Maitland Rotunda in Spianada is a beautiful neoclassical, temple-like monument built in 1821 in honour of Sir Thomas Maitland, the first British Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands.
It was a gesture of appreciation by the people of Corfu for the progress achieved under his administration.
The uniqueness of this monument is that the Rotunda was built over an existing and operating Venetian water cistern, supplying the residents of Corfu town with water.
Sir Thomas Maitland
Sir Thomas Maitland arrived in Corfu on 16 February 1816.
During his first months on the island, he began to substantially reorganise the administration and lay the foundations for a new constitutional system.
Only about 8 months later, on 25 October 1816, 46 local nobles submitted a resolution proposing a monument in his honour.
Interestingly, the monument was not originally supposed to look like this.
In 1816, the local nobility proposed building a triumphal arch in Maitland honour, but the idea was later abandoned for unknown reasons.
City Water Cistern
The location for the monument was chosen to be Spianada, as it was a prominent and central place in the city.
But the spot was already occupied by an old water cistern, which was still partially supplying the town with water.
Known as Gradenigo Cistern, it was built in 1781 and was the largest in the city, with a capacity of around 2,000 cubic metres of water.
The architect took a smart approach and designed the monument to cover the large underground reservoir while providing access to it through two entrances.
Gradenigo Cistern remained in use until a new, more reliable aqueduct-type water supply system was developed between 1824 and 1832, bringing water from the island’s countryside into the city.
With the new water system, the cistern eventually lost its practical importance, while the Rotunda remained a prominent landmark of Spianada.
Interesting Fact
The cistern is called Gradenigo Cistern because it was constructed during the Venetian period under Francesco Gradenigo, who was the Provveditore Generale da Mar (Venetian Governor-General of the Sea) in Corfu.
But inside the cistern, there is a stone inscription bearing the name of the Venetian military engineer Giuseppe Ferro, who designed and supervised its construction.
The Architecture
The Rotunda, or Peristyle, was designed by Colonel George Whitmore of the Royal Engineers, the same architect who designed St Michael and St George Palace.
The Maitland monument has the form of a circular neoclassical temple surrounded by 20 Ionic columns.
It is constructed of porphyry stone from Malta, where Maitland also served as a commissioner.
The sculptural decoration of the monument was created by the Corfiot sculptor Pavlos Prosalentis (1784–1837).
Around the upper part of the monument, you can see a Greek inscription commemorating Maitland’s return from Great Britain and his role as head of the political administration of the Ionian Islands.
«ΕΙΣ ΜΝΕΙΑΝ ΑΙΣΙΟΥ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ ΕΠΑΝΟΔΟΥ ΕΚ ΜΕΓΑΛΗΣ ΒΡΕΤΑΝΝΙΑΣ ΘΩΜΑ ΜΑΙΤΛΑΝΔΟΥ ΩΣ ΕΥΘΥΝΤΗΡΩΣ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΚΟΥ ΚΑΤΑΣΤΗΜΑΤΟΣ ΝΗΣΩΝ ΙΟΝΙΚΩΝ ΠΟΛΙΤΑΙ ΚΕΡΚΥΡΑΙΟΙ ΑΝΕΣΤΗΣΑΝ ΕΤΕΙ ΣΩΤ ΑΩΙΣΤ»
“In memory of the auspicious day of Thomas Maitland return from Great Britain, as head of the civil administration of the Ionian Islands, the citizens of Corfu erected this in the year of our salvation, 1816.”
Maitland Rotunda and James Bond
The monument became internationally famous after appearing in “For Your Eyes Only,” the 1981 James Bond film starring Roger Moore and Carole Bouquet.
This film was shot extensively in Corfu.
In the film, Bond and Melina are walking through Corfu Town while out shopping.
After passing the area around St Spyridon, they continue through the Old Town and pass the Maitland Rotunda before continuing towards the Old Fortress.
The monument is shown only for a second and from an aerial perspective, but it is very recognisable.
Over the years, the monument suffered from erosion and was restored in 2004.
Today, it delights visitors with its renewed appearance and is beautifully illuminated at night.
So, next time you walk across Spianada, take a closer look at this elegant little peristyle.
There is more to the Maitland Rotunda than meets the eye.
