The Corfu Reading Society is the oldest cultural institution of modern Greece and is located in a characteristic building on Kapodistriou Street in Corfu Town.
The institution was founded by a group of young intellectuals in 1836 and was based on the Reading Society of Geneva as a prototype. Its aim was to bring together newspapers, magazines, and books from France, Italy, England, and other parts of Western Europe, to get the members of the society in contact with literary, scientific, and political movements of Western Europe. Pertos Vrailas-Armenis was the first president of the Corfu Reading Society and became the creative spirit, soul, and driving force behind the institute. Membership of the society was exclusive to the most important personalities of the island such as Dionysios Solomos, Andreas Kalvos, Iakovos Polylas, Lorentzos Mavilis, and Konstantinos Theotokis.
Over time the Corfu Reading Society has grown its collection to over 50,000 volumes, part of which is a unique specialized collection of Ionian works, including paintings, old maps, newspapers, engravings, old magazines, letters, photographs, and other printed documents and materials. Apart from a library there is also a reading room and frequently, events are being held here as well, including artistic exhibitions, lectures, seminars, and scientific conferences.
The building of the Corfu Reading Society was designed by the Corfiot architect Ioannis Chronis. The building has a characteristic entrance with an impressive staircase and a balcony and has become a trademark of the island. The ground floor used to house a branch of the National Bank and later a branch of the Bank of Athens.
