{"id":39607,"date":"2021-06-16T07:54:04","date_gmt":"2021-06-16T04:54:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eagleray.gr\/nafplio\/"},"modified":"2026-03-21T08:01:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T06:01:51","slug":"nafplio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eagleray.gr\/en\/nafplio\/","title":{"rendered":"N\u00e1fplio"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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N\u00e1fplio harbour from SE (Palam\u00eddi castle)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
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The town of Nafplio takes its name from the mythical Nauplius<\/strong>, son of Poseidon, a figure deeply connected with the sea and navigation. In Homeric tradition, Nauplius appears as a clever and resourceful character, moving among royal courts. According to myth, he was entrusted with eliminating unwanted women, yet instead of killing them, he helped them escape. His life changed when he met Clymene<\/strong>, daughter of King Catreus of Crete, whom he married, settling in the city that would bear his name.<\/p>\n\n

Among his sons was Palamedes<\/strong>, one of the most tragic figures of Greek mythology, credited with inventions such as letters, numbers, and dice. He supported Menelaus in the Trojan War and cleverly exposed Odysseus\u2019 feigned madness, forcing him to join the expedition. In revenge, Odysseus later accused him of treason, leading to his execution. Seeking vengeance, Nauplius is said to have lit deceptive beacons along dangerous capes\u2014especially Cape Kafireas<\/strong> (Cavo D\u2019Oro)\u2014causing returning Greek ships to wreck upon the rocks.<\/p>\n\n

Nafplio has been continuously inhabited since prehistoric times<\/strong>, with early remains found on Acronafplia. Until the 7th century BC, it was an independent city, later conquered by Argos, becoming its principal harbour. During the Byzantine period<\/strong>, particularly between the 8th and 10th centuries AD, its fortifications were strengthened as its strategic importance became evident.<\/p>\n\n

A long succession of rulers followed. In AD 1212, Nafplio was captured by the Franks<\/strong>, and in AD 1389 it passed to the Venetians<\/strong>, who significantly reinforced its defences. The city resisted for centuries until it fell to the Ottomans in AD 1540 after a prolonged siege.<\/p>\n\n

In AD 1686, the Venetians under Francesco Morosini recaptured Nafplio and undertook ambitious fortification works, including the construction of the formidable Palamidi Fortress<\/strong>, designed to be virtually impregnable. Yet in AD 1715, the city fell again to the Ottomans, likely aided by betrayal and weakened defences.<\/p>\n\n

During the Greek War of Independence<\/strong>, Nafplio became a key objective. After a difficult siege, in the night of 29\u201330 November AD 1822, Staikos Staikopoulos<\/strong> and a small force scaled the walls of Palamidi and captured it, leading to the liberation of the city.<\/p>\n\n

Nafplio then became the first capital of modern Greece<\/strong>, but this period was marked by internal strife. Here, Theodoros Kolokotronis was imprisoned, and here Ioannis Kapodistrias was assassinated in AD 1831. Thus, Nafplio stands not only as a symbol of heroism, but also as a reflection of the complex and often turbulent birth of the modern Greek state.<\/p>\n\n

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Sights<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

During the period when Nafplio served as the first capital of the modern Greek state<\/strong>, the town was enriched with elegant neoclassical buildings. At the same time, the successive presence of Venetians and Ottomans shaped its urban character, leaving behind squares, mosques, and public structures still visible today.<\/p>\n\n

Churches of Nafplio<\/strong>The metropolitan church of Agios Georgios<\/strong>, built in the early 16th century, hosted official ceremonies of the newly established Greek state. Agios Nikolaos<\/strong> (1713), dedicated to sailors, features a Venetian icon screen and Russian oil lamps, while Saint Spyridon<\/strong> (1702) is associated with the assassination of Ioannis Kapodistrias in 1831. Also notable are the Cathedral of Theotokos<\/strong>, linked to the martyrdom of Saint Athanasios of Nafplio, and the Catholic church<\/strong> of the Frankish period, the oldest medieval building in the town.<\/p>\n\n

Agia Moni Monastery<\/strong>Founded in 1143, the monastery preserves important icons and treasures dating back to the 12th century. Within its grounds lies the well \u201cKanathos\u201d, associated by Pausanias with the cult of Hera.<\/p>\n\n

Philhellene and Bavarian Monuments<\/strong>At the quay stands a marble pyramid dedicated to the French philhellenes of the Greek War of Independence. Northeast of the Pronoia district, a carved stone lion commemorates Bavarian soldiers who died of typhus in 1833\u201334.<\/p>\n\n

Museums<\/strong>The Archaeological Museum houses artefacts dating back to the 15th century BC, while the War Museum presents exhibits from modern Greek history.<\/p>\n\n

Cultural Events<\/strong>Cultural events take place throughout the summer, with the \u201cMusical August\u201d festival featuring concerts and artistic performances.<\/p>\n\n

Palamidi Fortress<\/strong>The imposing Venetian fortress rising approximately 215 m above the town is one of the most significant fortifications in the Eastern Mediterranean, offering panoramic views over the Argolic Gulf.<\/p>\n\n

Bourtzi Fortress<\/strong>The small sea fortress at the harbour entrance, built by the Venetians, formed a key element of the city\u2019s defensive system.<\/p>\n\n

Acronafplia<\/strong>The oldest fortified section of Nafplio, with continuous phases of occupation and fortification from antiquity through the Venetian period.<\/p>\n\n

Old Town of Nafplio<\/strong>A well-preserved historic settlement featuring Venetian and neoclassical buildings, narrow streets, and important public structures.<\/p>\n\n

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Flavours<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

Fresh Seafood of the Argolic Gulf<\/strong>Locally sourced fish and seafood, typically grilled or simply prepared to preserve their natural flavour.<\/p>\n\n

Shrimp Saganaki<\/strong>A traditional Greek dish combining prawns, tomato, and feta cheese.<\/p>\n\n

Argolic Citrus Fruits<\/strong>High-quality oranges and mandarins, widely used in spoon sweets and desserts.<\/p>\n\n

Seaside Meze<\/strong>A variety of small dishes such as octopus, calamari, and local cheeses, typically served alongside ouzo or tsipouro.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The town of Nafplio takes its name from the mythical Nauplius, son of Poseidon, a figure deeply connected with the sea and navigation. In Homeric tradition, Nauplius appears as a clever and resourceful character, moving among royal courts. According to myth, he was entrusted with eliminating unwanted women, yet instead of killing them, he helped…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":39605,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[552],"tags":[452,584,583],"class_list":["post-39607","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-argolic-gulf","tag-history","tag-nafplio","tag-palamidi","category-552","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eagleray.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39607","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eagleray.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eagleray.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eagleray.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eagleray.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39607"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/eagleray.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39607\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42536,"href":"https:\/\/eagleray.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39607\/revisions\/42536"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eagleray.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eagleray.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39607"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eagleray.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39607"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eagleray.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39607"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}