Mon Repos

The villa of Mon Repos to the south of Corfu Town was once the summer home of the Greek royal family but now houses the Museum of Palaiopolis.

After years of neglect, the elegant villa of Mon Repos was beautifully restored and since 2001 has housed a fabulous museum dedicated to Corfu’s ancient city, Palaiópolis. It occupies a prime spot on the Kanóni peninsula, surrounded by lush wooded grounds that make a cool and peaceful retreat.

Getting to Mon Repos

Mon Repos is a pleasant half-hour walk south along the seafront from the Spianáda, although the last stretch turns inland along the shoulder of a busy road. If driving, There is limited parking in a small parking area opposite the entrance to the grounds, or along the road.

The parking area is hard to spot so drive slowly as the one-way system will soon have you whizzing past it with no chance to turn around. We speak from experience!

Our Pick of Greek Islands Guides

Rough-Guide-Greek-Islands-2022.png

Mon Repos History

Sir Frederick Adam, the second British High Commissioner, built this neo-classical summer palace for his Corfiot wife. Designed by Sir George Whitmore, architect of the Palace of St Michael and St George, it was completed in 1831.

The villa was used for various cultural purposes from 1832 until 1864, when it was given to Greece’s King George I, who named it Mon Repos. It remained a summer house for the Greek royal family until 1967. Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, was born here in 1921. 

After years of legal wrangling over the ownership of the mansion, the Municipality of Corfu took over and restored it handsomely inside and out. From the side terrace there is a lovely view over the hillside to the sea. 

Museum of Palaiópolis

Important archaeological sites from the ancient city of Palaiópolis surround Mon Repos, and the mansion was converted into a museum to display its artefacts. Exhibits are well displayed and informative, presenting a fascinating picture of the house and the area, its history and ancient culture. 

On the ground floor, the two rotunda rooms depict the Regency style that Adam and his wife enjoyed during their occupancy. Other rooms contain photos, prints and historical documents, Classical sculpture, and drawings of local flora and exotic plants. Room 7 contains a timeline and a wonderful scale model of the town with buttons which light up the peninsula’s ancient sites. 

Hidden Gem

In Room 12, look for the lovely little terra cotta statuettes of female circle dancers, depicting a ritual of worship in the late 6th century BC.

Upstairs on the first floor, the rooms surrounding the pretty atrium contain interesting exhibits on life in ancient Kérkyra. Exquisite items from Corfu’s Mediterranean sea trade, the production of wine and olive oil, the ancient marketplace and bathhouses, and deities and sanctuaries are among the topics explored.

There is also a gallery of photographs from the archaeological excavations. On the second floor there is space for temporary exhibitions. 

Around Mon Repos

The lush grounds surrounding Mon Repos are a delight, especially on a hot summer’s day. Follow the path behind the villa that leads to the 5th century BC Doric Temple, the best-preserved site of Palaiópolis, in a sunny spot overlooking the sea. It leads through a canopy of enormous olive and fig trees, and past the ruins of the Heraeum temple. 

Across from the entrance to the grounds is the impressive shell of Palaiópolis church, a 5th century basilica and the oldest church on the island. 

Other Corfu Town Pages

  • Corfu Town’s Byzantine Museum is a little gem, one of the town’s top museums with an excellent collection of Byzantine art in a 15th-century church.

    Corfu Town’s Byzantine Museum

    Corfu Town’s Byzantine Museum is a little gem, one of the town’s top museums with an excellent collection of Byzantine art in a 15th-century church.

  • This walk in Old Corfu Town, or Campiello, takes you from the Liston through the narrow back streets and alleyways and should take about one to two hours.

    A Walk in Old Corfu Town

    This walk in Old Corfu Town, or Campiello, takes you from the Liston through the narrow back streets and alleyways and should take about one to two hours.

  • The church of Saint Spyrídon (Ayios Spyridon) in Corfu Town is a must-see site and contains the silver casket of the island’s patron saint.

    Church of Saint Spyrídon

    The church of Saint Spyrídon (Ayios Spyridon) in Corfu Town is a must-see site and contains the silver casket of the island’s patron saint.

