Wine festival in Arillas, 2016
Arillas Wine Festival 2016
THE BANKNOTE MUSEUM
The Banknote Museum of Alpha Bank is a museum located in Corfu Town. It showcases an almost complete collection of the Greek currency from 1822 to present around 2000 items and includes the first treasury bonds issued by the newly liberated Greek State in 1822 until the replacement of the drachma by the euro in 2002. It also includes sketches essays and printing plates of Greek banknotes. One of its rarest holdings is the 1860 “colonata”. The museum was established in 1981 by the Ionian Bank and is housed at the former Ionian Bank building designed by Corfiot architect Ioannis Chronis in about 1840. In 2000 Ionian Bank merged with Alpha Bank and subsequently the Banknote Museum was renovated and was reopened in 2005. An additional exhibit hall was added showcasing “Ionian Bank Limited” which was a British venture and the first bank to operate in Greek territory. The museum collection is considered one of the most complete of its kind in the world. Other parts of the collection include:
Chinese banknotes of 1300 BC, considered to be of the most ancient in the world.
Post-war banknotes from other countries, documents, seals, photographs, coins etc
An almost complete collection of Greek Banknotes from the first that were printed in 1822 up until the last that were Greek banknotes.
Archive material connected with the history of the Ionian Bank (documents, account books, cheques, stamps, photographs etc.)
A complete series of the last banknotes issued by the states withdrawn from circulation in 2002 with the advent of the Euro.
This is a fascinating museum and is well worth a visit, it is well planned and laid out. Also further exhibitions are held here, including a rare coin exhibition and Greek posters in the Alpha bank collection.
Opening hours:
1 April – 30 September
Wednesday: 09.00 – 14.00 & 17.30 – 20.30
Thursday: 09.00 – 15.00
Friday: 09.00 – 14.00 & 17.30 – 20.30
Saturday: 08.30 – 15.00
Sunday: 08.30 – 15.00
T
My business story
We’re in the business of creating holiday memories. Stay. Relax. Explore. Discover.
One of the marching bands in Greek National colours of blue and white, during today's celebrations
