It is listed as the largest, verdant square of Balkans and the 27th on a global scale. It could be better characterized as an “esplanade”, term which became popular during the Victorian age. The historical definition of esplanade was a large, open, area outside fortress or city walls to provide clear fields of fire for the fortress's guns. In modern times, it is correspond to pedestrian walk.
The Venetian name “Spianada” derives from the verb “spianare” which literally means “to flatten”. It subsequently became “spianata” and eventually turned into “Spianada”. It was created during the Venetian rule, between the 16th- 17th c. for defensive purposes, as a fortification way between the city and the fortress. In particular, the year 1537 was the starting point of this formation under the guidance of the Venetian architect Michele Sam-micheli. He banned the area’s reconstruction while in 1628 the demolition of the surrounding buildings began. According to historical sources, more than 2.500 edifices were destroyed.
Today, the “Viktoras Dousmanis” avenue separates Spianada in the southern part, the Square of Georgios I, and the northern part, the Union Square. It is where, during the Holy Saturday, the Procession of the Resurrection takes place accompanied by the city’s philharmonics societies. In close proximity the Monument of the Union of the Seven Islands stands. It is dedicated to the union of the Seven Islands with Greece in 1864. There are also many other historical monuments around Spianada. The Peristyle of Maitlant, the statues of the German Marshall Schulenburgand, the philhellene Lord of Guilford, Frederic North in front of the Old fortress and bronze statue of Lord Frederick Adam in front of the Palace of Saints Michael and George.
