Maitland Monument: A Neoclassical Tribute in Corfu

Located at the end of Spianada Square in Corfu Town, the Maitland Monument, also called the Maitland Rotunda or Peristyle of Maitland, is a neoclassical monument constructed in 1821. It was built to honor Sir Thomas Maitland, the last Civil Commissioner and first Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands under British rule.The monument was proposed by forty-six noble Corfiots in 1816 as a triumphal arch, but it was eventually constructed as a rotunda with twenty Ionic columns. Colonel George Whitmore of the Royal Engineers designed the monument, using limestone imported from Malta, which was also under British rule at the time. Local sculptor Pavlos Prosalentis created the sculptural work.The monument is also known as the Cistern (Στέρνα) because it was built atop a Venetian-era underground water cistern dating back to 1781. The monument's two entrances provided access to the water tank. The Maitland Monument is visible in the 1981 James Bond film *For Your Eyes Only*. The monument was restored in 2004 after years of erosion.Today, the Maitland Monument stands as a reminder of Corfu's history and British influence, offering visitors a glimpse into the island's past.