29/12/2013
The Ionian Academy was the first Greek academic institution established in modern times. The historic Academy building dates in its present from 1725 and in the beginning was a military barracks. It should be noted that Ionian Academy was founded in Corfu in 1824, under English rule and It was established by Frederick North, 5th Earl of Guilfordin 1824. It is also considered the precursor of the Ionian University. It had Philological, Law and Medical Schools. From the first decades of the 19th century and until the Union of the Ionian Islands with the New Greek State in 1864, the Academy served as the source of a remarkable literary current of unique character, which largely contributed to the intellectual ferment of that period.
After their Union, the Ionian Islands shared a common course with the rest of Greece, acknowledging the need for the formation of an atmosphere of inner coherence and uniformity among the provinces of the newly established State. As a consequence, the distinctive character of the Ionian Islands started to gradually fade away. The closing down of the Ionian Academy was only one step of this process. Following the closure of the University the building became the Public Library. In this wonderful building will take place the opening ceremony of GeNeDis 2014
