2 CORFU PANORAMA English_1

Liston
The impressive complex of buildings on the west side of
Esplanade, Liston, was built between 1807 and 1814 by the
French Imperials and its buildings were townhouses.
It covers approximately two city blocks and is the work of the
French engineer Mathieu de Lesseps (father of the famous
Ferdinand Lesseps, leader of the Suez Canal), who built the
buildings on Rivoli Street in Paris, in the same architectural
style that prevailed during the Napoleonic period.
In the design and the construction of the building also
participated the Greek engineer Ioannis Parmezan.
The original aim of the French were buildings like Liston,
with arches (volta, as they are called in Corfu) and
characteristic Venetian lanterns, to get to the point where
the Ionian Academy is nowadays.
But they did not manage to fulfil their plans, since the island
was occupied by the British.
Originally the building had a ground floor and one floor was
used as a barracks by the French. Downstairs were the
residences of soldiers and on the first floor the officers’.
Later, the remaining floors and its largest part was turned
into luxury hotels, such as “Bella Venezia”. In their rooms
there were hosted illustrious figures such as Constantine
Cavafy and Dionysus Solomos.
According to an old misconception, the name “Liston” came
from the word “list”, since in the gallery of the buildings and
the front walkway could only walk those who were written in
the “Golden Bible lists of the Nobles”.
And, therefore, “Liston (plural of “list” in Greek)” was considered
correct orthographically. We now know that the Venetians
called “Liston” the paved pedestrian street destined for urban
promenade (named after Listoni which are oblong stone or
marble slabs).
In Liston everyone could then, as now, go for a walk.
Today, under the arches, we find cafes, restaurants and
outstretched tables up to the shadow of the trees in the
square.
Light... and color give the lanterns at Liston.
376