Kardaki Temple, Corfu

Kardaki Temple, Corfu

The water fountain stopped flowing in 1822. It had never done that in living memory. The British engineers discovered the channel was blocked by stones. The stones came from a temple heretofore unknown. They had found the Temple of Kardaki, what was left of it. More discoveries were made in 1911-1914 by German archeologist Wilhelm Dorpfeld.

The Temple of Kardaki is located in the park of the Mon Repos estate on the east side of the peninsula of Analipsis. It dates from the late Archaic Era, circa 510 BC. The name is taken from the Kardaki fountain, close by. At first, it was thought the temple was dedicated to the god Apollo, but there was no proof.

Further excavations seemed to indicate both Poseidon and Asclepius as the venerated deities. It is a Doric temple, small, 39 feet by 84 feet in area. Despite being Doric in character, it had some Ionic elements. It has six columns on its narrow sides and 12 on the long sides. A central rectangular shape might be the riser of a statue.

The temple is unusual. It has no frieze. In this way, it resembles some Sicilian temples. It is thought to be the only Doric-style Greek temple. Water still flows from the spring of Kardaki. Some say to drink the water will make a traveler wish to stay forever. Could it be the gods are still at work?

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Corfu. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Kardaki Temple on Map

Sight Name: Kardaki Temple
Sight Location: Corfu, Greece (See walking tours in Corfu)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Corfu, Greece

Create Your Own Walk in Corfu

Create Your Own Walk in Corfu

Creating your own self-guided walk in Corfu is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Paleopoli Ancient Ruins Walking Tour

Paleopoli Ancient Ruins Walking Tour

The Archeological sites trace the history of ancient Corfu from the 8th century BC to the 6th century AD. The Temple of Artemis Gorgon, located near the monastery of Agoi Theodori Stratias, dates from circa 590 BC. The pediment is thought to be the oldest stone pediment found.

Artemis, in the form of Gorgon, is running as she faces the observer. Her children, Chryssaor and Pegasus, are by her...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Corfu Old Town Walking Tour

Corfu Old Town Walking Tour

Poseidon, the god of the sea, was obsessed with the beautiful nymph Korkyra, the daughter of the river god Asopus. Poseidon abducted Korkyra and carried her off to an unnamed island. He called the island Korkyra, after his lady love. This island later became Corfu.

The medieval castles on the island tell of struggles in the Middle Ages against invaders like Roman-era Germanic tribes, Arabs, and...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


10 Things To Do In Corfu, Greece

10 Things To Do In Corfu, Greece

Greek Islands, such as Mykonos, Rhodes, Corfu, Santorini, and many others, are a popular destination for people trying to escape the chaotic lifestyle back home. Corfu is one island that has it all: great weather, tasty food, relaxed atmosphere and an abundance of places to explore. The island...