There are plenty of arched buildings in Corfu. These vaulted structures could be found everywhere in Corfu town with the most famous being the Liston buildings, built by the French in the early 19th century. It is said that Corfiots loved the arches because there they could seek a refuge from a sudden storm (they are quite common during the winter) or it was a place to socialize and to trade their products.
In Kotardou street, near the church of Agios Vasilios, there is the only building in the town in which the ground and the first floor is ornated with arches. The building's style is heavily influenced by the venetian renaissance one and it might be constructed in the early 16th century when the whole island was under the venetian rule. In the ground floor, the "Apostrofos" bookstore could be found which features an interesting collection of books in greek. The two upper floors are still inhabited. Below there is some images which show how the building looks today.
- An old photo taken from the very interesting "Corfu Old Photos" group in Facebook.
If you ever pass from that street, remember to spot and admire that unique building which reminds us a bit of Florence's architecture.
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