Liston (square)

IListon is a Venetian word used in various cities of the Veneto region and former possessions of the ancient Republic of Venice to indicate a part of the city, usually a square or section of a square. The term liston refers to the long marble slabs used for paving the streets. The term far el liston, means "to walk around the square". 

Several cities in the Veneto have a liston. In Venice it is the name of the walk from St. Mark's Square past the columns of Marco and Todaro. In Verona it is the west side of Piazza Bra. In Padua it is part of the Prato della Valle. In Belluno the liston is in Martyrs' Square (also known as the "Campedel"). In Rovigo it is the central part of the Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II. In Trieste, which has strong ties with Venetian culture, it is called the Corso Italia. Even in the Greek island of Corfu the locals still use the word to indicate the main promenade. The Liston in Corfu, with arcaded terraces and fashionable

cafes, was built in 1807 by the French imperial commissioner Mathieu de Lesseps. It is an excellent example of architecture from Napoleonic period, when Corfu was part of the First French Empire. The design was inspired by the Rue de Rivoli, Paris. Brewster Chamberlin celebrated it in his 2005 poem Along the Liston, Corfu, describing the Liston as a crowded, relaxed place to sit and snack and watch the promenaders. The liston runs along one side of the Spianáda, part town square and part park. At one time it was a firing range for Venetian troops. Now it holds a cricket pitch, a British innovation that is regularly used by local teams.