Pension Suisse - Formally the Ricci mansion

Pension Suisse - Formally the Ricci mansion

Mid March 1935 Lawrence and Nancy arrived in Corfu closely followed by the rest of the family later that same month. It is said that due to funds having not arrived ahead of them that Mrs Durrell (Louisa) first laid their head's so to speak here.

It is mentioned that Louisa did not like it that so many dead passed as this was the main route to the church, the fact was she thought that there was some kind of epidemic and wanted to move the family away from all of this. and in a short time they did, to the "strawberry pink villa" it is now and was always known as Villa Agazini, based in the area of Perama. The area of Perama can be easily viewed from the other side of the estuary at Kanoni

The 17th century venetian mansion which belonged to the Ricci family in Moustoksidi street (colloquially known as "Plati Kantuni") owned then by an Italian property developer called Antonio Sponza and his wife. As it is seen today it's not how it looked in 1935.

During the Second World War the Germans bombed it, although restored by the end of it, with 2 more floors added. What you see today is its original main feature with the arched portico decorated with busts known as "mouronia". Above the portico there is a balcony from which the nobles watched the "giostre", the Venetian horse riding tournaments which took place during the carnival. A tradition which is still alive and celebrated in Corfu every March.