Spend an afternoon and a morning in Nafplion town. Modern architecture hasn’t spoiled the old town of Nafplion, which is a feast for the eye. Nafplion was the capital of the liberated Greek state, after the island of Aegina but before Athens, in the early 1830s. Here, is the first residential palace for the young Bavarian Prince, Otto, the first king of the new country after the revolution against the Turks. The old town is beautiful, with old mansions and paved roads. The two fortresses, the Palamidi and the Akronafplia played a key role during the war of independence. Frankish, Venetian and Turkish conquerors left their signature in the town and strongly influenced its culture, architecture and traditions during the years of occupation. Ancient walls, medieval castles, monuments and statues, Ottoman fountains, Venetian and neoclassical buildings attract the visitor with their unique architecture and beauty. Many restaurants, traditional tavernas, cafeterias, souvenir and other fashion shops make your stay an enjoyable one.

SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS:
* The most romantic town in Greece
* The Unesco sites: Tirintha, Mykines, Epidavros (and Mystras)
* Beaches, everywhere
* Walks, short and long
* Nafplio’s three castles: Palamidi, Bourtzi, Acronafplia
* Shop ’till you drop
* Caves: Didima and Franchthi
* Wine and an ancient “Olympic” stadium
* … and the best Greek food

HISTORICAL FACTS

•According to mythology, Nafplios, son of Poseidon and Amymone, founded Nafplio.

•People have lived in Nafplio since antiquity, but we know little about the city at that time

•The city allied with Sparta in 685 BC but was destroyed by the king of Argos

•Nafplio was the port city of Argos in ancient Greece

•Important Byzantine city because of its strategic location

•The Franks ruled from about 1210

•The Venetians ruled from 1388

•The Turks ruled from 1540, and they made Nafplio the capital of Peloponnese.

•In 1686 the Venetians took over again and built Palamidi to strengthen their sovereignty

•The Turks are back again in 1715, and apart from a short period in 1770, when the city is on Russian hands, the Turks are here until 1822
•In 1822, the Greek general Kolokotronis and his army free Nafplio, to make the city once again Greek

•In 1828, Kapodistrias is appointed as Greece’s first president and Nafplio becomes Greece’s capital

•In 1831, Kapodistrias is assassinated outside Ag. Spyridon Church

•In 1832 Greece’s first king, 17-year-old Otto of Bavaria arrives in Nafplio. In 1834 he moves the capital to Athens