Spianada - The central square

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.