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A controversial video circulating on social media has sparked backlash and legal action in Corfu, after images emerged showing scantily clad women performing pole-dance poses on a portable pole within the premises of the iconic Old Palace.
The performance took place in the archway area outside the palace, adjacent to the Municipal Gallery and the Museum of Asian Art.
In a joint statement, the Municipality of Corfu and the Museum of Asian Art announced that they are filing a lawsuit against all responsible parties. The Ministry of Culture also condemned the incident, referring to it as an “illegal act” that undermines the historical and cultural significance of the site.
The footage, which appears to have been taken during the early hours of May 23, 2025, shows a small crowd applauding the spectacle as women pose and perform on a pole erected beneath the grand arch of the historic structure.
Whether the act was part of a filming project, a guerrilla-style stunt, or carried out with permission remains unclear. However, officials were quick to denounce the event, emphasizing that such behavior is not in keeping with the dignity of the site.
The Old Palace of Corfu, officially known as the Palace of St. Michael and St. George, is one of Greece’s most significant neoclassical buildings. Constructed between 1819 and 1824 during British rule, it originally served as the residence of the British Lord High Commissioner and the seat of the Ionian Senate.
The design, by British architect Sir George Whitmore, combines Georgian elegance with Mediterranean grace and remains one of the few examples of British colonial architecture in Greece.
Following the union of the Ionian Islands with the Kingdom of Greece in 1864, the palace was repurposed as a royal residence. Members of the Greek royal family used the building up until World War II.
Despite suffering damage during the war, it has since been restored and adapted to house the Museum of Asian Art of Corfu—a unique institution in Greece, featuring rare and extensive collections from China, Japan, India, and other parts of Asia.
Today, the palace is not only a landmark of Corfu’s rich multicultural history but also a symbol of artistic refinement and civic pride. Any actions that tarnish its image, especially those carried out without proper authorization, are seen as deeply disrespectful to the island’s heritage and identity.
Greece is very sensitive to protecting its heritage.
Last week, Greece’s Ministry of Culture reacted negatively to a drone light show by sports brand Adidas, which appeared to have utilized the Acropolis as a backdrop, saying it will file lawsuits against all responsible parties involved in the event.
The Athens Prosecutor’s Office ordered an urgent preliminary investigation into the controversial drone show, which showed a drone swarm forming the Adidas logo and a sports shoe suspended in the skies above the ancient monument.
After the outcry, Adidas issued a statement, saying that the drone show, held to promote its brand, “took place strictly over the Zappeion Megaron site, in compliance with the permits received, and no image of the Acropolis monument was used by Adidas for advertising or other purposes.”
