Spianada is a large open area located in Corfu's Old Town. It is the largest square in Greece and the Balkans with a size of 84,000 sqm. The Venetians created it by demolishing houses in the 16th century to improve the line of fire from the Old Fortress, and it served as a gathering place for soldiers. Its name comes from the Italian word "spianare" which means to flatten. During the French occupation in the 17th century, the place was transformed into a square. Today, the southern part of the square has become a park and the northern part has been converted into a parking lot and cricket field. The British built the cricket stadium, introducing the locals to a game that remains popular today. The square features remarkable buildings such as the music pavilion, the peristyle of Maitland, and the monument of the Union of the Ionian Islands.