St Spyridon's Church

Entering in the old city from the port side, before the Spianada and in the middle of the old buildings, there is the most famous religious monument of the island: the church of Saint Spyridonas. 
This church was constructed in 1590 and it is a typical example of ecclesiastical architecture of the Ionian islands in Greece.
It has a single nave, a coffered ceiling bordered in gold with icons depicting scenes from the Saint’s life; it also has an impressive bell tower, the highest in the city, which can be seen even from the Liston. 
The outside is unpretentious but inside you can admire various paintings originally realized by P. Doxaras and, after their destruction, faithfully reproduced by N. Aspiotis.
The church along the sides has two different entrances, one on Saint Spyridonas street and the other in front of a small square, in this way the pipe organ can be listened in all the roads around. 
In this church there is next to the altar a silver urn of the 19th Century with inside the relics of Saint Spyridonas who is considered the protecting saint of Corfu.
Saint Spyridonas was born, lived and died in Cyprus where after the passing of his wife he devoted his life to the church and made numerous miracles.
When Cyprus was invaded by Saracen his mortal remains were brought to Costantinopoli (when they opened his tomb they found his undamaged body emanating basil scent) and then when Costantinopoli fell against the Turks they were transferred to Corfu where they are even now.
Spyridonas became the patron saint of the island because he protected Corfu two times from the plague in 1554 and in 1630, once from the famine and in 1716 he chased the Turks away. 
These four great miracles are commemorated with as many processions. 
The official date of the celebration of Saint Spyridonas is on 12th of December, but exactly four times per year (11 August, first Sunday of November, Palm Sunday and Holy Saturday) his relics are carried around the streets of the city, in memory of the miraculous actions that saved Corfu and its inhabitants. 
If you are on the island in one of these dates go to the old town to see the procession and after to listen the most important musical bands of the island, so you will enjoy yourselves as anywhere there is a frisky atmosphere