The Spilia Gate is one of the four entrance gates of the fortification system of Corfu Town, built by the Venetians. The gate is located opposite the Old Port on the northern side of the old town and near the New Fortress.
The Spilia Gate was built between 1576 and 1588, around the same time as the construction of the New Fortress, and stood right at the edge of the seaward wall to connect the town with the harbor. The name of the gate and its surrounding neighborhood was derived from the small cave (spilia) that was located at the foot of the New Fortress.
The Spilia Gate was not only integrated into the city walls, it was part of an L-shaped barracks building with a capacity of 2,000 people. The city wall and most of the surrounding buildings were later removed, but the barracks complex with the integrated Spile Gate survived because they were reconstructed during the English rule of the island.
Nowadays, the Spile Gate is a pedestrian passage with a length of 12 meters, connecting the Old Port with the old town. The gate consists of two openings, a small rectangular one and a larger arched one. Above the arched entrance on the town side, you can see the coat of arms of Nicolo Errizzo, General Proveditor of the Sea (1785-1787).
