Nafplio, Palamidi and Bourtzi, photos

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The first capital of the Greek state from 1829 until 1834, Nafplio is one of the most beautiful Greek cities and one of the most popular tourist destinations for residents of Attica and the Peloponnese.

The historic Nafplio

Nafplio has a long history as the area has been inhabited for thousands of years. The founder of the city is considered to be Nafplion, father of the mythical hero Palamidi. Over the centuries, various conquerors, the most important of which were the Franks and the Venetians, recognized the strategic position of the city and took care to fortify it by building castles such as Palamidi and Bourtzi.

↓ Accommodation in Nafplio | ↓ See all the photos | ↓ Area map

In the 18th century the city passed into the hands of the Ottomans and the liberation came in November 1822 when Staikos Staikopoulos and his fellow fighters liberated the city. In 1828 it became the first capital of the Greek state under the rule of Kapodistrias , while since 1834 when it “lost” the reins from Athens, Nafplio seems to enjoy in the best way its glorious and adventurous past.

Today, however, the old town of Nafplio is besieged by crowds of tourists who enjoy strolling through the picturesque alleys of the city among a multitude of well-preserved neoclassical buildings with flowering courtyards.

In Palamidi, the castle of Nafplio

If you arrive in the city in the morning, climb up to the imposing castle of Palamidi which was designed in the form we see today by the Venetians in the late 17th century. Access is either by car or, for the more adventurous, by the 857 steps that separate it from the beach. The first thing that will strike you, however, is its towering walls and the different levels with multiple steps leading up to them.

The unique view of the old town of Nafplio from Palamidi.

But what makes Palamidi special and dear to those who visit it is the unique view it offers not only to the old and new city of Nafplio but also to a large part of Argolida, to the coast of Arcadia from the left and the snowy mountain peaks, if you go in winter or spring with a clear atmosphere, of Zireia in the prefecture of Corinthia and Menalon in Arcadia.

Then, descend to the old town and enjoy a stroll along the promenade with the cafes on one side and the magnificent view of the photographed Bourtzi on the other. If you feel like walking, climb Akronafplia for an alternative view of the old town and Bourtzi and then walk around Arvanitia which leads to the beautiful little beach under the rock and walls of Palamidi.

The fortress of Bourtzi

The small fortress that dominates the sea entrance of Nafplio is called Bourtzi and has been built by the Venetians in various phases of history. In fact, its Venetian name is Kastelli while Bourtzi, as you can imagine, is a Turkish relic.

The fortress of Bourtzi in Nafplio.

The first phase of its construction by the Venetians began in 1473, while its current form is due to the significant military upgrade that the Venetians undertook in 1698. Of course, it played an important role in the conflicts between the Venetians and the Turks, as well as during the Greek Revolution of 1821.

In the 1930s the then newly established EOT restored Bourtzi and turned it into a luxury hotel. It continued to operate like this until the years of the April dictatorship.

A walk in the old town of Nafplio

When daylight falls, it is the perfect time to wander through the picturesque streets and pedestrian streets of the old town. There you will find plenty of well-established souvenir shops, several tavernas, some bars and cafes and buy some rosary beads from the many rosary shops or the rosary museum in the town.

“Artistic” Frida Kalo grocery store in the old town of Nafplio!

You should not miss, of course, to pass by the large, historic and beautiful Syntagma Square, although it is certain that a road will lead you there. Take a close look at the illuminated buildings of the Archaeological Museum, the Vouleutiko – the former mosque and the Trianon and if you get tired of walking, relax in one of the square’s many cafes.

route from Athens (Google Maps), about 1.5 hours without traffic. Open Google Maps with this route

Hotels and hostels in Nafplio and Tolo.

In the old and the new town of Nafplio you will find accommodation for all tastes and budgets. However, since it is a quite popular destination it would be advisable to make your reservation before the weekend you plan to visit Nafplio.

See the available hotels and rooms in Nafplio from booking.com (Nafplio) and make your reservation at the lowest possible price.

In addition, a good accommodation suggestion is the the seaside town of Tolo which is very close to Nafplio. Specifically, Tolo is 12 km from Nafplio and has large clean beaches and in summer you will find several options for your evening entertainment.

To see the available hotels in Tolo you can visit the corresponding page on booking.com(Tolo).