Corfu, Greece: Old Fortress

The Old Fortress lives up to its name. It's been around in one form or another for centuries, which more than one army occupying it. The fort might be best remembered for holding off three attacks by the Ottomans, two in the 1500s and one in the 1700s.

The Fortress is on a peninsula, and defends the city behind it. Supposedly it was built at some point in the sixth century. After the Ottomans gave up attacking, the fort had new problems in 1718. A lightning strike led to a chain reaction involving gunpower that caused ammunition to blow up. The fire damaged the fort and extended into the city.

A difficult chapter centers on a German occupation of World War II. The fortress was used as a jail for the Jewish population of Corfu. They eventually were evacuated to the mainland, and most were sent to the Birkenau concentration camp. Out of 1,800 who made the trip, only 120 eventually returned.

The fortress no longer has a military use. It's the public library now, and it's also used for some cultural exhibits. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.