Why go
Spianada gives a change of scale after Corfu Town's narrow lanes. Its two parts, Ano and Kato Plateia, bring together green space, a music pavilion and the Maitland monument, while the lower square recalls the island's British-era cricket tradition. It is a useful pause between the fortress and the older lanes.
What to look for
- A street divides Ano Plateia from Kato Plateia.
- The Maitland monument is a rotunda from the British administration.
- The music pavilion reflects Corfu's philharmonic tradition.
The full story
Spianada lies beside the old Venetian citadel and opens a broad public space in the dense centre of Corfu Town. A street separates its upper and lower parts, known as Ano Plateia and Kato Plateia. The distinction is useful on foot: move across both halves rather than viewing the square from a single edge. The Maitland monument, a rotunda commemorating British administrator Sir Thomas Maitland, gives one visible reminder of the nineteenth-century protectorate. The music pavilion points to another part of Corfiot civic culture. Local philharmonic bands have long been associated with the island, although any performance should be checked against a current programme. Cricket has also been played on the lower square, another legacy of British rule. These features make Spianada more than open ground between sights: it is where the fortress setting, later administration and everyday public life meet.
Useful to know
- Pair the square with the Old Fortress and nearby Old Town streets.
- Cross both halves to see how the open space changes beside the fortress.