A small museum A grand story

Transcription

1 A small museum A grand story

2 VISIT THE NEW CAPODISTRIAS MUSEUM IN CORFU, GREECE The new Capodistrias Museum, the only one dedicated to the leading figure of Corfiot Count Ioannis Capodistrias, first Governor of Greece and great European diplomat, offers a journey through the history of Corfu, of Europe and of modern Greece. The Museum is housed in Koukouritsa the Capodistrias family picturesque estate in the village Evropouli, a mere 7 km from Corfu town and the port.

3 In the permanent exhibition visitors follow the path of Ioannis Capodistrias life. The exhibition presents historic artefacts such as medallions, books, maps, religious icons, memorabilia that Capodistrias acquired during his career in the service of Czar Alexander I, artworks and period furniture, as well as original and digital archival material. The museum is situated within luscious gardens overlooking the sea, the mountains of Epirus and Corfu town. The garden hosts a great variety of endemic plants, turning the surrounding landscape into the perfect frame for the historic country house of the Capodistrias family. During the summer months, the museum's gardens host cultural events.

4 Each visitor of the Ioannis Capodistrias exhibition may use an audio guide included in the admission ticket and available in four languages (English, French, Russian and Greek). The Museum Shop offers selected publications about Ioannis Capodistrias and Museum souvenirs. The Museum Café in the garden offers refreshments and light snacks (open from April onwards).

5 Plan your visit Opening hours: From March till November the Museum is open daily 10:00-16:00 (closed on Mondays and on official Holidays). Admission tickets: General admission 5, Reduced admission fees* 3, Free admission**. The museum offers free use of an audio guide to all visitors, available in four languages: English, French, Russian and Greek. Museum Garden, Café and Shop: Free admission. * Reduced admission is offered to groups of 8 adults or more/ seniors (over 65 years old)/ holders of university student card, International Student Identity Card (ISIC), European Youth Card), all with the demonstration of the respective valid identification. ** Free admission is offered to children and young persons under 18 years old/ members of the Friends of the Capodistrias Museum Association and the Friends of the Museum Program/ visitors with disabilities and their companion/ members of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and/ or the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)/ qualified guides/ journalists, all with the demonstration of the respective valid identification.

6 How to get here The Museum is just 7km away from Corfu Town, near the village "Evropouli". Find us on Google Maps: by private vehicle: Take the Paleokastritsa National Rd, turn off towards "Hospital" or "Potamos" and follow the signage for "Evropouli". by city bus: Line 4, "Koukouritsa" stop For more information check the website and for our news & events, follow us on Facebook at Capodistrias Museum.

7 Ioannis Capodistrias

8 Ioannis Capodistrias Ioannis Capodistrias (Corfu 1776 Nafplion 1831), also known as Count Ioannis Antonios Kapodistrias, was a distinguished statesman for Greece, Europe and Russia in the early 19th century. He studied medicine at the university of Padua in Italy, but soon embarked on a political career. He was involved in the administration of the Septinsular Republic, the first autonomous state in modern Greek history. In 1809, he accepted Czar Alexander I s invitation to join the diplomatic corps of Russia. During his career as an international diplomat, he followed at first hand the great events that shook Europe, such as the Napoleonic Wars and the Vienna Congress of 1815, and personally contributed to the formation of modern Switzerland. Capodistrias was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Empire in 1816, a post he shared with K. R. Nesselrode. He remained at his post until 1822, when he decided to retire to Switzerland due to his disagreement with the Czar regarding the sovereign s policy towards the Greek Revolution. He formally resigned in 1827, when he accepted the Greeks' invitation to become the first Governor of the newly founded Greek state. Capodistrias arrived in Greece in early He faced a country ravaged by war but was determined to set the foundations of a modern state. He began by giving priority to the country's recognition as a sovereign state, to the distribution of land to landless peasants, and to setting the foundations of an educational and administrative system. However, his measures met with serious resistance, mainly from traditional local elites who saw the new government as a threat to their privileges. Capodistrias' failure to appease some of these opposition groups, led to his assassination in Nafplion in 1831.

9 Capodistrias Museum Center of Capodistrian Studies Koukouritsa Evopouli, 49100, Corfu T.: www. capodistriasmuseum.gr Capodistrias Museum