Maitland Monument, Neoclassical rotunda in Spianada, Corfu, Greece

The Maitland Monument is a neoclassical rotunda of twenty Ionic columns, built of limestone imported from Malta, standing at the end of Spianada Square in Corfu. Its two entrances open onto a Venetian-era underground water cistern built in 1781, which the monument was placed over. The sculptural work was carved by the Corfiot sculptor Pavlos Prosalentis.

British engineers built this memorial in 1821 to honor Sir Thomas Maitland, the first Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands. The construction took place during a period when the islands were under British administration and new public structures were being created.

Locals call it the Cistern (Στέρνα) because it stands over a Venetian water tank of 1781, and its two entrances once gave access to the tank. The circular inscription around the top records that the Corfiots erected it in honour of Thomas Maitland as commissioner of the Ionian Islands.

The monument sits in the middle of the main square and is easy to reach from anywhere in the center. The surrounding area has many cafes and shops, making it easy to combine a visit with other activities.

The circular Greek inscription around the top records that the Corfiots erected the monument in honour of Thomas Maitland as administrator of the Ionian Islands, dating it to the year 1821. The monument also appears in the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only.