In the heart of Corfu’s Old Town, a site largely unknown to the public, was once the preeminent religious center for the island’s Catholic community: the Church and former Monastery of St. Francis of Assisi.
A landmark since the 14th century, it stands as one of the oldest monastic complexes on the island. Historically a hub for worship, arts, and letters, it sits adjacent to the Orthodox Church of St. Anthony. Though plundered and bombed through the centuries, it endures to tell its story and serve the Corfiot community.
The turbulent history of St. Francis in Corfu
According to the Secretary of the Catholic Archdiocese, Spyros Gaoutsis, the exact founding date of the church remains shrouded in mystery due to a lack of written records. Tradition names St. Francis of Assisi himself as the founder—a common practice intended to grant historical weight and sanctity to such sites—though this remains unconfirmed.
Records suggest that in the mid-13th century, during the Despotate of Epirus, a church dedicated to the Archangel Michael occupied the site, inhabited by Orthodox nuns. They were eventually displaced during the Angevin conquest. In 1367, the renovated church—then known as “St. Francis” or “of the Angel”—was granted by Philip II, Prince of Taranto, to the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans). The monks transformed it into a significant religious center, eventually serving as the seat of the General Superior for the Balkans.
A pivotal moment in Corfiot history took place here on May 20, 1386. In a symbolic gesture of loyalty to the Venetian Republic, the local council presented the keys of the city to the Venetian Admiral Giovanni Miani within these walls. A commemorative plaque marking this event graced the facade until the mid-19th century.
From Napoleonic siege to artistic hub
The decline of the Franciscan presence began with the arrival of Napoleonic troops. The monastery was confiscated, and its assets were seized; many of its treasures were stolen or destroyed. However, the site soon found new life. Under French administration, it housed the director of Greece’s first printing house, which produced the patriotic works of Rigas Feraios.
By 1811, the complex hosted the first Art School of Corfu under the direction of the renowned sculptor Pavlos Prosalentis. Over the following century, the monastery’s purpose shifted with the needs of the island: it served as a branch of the Arsakeio Girls’ School, then as the Jewish School of Corfu, and finally as today’s 5th Primary School.
During World War II, Italian air raids destroyed the church’s exquisite ceiling decorations. For several decades afterward, it served as the Catholic Cathedral of Corfu (the “Duomo”), as the original Cathedral of St. James had been devastated by German bombing in 1943.
Architectural and artistic treasures
The monastery’s layout is characteristic of the austere Western monastic style, featuring a central cloister (peristyle) surrounded by monk cells. The church itself is a single-aisle basilica with a wooden roof, dominated by an imposing, tower-like bell tower reminiscent of Italian Romanesque architecture.
Inside, the sanctuary is separated by a marble screen featuring an ancient icon of St. Francis. Notable altars are dedicated to St. Rocco, the Virgin Mary, St. Anthony of Padua, and St. Barbara—the latter once used by the Brotherhood of Artillerymen (Bombardieri) for their ceremonies.
The church is a veritable museum of ecclesiastical art. It houses a magnificent wooden cross saved from the bombed Cathedral of St. James and a holy water font dating back to 1571. One of its most significant treasures is an altarpiece by the Venetian painter Francesco Fontebasso.
Every October 4th, the church honors St. Francis, the patron saint of nature and animals. In a cherished local tradition, following the Divine Liturgy, the courtyard fills with residents bringing their cats and dogs to receive a blessing from the Catholic Archbishop—a celebration of life and creation that perfectly reflects the saint’s enduring legacy.