Running parallel to the western edge of Spianada Square is the Liston, a long building with an exquisite colonnade and a row of these overhead street lamps. It was designed by French architect Mathieu de Lesseps and built in 1807 as a barracks for Royal French soldiers and officers. Today it is a great place to enjoy an elegant meal or a simple cup of coffee while watching people stroll along the Esplanade. The name Liston is derived for the Venetian word for “city square” or “straight road for walking.”
