Corfu Museum of Asian Art — Attraction in Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands

Review for the Corfu Museum of Asian Art:

Situated amidst the historic charm of Corfu Town, the Corfu Museum of Asian Art is an intriguing juxtaposition - a bastion of Asian artistry housed within the grandeur of a European stately home. It's not every day that one stumbles upon such a rich display of Asian culture and history on a Greek island, making the museum a truly unique attraction.

One of the museum's most compelling sections is dedicated to Japanese art. Here, visitors can marvel at an array of exquisite pieces, each bearing witness to the meticulous craftsmanship and rich history of Japan. Yet, while the collection is vast and varied, there were instances where the lack of labeling became evident. I particularly recall a captivating wall hanging, its story left untold, which felt like a missed opportunity to provide deeper insights for eager art enthusiasts like myself.

The museum doesn't stop at Japan. It extends its homage to several other Asian cultures, with significant collections from China, India, and Nepal, showcasing the continent's diverse artistic narratives. It was, however, a tad disappointing to find the Shang Dynasty section under refurbishment. While such upkeep is essential for the preservation of art, a heads-up for visitors might be considerate.

In conclusion, the Corfu Museum of Asian Art, with its unexpected offerings, stands as a testament to the island's diverse cultural landscape. It's a place where East meets West in the most unexpected of ways, providing visitors with a rich tapestry of art, history, and culture. It beckons to be explored, understood, and appreciated - a must-visit for those wandering the charming streets...

The palace of St. Michael and St. George was built by British army engineer and architect Sir George Whitmore from 1819 and 1824. It was the home of Sir Thomas Maitland, the first British High Commissioner, and Greece’s oldest official building. When the British left Corfu in 1864 the palace was used for a short time by the Greek royal family, but it was later abandoned and left to fall into disrepair.

The palace was carefully renovated in the 1950s by Sir Charles Peake, British Ambassador to Greece, and now houses the municipal art gallery, as well as the Corfu Museum of Asian Art. Founded in 1928, the core of the museum’s collection is the 11,000 items that were donated by Grigorios Manos, a Greek diplomat who had amassed the objects on his travels overseas, and wished to curate the new museum. Unfortunately he died before he could realize this ambition. The exhibits from China, Japan, Indochina and India include statues, porcelain ware, screens, armour, silk and ceramics. In front of the building is a statue of Sir Frederick Adam, the British Commissioner to Corfu from 1824 to 1831. He built the Mon Repos Villa south of town and was also responsible for popularizing the west coast resort of Paleokastritsa, one of his favorite spots...

if you are going to this museum to see hokusai's work (2 artworks from the 36 views of mount fuji) which are heavily advertised as masterpieces of the museum, you will find yourself extremely disappointed. this is absolute clickbait on the museum's part, these pieces were part of a temporary installation which seemed to evaporate into thin air. we searched aimlessly around the museum because the maps still indicated the installation existed, and it was still advertised in the front banner as a permanent one. only after we asked an employee at the front desk did we get answers, this was not indicated anywhere else. the artworks in the museum are definitley beautiful and the history behind them is well explained which is why it gets two stars, it was nice, just heavily miscommunicated and very disappointing as a result. another thing to note is that visiting in the summer the temperatures are insane and the museums air conditioning could be better. as comparison, the archeological museum, which we also went to at times of high temperatures was much cooler and served as proper shelter from the...