Banknote Museum of Ionian Bank, Corfu

Permanent collections spanning 180 years of history 

The 4 rooms of the Museum’s 1st floor house its permanent exhibition. Exhibits include banknotes, coin notes and other relevant material spanning the entire history of modern Greece.  

The 2nd floor houses a permanent installation of the Coin-o-rama multimedia application. The application was developed by the Institute of Computer Science (ICS), Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH). Coin-o-rama is an interactive digital exhibition presenting all the coins issued by the modern Greek state (i.e. after 1830). 

Cultural events and participation in local traditions 

The Banknote Museum of Ionian Bank has been a member of the Association of European Printing Museums (ΑΕΡΜ) since 2016. 

The 2nd floor houses temporary exhibitions, congresses, day conferences, seminars and workshops. On 18 May, the museum celebrates the International Museum Day with activities relevant to each year’s agenda. 

Its central location at the very heart of the city of Corfu makes it an active part of the island’s cultural life and traditions. 

On Holy Saturday morning, after the First Resurrection of Jesus is first, the museum observes the custom known as the botides. These quaintly named clay pots are filled with water and thrown from the balconies of buildings in the centre of town – and from the 2nd floor of the museum – to bring luck to the throwers and bystanders. 

Educational activities and programmes 

The “Paper Money – The Greek Banknote” programme for primary and junior high school students is run at the space housing the permanent exhibition. 

The Museum also organises recurrent educational activities, such as children’s painting competitions.

1840 – Original bank branch 

On 2 March 1840 Ionian Bank opened its 1st central branch on Corfu at Sterna Square, also known as Del Banco Square (present-day Agiou Spyridonos Square).   

1844 – Construction of the 2-storey building 

Ionian Bank bought the land from the government and commissioned Ioannis Chronis – a leading architect at the time – to design the building and oversee the construction. Construction work was completed 1-2 years later. 

With its Ionic half-columns and ancient-temple-style frieze, this building certainly stood out among the rest. The ground floor housed the first ever branch of Ionian Bank, while the 1st floor served as the branch director’s residence.   

1981 – Museum opening 

The Banknote Museum opened its doors to the public.  

2004 – Refurbishment and restoration work 

Alpha Bank refurbished the building and restored it to its present form. 

Present day – An attraction visited by thousands 

To this very day, the Banknote Museum of Ionian Bank is still housed in the same listed building.  

Every year, about 8,000 visitors from all over the globe walk through its doors.  

Admission is free to all, whether for a guided tour to the permanent exhibition or in the context of an educational programme. 

A wheelchair lift is available. 

The museum implements all applicable protection measures against the COVID-19 pandemic.  

View the visiting hours of the Banknote Museum of Ionian Bank.