One of the most beautiful cities on the Argolian land and throughout Greece, the city of Nafplio – the first capital of the newly created Greek state from 1823 to 1834 – was built according to mythology by Nafplio, son of Poseidon and Danaida Animoni. Its cultural chain dates back to prehistoric times; it participated in the Argonautic Campaign and the Trojan War; it declined in Roman times and recovered in Byzantine; Franks, Venetians, and Turks left their mark on the city. Ancient walls, medieval castles, monuments, statues, ottoman fountains, Venetian and neoclassical buildings – all charming historical but also architectural jewelery – reserve a magnificent welcome to the visitor to the mysterious temple of Nafplio. The two Turkish mosques stand out – one, which today functions as a cinema, housed the first Allied Teaching School, while the other housed the First Greek Parliament – the Archaeological Museum with rare exhibits of Prehistoric and Mycenaean period. Nearby, heading towards the modern city, is the temple of St. Spyridon, a prominent site of the assassination of the first governor of Greece, John Kapodistrias, as well as the church of St. George with important icons and frescoes, such as the copy of “The Last Supper” »By Leonardo da Vinci.
The starting point of the tour of Anapli, the Old Town with its captivating charm of the paved straits, the blossoming bougainvilleas overflowing from the balconies, the courtyards of neoclassical and well-preserved mansions and the Turks.
Continuing the tour of historical sites, 999 steps lead us to the Palamidi Castle, which rises its imposing volume 216 meters above the city. Deeply marked historically, the place of condemnation of the death of Captain Theodoros Kolokotronis in one of his dark cells, seems to still protect the city today with its bastions baptized under the names of ancient warriors (Themistoklis, Achilleon, Achilleas, Achilleas, Achilleas, Achilleas) ). The best view of the entire Argolic Sea and the Mycenaean plain is given by the historic chapel of St. Andrew built on top of the fortress by the Venetian conquerors.
On the outskirts of Palamidi, crowning the Old Town, lies the rocky peninsula of Akronafplia, also known as the Turkish name of Itz Kale (= inner castle). Inhabited since prehistoric times, it consists of three levels of terrain on which develops a system of three independent castles with the oldest being the western one, where in antiquity the citadel was fortified with a polygonal Cyclopean wall.
But the landmark of Nafplio is the multi-photographed Bourtzi fortress built on the islet of Agioi Theodoroi. Formerly, during the Venetians, it merged with Acronafplia with a huge chain that would express the port’s entrance, offering protection to the city from enemy ships. In the early 1860s, Bourtzi was a place of residence for the executioners of Palamidi’s death squads. Visit it with boats departing – during summer – in front of the harbor and enjoy, if you’re lucky, one of the many cultural events here.
Worth visiting:
The building of the first Evelpidon School that now houses the War Museum / houses of Regents Armansburg and Maurer / the relief Bavarian Bavarian in Providence / the award-winning Peloponnesian Folklore Museum / Children’s Museum Town Hall in Admiral Square / statue of Ioannis Kapodistrias in the homonymous square / Theodoros Kolokotronis Park with its imposing equestrian statue / restored Dry Gate.
Activities:
a romantic sunset walk on the Arvanitia Round, this beautiful regional pedestrian area around Akronafplia
Nafplio round trip with picturesque trains
souvenir purchases – definitely confectionery – from Old Town tourist shops
Food and coffee at Syntagma Square
Drink and “romance” at the port overlooking the lush Bourtzi.
