{"id":6097,"date":"2021-03-18T13:04:31","date_gmt":"2021-03-18T13:04:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.capodistriasmuseum.gr\/o-kipos\/to-ktima-koukouritsa\/"},"modified":"2022-01-18T08:50:02","modified_gmt":"2022-01-18T08:50:02","slug":"the-koukouritsa-estate","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.capodistriasmuseum.gr\/en\/the-garden\/the-koukouritsa-estate\/","title":{"rendered":"THE KOUKOURITSA ESTATE"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n \n
\n \n

Koukouritsa: One of the Capodistrias family’s estates<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n

The museum is housed in Koukouritsa, one of the Capodistrias family\u2019s country estates in Middle Corfu, where Ioannis Capodistrias lived for a while during his youth.<\/p>\n

In the Corfiot dialect, Koukouritsa means \u2018the top of the hill\u2019.<\/p>\n

This is how the Capodistrias estate in the village of Evropouli gained its name.<\/p>\n

Koukouritsa was part of the Capodistrias family estates from the early 18th century until 1980. In the past it extended to an area far greater than today and until the mid 20th century it was used for agricultural production. The area close to the top of the hill, surrounding the residence, was more of a botanical garden.<\/p>\n

Today, the whole of the hill, an area of 13000m2, belongs to the Capodistrias Museum and has kept its original terraces and rich vegetation, full of the characteristic plants of the Corfiot countryside, as well as exotic species, creating a unique environment with a panoramic view.<\/p>\n

Koukouritsa has been declared a Historic Monument by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture (GG, 893 Vol II\/30-10-1995), as a characteristic example of Corfiot country residence architecture, a perfectly harmonious combination of natural and man-made beauty.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n

\n \n \n \n \n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n \"Copy-of-koukouritsa-2-1938_cropped\"\n <\/div> \n
\n <\/b>\n

<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n \"14_C00A3990\"\n <\/div> \n
\n <\/b>\n

<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n \"_KIB6965\"\n <\/div> \n
\n <\/b>\n

<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n \"_KIB7176\"\n <\/div> \n
\n <\/b>\n

<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n \n

\n KOUKOURITSA OF CAPODISTRIAS FAMILY <\/h2>\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n

\n 1755<\/span> The Koukouritsa estate becomes connected with the Capodistrias and Loupinas families<\/span> <\/h2>\n
\n \"The\n <\/div>\n
\n

<\/h3> \n

Augustinos Loupinas and his wife Victoria Capodistria build the house at Koukouritsa<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to oral tradition, in the mid 18th century, the estate at Koukouritsa was given as dowry to the sister of Antonios-Maria Capodistrias, the father of the Governor, who married Augustinos Loupinas.<\/p>\n

* Detail of\u00a0 <\/em>Vittoria Capodistria’s portrait from the Capodistrias Museum Collection<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n More<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n Close<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n 1787<\/span> The estate comes into the possession of Antonios-Maria Capodistrias<\/span> <\/h2>\n
\n \"The\n <\/div>\n
\n

<\/h3> \n

The Governer’s father becomes the owner of Koukouritsa
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Loupinases remained childless, and so, following the death of Victoria Capodistria-Loupina in 1787, the house and estate came into the possession of her brother Antonios-Maria Kapodistrias, the father of Ioannis Kapodistrias.<\/p>\n

*Portrait of Antonios-Maria Capodistrias<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n More<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n Close<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n 1798<\/span> Antonios-Maria Capodistrias and family settle at Koukouritsa<\/span> <\/h2>\n
\n \"Antonios-Maria\n <\/div>\n
\n

<\/h3> \n

Capodistrias family residence<\/strong><\/p>\n

Following the overthrow of the Venetian occupation and the Democratic French taking control of the island, Antonios-Maria Capodistrias, the leading representative of the politically conservative group of Corfiot nobles, left the city of Corfu as he opposed the French regime, which had abolished all aristocratic privileges. He settled with his family in Koukouritsa. Ioannis also stayed at the Koukouritsa country house when he returned to Corfu from studying in Padua, in the summer of 1797.<\/p>\n

*portrait of the young I. Capodistrias (from the I.M. Corfu, Paxos & Diapontia Islands Collection)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n More<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n Close<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n 1824<\/span> The estate comes into the possession of Viaros Capodistras<\/span> <\/h2>\n
\n \"The\n <\/div>\n
\n

<\/h3> \n

Viaros Capodistrias (1774-1842)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Following the death of Antonios-Maria, Koukouritsa was inherited by the Governor\u2019s brother Viaros Capodistrias. He himself stayed there for long periods. He loved, cultivated and extended the estate, which, at that time, became an important point of reference.<\/p>\n

