right on the Spianada in the heart of Corfu Town, within easy walking distance of the Liston, the fortresses and the Old Town lanes, so no transport is needed. It opens Tuesday to Sunday, closing on Mondays and certain public holidays, and a thorough visit rewards at least 1.5 to 2 hours given the size of the collection. The exhibition is spread over several floors, with lifts usually on hand, keeping it accessible for those with limited mobility. Combining it with a stroll on the Esplanade and a coffee on the Liston makes a cultured half-day, set out alongside the guides to where to stay in Corfu and a Corfu itinerary. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Museum of Asian Art Corfu?
The Museum of Asian Art Corfu is the only museum dedicated to Asian art in Greece, housed in the grand Palace of St Michael and St George, a neoclassical landmark on the Esplanade in Corfu Town. It holds around 15,000 Chinese, Japanese and other Asian works of art.
How long do you need at the museum?
You need at least 1.5 to 2 hours for a thorough visit, given the size of the 15,000-piece collection spread over several floors. The museum opens Tuesday to Sunday and is centrally located on the Esplanade, within easy walking distance of the Old Town.
What is the palace that houses the museum?
The museum is housed in the grand Palace of St Michael and St George, a neoclassical building raised under British rule in the 1820s as the residence of the Lord High Commissioner and seat of the Ionian Senate. It is a landmark of Corfu Town in its own right.