Hidden beauties of Greece

NAFPLION - The charming Greek town.

Olympia?| Nafplion?|?Sparta & Mystras?| Kalavryta?| Delphi?| Meteora?|?Mt. Olympus?|?Mt. Pelio?|?Zagorohoria ?

Nafplio is a great place to visit, a colourful town with culture, history and natural beauty, that provides entertainment and modern accommodation to its visitors. It is a charming little town with a picturesque promenade, old stone houses, town squares and streets full of life and historic buildings all crowned by a fortress. The stone castle together with the "Bourtzi" round fortress that was built in the middle of the harbour, are Nafplion’s features.

The old city is the reason why so many people include it in their itineraries. Nafplio is a timeless city. A version of the Athens' Plaka neighbourhood, only more picturesque and beautiful. The main square paved in marble, is also called Syntagma, and is surrounded by historical buildings. The streets approaching it, barely used by automobiles, are full of restaurants, cafes and shops that are selling the same things they have been selling for a whole century and with people who have a simple elegance. Nafplio is a sophisticated little city that will certainly remind you of a more romantic age. There is a beach in town just around the other side of the Akronaphlia, with change rooms, a bar and water sports. Three kms. east of here is the Karathonas beach, and 8 kms. further the town of Tolon with a sandy beach, many hotels, bars and restaurants.

While you stay in Nafplio you must visit:

• the Venetian fortress of Palamidi, which crowns the city,
• Bourtzi the fortified islet as well as
• The Archaeological and the Folk Art Museum.

Palamidi: The Venetian fortress which dominates the city, is actually three separate fortresses walled together and built by the Venetians in 1714. The engineers La Salle and Giaxich constructed the Venetian fortress, on the top of a hill at an altitude of 216m. It changed hands several times and after Greece’s liberation, Palamidi was used as a prison. Theodoros Kolokotronis, the hero of the Greek revolution was also held here. Inside the bastion of Saint Andrew lies the homonymous church, built in Venetian times. There are 999 steps leading up to the fortress but you can also take a taxi to the top. The Palamidi is open from 8:30 am to 2:45 pm.

Bourtzi: A small island situated at the entrance of the port, 450 meters from the land. It was fortified by the Venetians in 1473 and served for preventing the enemy entering the port. It served as a fortress until 1865. It then transformed into residence of the hangmen who executed the convicts in Palamidi. It also operated as a hotel at a time. In our days it is one of the city's attractions.

Hotels in Nafplio We have tried to colect information of all the hotel accommodation buildings in Nafplion. The choice is yours. After you choose your hotel contact us and we shall give you the best possible price.

From Nafplion, Mycenae, Epidavros and Argos is accessible by local busses, taxis or rented cars.
We suggest that by using the intercity bus you spend at least one night at this beautiful town.
Contact us for more information.

See our other destinations to: Monemvasia, Olympia, Nafplion, Sparta & Mystras, The Messinian castles of Methoni - Pylos - Koroni,
Mani - Areopolis - Dyros' Caves, Kalavryta, Delphi, Meteora, Mt. Pelio, Ioannina & Zagorohoria.

Affiliated websites: astoria travel, astoria of Athens, Tours to Greece.