Why is Corfu called Corfu? Because the Venetians took the Byzantine word “Korypho”, meaning “city of peaks”, and pronounced it the best they could. But which peaks were they talking about? As the name suggests, the Old Fortress is the earliest extant stronghold in the town of Corfu. The citadel consists of two rocky peaks reinforced with defensive towers: the highest peak is closer to town and hosts the Land Castle (Castel a Terra). The Sea Castle (Castel a Mare) crowns the other hill. Since its construction by the Venetians in the early 15th century, the Old Fortress has withstood three terrible sieges by the Ottomans in 1537, 1571, and 1716, who tried without success to occupy the island.