St. Spyridon Church

A haven of peace and tranquility, just off the arcaded Liston, this church is named after Corfu’s patron saint, St. Spyridon. Built in 1589, its red-domed bell-tower dominates the skyline from afar. Inside, in a low-lit side chapel decorated with moody frescoes, note a silver sarcophagus adorned with precious stones, enclosing the remains of St. Spyridon. A shepherd from Cyprus, Spyridon, lived in the second century AD, and before he died, he had become a bishop and began performing miracles. Since his remains are on Corfu, locals believe that his miraculous intervention saved their island during disastrous occasions. The silver casket containing his relics is paraded around town to mark important religious festivals, while Spyridon is the most popular male name on the island.