Nafplio, whose name has changed several times over the centuries, is a Hellenic wonder that was the first capital of independent Greece from 1829 to 1834. A place that is presented with a history that can still be felt today in every corner, and it even turns out to be the perfect destination for those looking for a paradisiacal sea mixed with architectural wonders.
What to know about Nafplion
Known in Italian by the name Nafplio, is today the capital ofArgolis, which we can define as the region of myth par excellence. Nafplion presents itself as a bohemian and casual place, but at the same time it knows how to combine the tranquility and liveliness of a pleasant place by the sea, where it is even possible to visit incredible archaeological sites and testimonies of a glorious medieval past.
If for the Greeks it is an important and well-known city, for us Italians it is a destination yet to be fully discovered and where we can immerse ourselves in a combination of Venetian, oriental styles and typically Greek features.
What to see in Nafplio
Visit Nafplio It's like immersing yourself in history thanks to an easy-to-walk historic center where there is a lot to see. Characterized by many cobblestone streets, it offers steep stairs from which to admire characteristic corners and unforgettable views.
Syntagma Square
Starting from its ancient hull, which rises in the shadow of the headlands on which so many other fortresses stand, the first stop to immediately come into contact with local daily life is Syntagma Square. A corner where numerous bars and clubs offer joy and happiness. Sitting and enjoying a typical drink, you can admire the most important buildings that have characterized the city's history, including the first Greek parliament dating back to 1825.
Equally interesting are the neoclassical-style structures that today house museums and administrative activities; although perhaps the Trianon and the Vouleftiko stand out a little more, constructions that boast architecture with oriental features.
Palamidi Venetian Fort
Another stage that must necessarily be carried out is the Venetian fort Palamidi, an imposing building that stands at a height of 216 meters above sea level. With its solemn elegance, it has eight bastions from the top of which you can admire Nafplion like nowhere else.
But be careful, you have to take into account a certain effort: you have to climb steep steps whose exact number is unknown: some guides say 847, others 999, others claim that there are more than 1000.
Bourzi Castle
Another wonder of Nafplion is Il Bourzi Castle which stands on the small island of the same name and which is undoubtedly one of the symbols of the city. Built in 1400 by the Venetians, it can be visited during the summer on boats that leave from the city's port.
Seen from above it has a shape that, with a little imagination, is reminiscent of a ship and over the centuries it was used as a prison, barracks and hotel.
acronafplia
Another of the fortresses that you cannot miss in the city is acronafplia, although today it houses a luxury hotel. Among the various existing defensive constructions, it is the oldest and can be reached on foot without much effort (unlike Palamidi). Due to its exposure, it is also an excellent place from which to admire the sunset.
Church of Agios Spyridona
Finally – but the attractions of the city do not end there – there Church of Agios Spyridona which is the most important in all of Nafplion. Located in the center, within its walls it jealously preserves a collection of icons and traditional paintings, although its fame is more linked to a dramatic event: the assassination of the first Greek president, Ioannis Kapodistrias, which occurred on September 27, 1831.
The sea and beaches of Nafplion.
Nafplio It also offers a crystal clear sea and beaches where you can sunbathe as much as you want. The most charming ones are located on the opposite side of the port and the fortress of Acronafplia. The city's beach is named after Arvanitias10 and stands out for being a strip of pebbles in a small but cozy bay. Equipped with bars and services, it is usually very busy, but still gives a feeling of satisfaction after a day among the suggestive streets of Nauplia.
It is also very fascinating. Playa Neraki11, smaller than the other and also less invaded by visitors. then again Paralia Karathonas12, a golden sand beach lined with shadows and towering tamarisk trees.
What to do in the surroundings
Not far from the city center are the remains ofancient city of Mycenae dating back to the second millennium BC. Mycenae is the archaeological site of one of the most famous and important Greek cities in the country, the cradle of an ancient civilization.
This wonder developed on the slopes of a hill and from its top you can enjoy a splendid landscape of the Peloponnese, until you can see the clear and immense sea in the distance.
then again epidaurus, another archaeological site that has a splendid theater, still used today for shows thanks to its perfect state of conservation. But the most important area is the current sanctuary, which in Hellenistic times became the main healing center in all of Greece.
No less interesting is theancient nemea which makes space among the splendid landscape of the area. The main part of the site is the temple dedicated to Zeus, of which three columns have survived time and the elements, while another six have been rebuilt.
Without forgetting that Nafplion is an excellent starting point to visit the Peloponnese, a region that can be defined as an authentic piece of Greece from a geographical, historical and cultural point of view.