In 1826, <\/i>Emanuel Theotokis wrote in his book Corfu<\/i> in Detail:<\/em><\/i><\/p>\n

\u2018\u2026How sweet is the pleasure one enjoys on this hill of Koukouritsa, a short distance from the city. Here, the nature of the area needs to be closely observed in its rich detail [\u2026]<\/em><\/p>\n

Wherever one turns, one views only natural landscapes, but also wonderfully magnificent vistas [\u2026]From this peak, the mountains of the island project with an infinite majesty and seem to join together with those of the mainland\u2026\u2019<\/em><\/i><\/p>\n

* portrait of Viaros Capodistrias (from the Corfu Public Library)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n More<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n Close<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n 1842<\/span> Koukouritsa is inherited by Antonios Capodistrias<\/span> <\/h2>\n
\n \"Koukouritsa\n <\/div>\n
\n

<\/h3> \n

Antonios Capodistrias (1829-1906)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Koukourista was inherited from Viaros Capodistrias by his nephew Antonios Capodistrias (1829-1906), the son of Georgios Capodistrias, the Governor\u2019s younger brother.<\/p>\n

Antonios Capodistrias was involved in various ways in the island\u2019s affairs. He served as MP for Corfu and, for many years, as a local councillor. He also took care of the maintenance of the house at Koukouritsa and the crops on the estate.<\/p>\n

* photograph of Antonios Capodistrias and his wife, from the Capodistrias Museum Collection<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n More<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n Close<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n 1906<\/span> Koukourista comes into the possession of Georgios Capodistrias<\/span> <\/h2>\n
\n \"Koukourista\n <\/div>\n
\n

<\/h3> \n

Georgios Capodistrias (1864-1948)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Antonios Capodistrias left his property to his children, and Koukouritsa passed into the possession of his eldest son, Georgios Capodistrias.<\/p>\n

Having studied law in Italy, Georgios Capodistrias settles permanently in Athens and marries Eleni Karapanou, with whom he has two daughters, Theodora and Maria.<\/p>\n

He continues to maintain the house and the estate.<\/p>\n

* <\/em>miniature portrait of Georgios Capodistrias, from the Capodistrias Museum Collection<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n More<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n Close<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n 1928<\/span> Maria Capodistria-Desylla settles in Koukouritsa<\/span> <\/h2>\n
\n \"Maria\n <\/div>\n
\n

<\/h3> \n

Maria Capodistria-Desylla settles in Koukouritsa<\/strong><\/p>\n

Starting in 1928, Koukouritsa goes through major changes with the arrival in Corfu of Georgios\u2019s then thirty-year-old daughter Maria Capodistria, together with her daughters from her first marriage to Ludovico Scarpa: Nena and Daria Scarpa.<\/p>\n

Maria Capodistria received Koukouritsa as a dowry following her second marriage to Stamatios Desyllas, a Cofiot industrialist (and mayor of Corfu from 1950-1955). Maria Capodistria-Desylla repaired and extended the building and was greatly involved with the agricultural development of the estate.<\/p>\n

During her tenure, Koukouritsa became the family\u2019s permanent country house and a visiting place for distinguished visitors of Corfu.<\/p>\n

*photograph of Maria Capodistria at Koukouritsa, from the Capodistrias Museum Collection<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n More<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n Close<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n 1979<\/span> Maria Capodistria-Desylla donates Koukouritsa estate and collection for the creation of the Capodistrias Museum<\/span> <\/h2>\n
\n \"Maria\n <\/div>\n
\n

<\/h3> \n

Maria Capodistria-Desylla donates the estate for the creation of the Capodistrias Museum-Centre of Kapodistrian Studies. <\/strong><\/p>\n

In 1978, Maria Capodistria-Desylla decided to convert Koukouritsa into public property with the aim of establishing there a museum about Ioannis Capodistrias.<\/p>\n

The following year, she donates Koukouritsa, together with personal items that belonged to Ioannis Capodistrias and family heirlooms, to three historically significant Corfiot cultural institutions: the Corfu Reading Society (founded 1836), the Philharmonic Society of Corfu (founded 1840), and the Society for Corfiot Studies (founded 1952), to jointly found and manage the Capodistrias Museum, as well as potentially house a Centre for Capodistrian Studies.<\/p>\n

* photograph of the opening of the Capodistrias anniversary exhibition: from the right: Viaros Capodistrias, Maria Capodistrias-Desylla, Konstantinos Mouchas, Agathi Nikokavoura, Konstantinos Dafnis.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n More<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n Close<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":8548,"menu_order":16,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6097","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nTHE KOUKOURITSA ESTATE - The Capodistrias Museum<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n