The Hellenic Parliament Foundation for Parliamentarism and Democracy present at their premises, 22-24, Vas. Amalias Avenue, from July to October 2023, the bilingual exhibition ΙΟΝΙΟΣ ΒΟΥΛΗ: ΣΤΑΘΜΟΙ ΜΙΑΣ ΔΙΑΔΡΟΜΗΣ / THE IONIAN PARLIAMENT: MILESTONES OF A JOURNEY.
The exhibition follows the periods of successive occupations and state formations established on the islands after the end of Venetian rule (Revolutionary French occupation 1797-1799, Russian occupation 1800-1807, Imperial French occupation 1807-1814, amical protectorate of the United Kingdom 1815-1864). The main point of reference of the exhibition is obviously the Ionian Parliament itself: the parliamentary procedure, the leading figures, the parliamentary elections, the impact of the Ionian Parliament on local society, its arguments against the British protecting Power. Furthermore, the exhibition highlights facets of civil life and daily life in the Heptanese (Ionian Islands).
The first editions of the three constitutions and the monographs by Adamantios Korais and Eugenios Voulgaris with dedications to the Ionian State are among the elements of the exhibition. The visitor is welcome to read extracts from the minutes of the Ionian Parliament's meetings and its decisions on various issues such as the official language or the Press. The visitor will also see duplicates of documents referring to the rebellions of the Ionian islanders or their involvement in the Greek Revolution. Furthermore, newspaper headlines, protest writings and brochures reveal the multifaceted action of radical politicians aiming at the establishment of civil liberties on the islands and especially at their union with the Greek state.
Also available for each and every visitor are scientific monographs, conference proceedings and art books illustrated with depictions of the Ionian Islands created by 19th century foreign travelers. Last but not least, there is a bilingual catalogue available on site for free.
The exhibits have been kindly provided, either in original form or in reproductions, by the Library of the Hellenic Parliament, the General State Archives (Archives of Lefkada, Archives of Corfu, Archives of Cephalonia), the Academy of Athens, the Corfu Reading Society, the Gennadius Library, the Public Central Library Typaldou-Iakovatou - Museum of Lixouri, the National Historical Museum, the Hellenic Literary And Historical Archive, the Benaki Museum and the Municipal Gallery of Corfu.
Free admission
Free exhibition catalogue
Information: 210 373 5251