  • Corfu’s small archaeological museum holds two of the finest treasures of ancient Greece, the Gorgon pediment and the Lion of Menekrates

    Corfu Town Archaeological Museum

    Corfu’s small archaeological museum holds two of the finest treasures of ancient Greece, the Gorgon pediment and the Lion of Menekrates

  • Kanoni is one of two tiny islands off Corfu, about an hour’s walk south of Corfu Town, and one of the most photographed spots on Corfu.

    Kanoni

    Kanoni is one of two tiny islands off Corfu, about an hour’s walk south of Corfu Town, and one of the most photographed spots on Corfu.

  • Rising on a steep hill behind the old harbour, the Campiéllo is the oldest district of Corfu’s Old Town.

    Old Corfu Town

    Rising on a steep hill behind the old harbour, the Campiéllo is the oldest district of Corfu’s Old Town.

  • Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to eat in Corfu Town, including the best restaurants for a treat, traditional tavernas, and cheap and cheerful good eats.

    Where to Eat in Corfu Town

    Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to eat in Corfu Town, including the best restaurants for a treat, traditional tavernas, and cheap and cheerful good eats.

  • The Palace of St Michael and St George in Corfu Town contains the Museum of Asiatic Art, the Municipal Art Gallery, and the Modern Art Museum.

    Palace of St Michael and St George

    The Palace of St Michael and St George in Corfu Town contains the Museum of Asiatic Art, the Municipal Art Gallery, and the Modern Art Museum.

  • The main sites to see in Corfu Town are listed on our main Corfu Town page, and some also have their own pages, but here are some of the other things to see.

    Sites to See in Corfu Town

    The main sites to see in Corfu Town are listed on our main Corfu Town page, and some also have their own pages, but here are some of the other things to see.

  • Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to stay in Corfu Town including hotels near the port, near the airport and in the town centre, with budget and luxury options.

    Where to Stay in Corfu Town

    Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to stay in Corfu Town including hotels near the port, near the airport and in the town centre, with budget and luxury options.

Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Latest Posts

RSS

  1. A Day Trip to Mount Parnassos

    Busy schedules don’t always allow for extended getaways, but Mount Parnassos and its enchanting landscapes are perfect for a refreshing day trip.

    Read More

  2. 3 Museums Showcasing Athens’ Industrial Heritage

    Step beyond the well-trodden paths of Athens’ iconic landmarks and explore a different side of the Greek capital by visiting three lesser-known industrial museums.

    Read More

  3. Greece’s November 20 Strike to Disrupt Ferry Services and Public Transport

    A 24-hour nationwide strike is set to disrupt transportation in Athens and travel across Greece on Wednesday, November 20, as public transport and ferry employees join a general strike organized by Gr…

    Read More

  4. Museum of Modern Greek Culture

    A New Cultural Jewel in Plaka

    Read More

  5. Zakynthos: Greek Draft Law Plans Ticket Requirement for Navagio Beach

    Visitors to Navagio Beach (Shipwreck Beach) on the island of Zakynthos will be required to purchase tickets for entrance once it reopens to the public, according to a new draft law proposed by the Gre…

    Read More

  6. Musicians Ex Machina Breathe New Life into Greece’s Mountain Villages

    A band of motorcycle-riding musicians is sending a powerful, melodic message from Greece's remote mountain villages that are at risk of being left deserted.

    Read More

  7. Thessaloniki Bites: 6 Fresh Culinary Gems to Savor Around the Film Festival

    With the 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival in full swing, we take a look at the city’s newest cafes, bars, and restaurants, along with some exciting culinary developments in the city.

    Read More

  8. Athens Metro Lines 2 and 3 Extend Weekend Service Hours Until 2 AM

    Beginning November 1, Lines 2 and 3 of the Athens Metro will extend their Friday and Saturday night service until 2 o’clock in the morning.

    Read More

  9. History of Thessaloniki

    Alexander-the-Great-statue-Thessaloniki.jpg
    Greece Travel Secrets outlines the history of Thessaloniki, Greece’s second city, from its origins through Roman times and the Ottoman period through to today.

    Read More

  10. Gastronomos Awards 2024: Celebrating the Best Artisans of Cycladic Gastronomy

    The highly anticipated list of award-winning producers was presented in the capital of the Cyclades, Syros, by Gastronomos, Greece’s top culinary magazine, published by the newspaper Kathimerini.

    Read More