esplanade

 
Pronunciation: /ˌɛspləˈneɪd, -ˈnɑːd/

noun

  • a long, open, level area, typically beside the sea, along which people may walk for pleasure.
  • an open, level space separating a fortress from a town.

Origin:

late 16th century (denoting an area of flat ground on top of a rampart): from French, from Italian spianata, from Latin explanatus 'flattened, levelled', from explanare (see explain)