Spianada Square is one of the most recognisable parts of Corfu. It stretches from where you are to the Palace of Saints Michael and George and covers 84,000 square metres. This makes it the largest square in the Balkans. Its name comes from the Italian spianare, meaning 'to level', because it was created when the Venetians demolished buildings around the Old Fortress to widen the field of fire for defending soldiers. Landscaping began in 1516 and the square was completed in 1628, with the levelling of 2,500 houses. Corfu town was built like an amphitheatre between Corfu's two fortresses and the kantounia leading to the square were built perpendicular to it, also for defensive purposes. The northern part is called Kato Spianada (or George I Square) and to the south is Ano Spianada (or Union Square).