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Spianada

Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands

8 story sections

square in Corfu, Greece

History & cultureBY TELLBY

Contents

8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines
  1. 1Spianada

    Welcome to the Spianada, the grandest and largest square in all of Greece, and indeed one of the largest in the Balkans. As you stand here, you are at the literal and metaphorical crossroads of Corfu's identity. …

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  2. 2The Liston — Parisian Elegance in the Ionian

    We begin at the Liston, the most iconic structure bordering the Spianada. Built during the French occupation of the island (1807–1814) by the engineer Mathieu de Lesseps, the Liston was modeled after the Rue de Rivoli in Paris. …

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  3. 3The Cricket Pitch — A British Legacy

    Look toward the large green area in the center of the square. This is perhaps the most surprising feature of a Greek city: a cricket pitch. …

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  4. 4The Maitland Rotunda — Neoclassical Memorial

    At the southern end of the Spianada, we find the Maitland Rotunda, also known as the Peristyle of Maitland. This circular, neoclassical monument was built in 1821 to honor Sir Thomas Maitland, the first British Lord High…

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  5. 5The Palace of St. Michael and St. George

    At the northern edge of the Spianada stands the imposing Palace of St. Michael and St. …

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  6. 6The Statue of Ioannis Kapodistrias

    Moving toward the center-south of the square, we encounter the statue of Ioannis Kapodistrias. This monument honors Corfu’s most famous son, the first Governor of independent Greece and a former Foreign Minister of the Russian…

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  7. 7The Pentofanaro and the Social Pulse

    Finally, we come to the 'Pentofanaro'—the Five-Lantern post. This central lamppost is the traditional meeting point for locals in the Spianada. …

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  8. 8Spianada

    Our tour of the Spianada concludes here, but the square’s story continues with every step taken on its paths. We have walked through five centuries of history, seeing how Venetian defense, French elegance, British sport, and…

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What is Spianada?

Spianada is a place in Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.

Key facts
LocationMunicipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands
TypeHeritage
Story sections8
Text languageEnglish
Coordinates39.6230, 19.9250
Last updated

Nearby places

within a 5-minute walk
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