The Byzantine Museum

The Byzantine Museum of Corfu is one of the most significant in Greece. It is housed in the church of the Blessed Virgin Antivouniotissa.

The church, which was built in 16th century, is a single-nave basilica and was donated to the Greek State along with its icons. It is situated on Arseniou Street in Corfu town. Here are exhibited early Christian sculptures, parts of Byzantine frescoes of the 11th, 13th and 18th centuries and a collection of icons of the 16th to 18th centuries.

Near the entrance door is a glass show-case containing an altar-cloth brought from Russia and donated to the church by Nikiforos Theotokis. The stone iconostasis has four frescoes dating from the 18th century. Above the frescoes there are three icons by the Corfiot painter Michael Avramis.

On the north wall the visitor can see two excellent works by Emmanuel Lombardos dated from 1629. The one is a portrait of Christ and the second is an icon of the Virgin Mary 'Odigitria' holding the Christ Child.

On the opposite wall the central large painting shows the Assumption of the Virgin Mary made by an unknown painter of the 18th century.

One of the most famous icons in the museum is the one of 'Noli me Tangere' ('Touch me not') by Father Emmanuel Tzanes.