The Kapodistrias Museum is a museum dedicated to the former politician Ioannis Kapodistrias. It is located in Koukouritsa, an estate of the Kapodistrias family near the village of Evropouli in central Corfu.
Who Was Ioannis Kapodistrias?
Ioannis Kapodistrias (1776-1831), sometimes anglicized as John Capodistrias, was a Greek statesman who was one of the most distinguished politicians and diplomats of 19th-century Greece. Kapodistrias was born in Corfu when the island was ruled by the Venetians. His father was Antonios Maria Kapodistrias, a distinct nobleman and politician, and one of his ancestors was a count of the Duke of Savoy whose name was derived from the city of Capodistria (now Koper) in Slovenia, which was also part of the Republic of Venice.
Ioannis Kapodistrias was born a nobleman but developed liberal and democratic ideals. After studying in Italy, he came back to Corfu to start a doctor’s practice in 1797, and when Russia briefly occupied Corfu in 1799 he became a chief medical director for the Russian forces. In the same year, he was also appointed as a minister of the Republic of the Seven United Islands.
During his political career, Kapodistrias had several positions under the reign of the Russian Tsar Alexander I, before returning to Greece to support the Greek War of Independence. In 1827, he was elected the first head of state of independent Greece, and between 1828 and 1831, he served as the Governor of Greece. His contributions have earned him recognition as the founder of the modern Greek state.
History Of The Kapodistrias Museum
The country house in which the museum is located dates back to the 18th century and belonged to the Kapodistrias family until 1979, when Maria Kapodistrias donated it to three cultural organizations: the Corfu Reading Society, the Philharmonic Society of Corfu, and the Society for Corfiote Studies. Maria Kapodistrias-Desylla (1898-1980) was the great-granddaughter of Ioannis Kapodistrias’ younger brother and the first elected female mayor of Corfu Town (1956-1959).
The Kapodistrias Museum was founded in 1981 but initially, it’s activities were quite limited. In 1998, three rooms of the house were renovated and a new exhibition was set up. In 1995, the house, the garden and the architectural design of the surroundings were declared a protected historical monument.
In 2007, the museum exhibition was expanded and in 2012 a renovation took place to modernized the museum and its exhibitions. The museum is also a center of Kapodistrian and Corfiote studies.
Museum Exhibition
The exhibition of the Kapodistrias Museum consists of several rooms where important historical artefacts are displayed. Among the exhibited pieces are books, maps, medallions, religious icons, portraits, furniture, and several personal memorabilia of Ioannis Kapodistrias.
With the help of a mobile app with a free audio guide, visitors can discover the history of Corfu from the early 19th century to the development of the modern Greek state.
Apart from the museum you can enjoy the beautiful gardens with dense vegetation and views over the island. There is also a terrace with a cafe and in the summer cultural events are hosted in the garden.
Other Heritage of Ioannis Kapodistrias
Apart from the museum, you can find more heritage of Ioannis Kapodistrias in Corfu. In Corfu Town, you can see the Ioannis Kapodistrias Statue on Spianada Square and to the north of the square you can see the house where he was born. Corfu International Airport is also named after the former Governor.
