Spianada, the biggest, most lively and impressive square of Greece is the result of military fortification of the city by the Venetians, in the 17th and 18th century. The Venetians opened up “Spianata” as additional defensive protection, in front of the Old Fortress. Spianada, stretching as long as 1/3 of the settlement that existed at that time, was opened opposite the Old Fortress for defensive purposes.

In the limited space that remained, the city is removed from the sea and it is built amphitheatrically shaping a dense mass of houses between the two fortresses, presenting of hills Kampielo, St. Fathers and St. Athanasius.

Spianada was much later shaped into a square. The construction of the impressive group of residences Liston, between 1807 - 1814 from French Imperialists, and the construction of the Palace of Saints Michael and George by the English commissioner Maitland, on English domination, in the most northern tip of Spianada, shaped the important urban front of the square. Specifically the gallery in the ground floor of the group Liston, with the intense recreational activity, determined the character of the square and social activity for many years, constituting the meeting point for most social gatherings.

The big square of Spianada contributed in the constitution of concrete urban identity and influenced the social life of Kerkyra (Corfu). Unusual for Greece, Spianada has removed the city from the sea, creating however the liveliest part of modern life, combining trade, recreation, social activities and important happenings of the city.

In the biggest open space of Spianada, you can see:

Peristyle of Maitlant, in the southern tip of Spianada is a simple, circular, ionic monument that was erected to honor the first English Commissioner Thomas Maitland (1816 - 1824). General and the Head of British forces of the Mediterranean, Maitland was the most difficult English Commissioner.

The peristyle as the type of monument was very popular at that time. It is the work of English military engineer G. Whitemore who also designed the Palace of Saints Michael and George, built from Malatan Stone.

The Union Square, where the Easter taken place Easter Mass takes place and concerts from the Bands are given, while further down is the Monument of the Union of the Eptanisa (also known as Seven Islands or Ionian Islands), dedicated to the union of the Eptanisa with Greece, in 1864. Engraved on the monument are all the symbols of the Ionian islands.

In the area in front of the bridge that leads to the Old Fortress, there are the statues of Schulenburg and Guilford. The marble statue of the German Marshall Schulenburg (Mathias von der Schulenburg) is the work of sculptor Gorradini and it was erected to honor the Marshall. His contribution was of great importance since he defended the city in the siege by the Turks in 1716. The statue is made from the marble Kararas, from the Italian sculptor Antonio Gorradini.

In front of the Dorian peristyle of the Palace of Saints Michael and George, there is a bronze statue of Lord Frederick Adam, one of the well-known English Commissioners, who we know from the important technical work that he materialised for the city, like the aqueduct. The statue is the work of sculptor Pavlos Prosalentis. The characteristic movement of the statue’s hand towards the water that falls in the small lake refers to the English Commissioner’s important technical work in the city.

The cricket court occupies a big part of the square. The love of the Kerkyreans (Corfiots) for cricket is of British origin from the period of English domination (1814-1864).

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