Spianada Square Tours

Spianada or the Esplanade is Corfu’s main square and the largest square in the Balkans. Divided into the Lower Square and the Upper Square (Kato Plateia and Ano Plateia as locals call it), it stretches from the grandiose Palace of Saint Michael and Saint George (housing the Asian Art Museum) at one end, towards the strikingly positioned statue of Ioannis Kapodistrias - Greece’s first Prime Minister - beyond the other end. Kapodistrian’s gaze falls upon the imposing Venetian Old Fortress, bordering the Esplanade to its east side, behind which can be seen the Ionian Sea.

The large Upper Square resembles a park, with open grassy areas, benches, flowerbeds and trees. At the centre there is a bandstand, which is used to host various events during the year, including the celebration of the Resurrection on Easter Saturday. Next to this stands the Rotunda, built using 20 columns in the classical Ionic style in 1816 and is referred to by locals as “sterna”, since it covers the site of a water cistern previously used for drinking water. Another highlight of the Upper Square is the Union Monument, celebrating the union of the Ionian Islands with the rest of Greece in 1864.

The Lower Square consists of a cricket pitch (legacy of British rule on the island), and the famous Liston – the French designed arcade, housing numerous cafés and restaurants. The wide pavement running in front of the Liston is a favourite spot for a promenade and the name Liston perhaps derives from Lista, which means wide walking place in Venetian dialect. It is also in Lower Square that many of the island’s traditional processions take place, so while drinking your coffee you may be treated to the sight of a Corfiot marching band, a cricket match or simply locals taking their afternoon volta (stroll)!

Spianada can easily be explored with any of our Corfu Private Tours or Corfu Shore Excursions that includes a visit to Corfu Town, such as our Private Tour to Paleokastritsa & Corfu Town, our Private Tour to Achillion Palace, Kanoni & Corfu Town or our Corfu Food Walking Tour.