Did you know these 10 facts about Nafplio?
- This charming coastal town was the first capital of modern Greece; indeed, the first Greek parliament assembled here in 1823.
- Nafplio, with its colourful buildings, blooming bougainvillaea bushes, and bustling seafront promenade, is considered one of the most romantic cities in the country. The city has a wonderful blend of architectural styles, including ancient walls, mediaeval castles, Venetian architecture, neoclassical structures, and Ottoman fountains.
- Nafplios, the navigator and eponym of this remarkable city, was the son of the sea god Poseidon and the Danaid Anemone.
- Nafplios’ son, Palamides, fought in the Trojan War. He was not only a hero but also an astronomer and physician who invented weights and measures, using coins as monetary units, and dice games.
- Although the Venetians built the impressive Palamidi fortress during their second occupation of the area in the 17th century, it was named after the ancient Greek hero, Palamides. According to locals, there are 999 steps to the top of the castle. From the town, following the winding stairs to the fortress, I counted 914 steps and must agree with residents that reaching the top of the fortress requires climbing about a thousand steps. Thanks to its fortress’s strength and strategic position, Nafplio became an important commercial and naval centre during the Byzantine era. The town was occupied by the Franks for almost 200 years before being sold to the Venetians.
- The town is situated beneath the historic Acronauplia citadel, which is the oldest structure in Nafplio and contains Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman artefacts.
- In 1470, the Venetians constructed a fortress on the small islet in the middle of the harbour called the Bourtzi (the name comes from Turkish and means ‘tower’) to protect their capital from pirates and other intruders. It has been used as a prison, as the location of the Greek Parliament in the 19th century and functioned as a luxury hotel too.
- Located on Staikopoulou Street, in the centre of the historic district, is a “Komboloi Museum” and workshop. Established in 1998 by Mr and Mrs Evangelinos, a couple who had been collecting and studying the komboloi (worry beads) since 1958. Guided tours of the museum and worry bead-making workshops are available.
- Buogana (“μπογανα”) is a local speciality made from lamb and potatoes. It is cooked in a clay pot using a traditional oven for many hours, resulting in very tender meat and delicious, orange-coloured potatoes. This dish is typically served on special occasions, such as weddings, but can also occasionally be found on a tavern’s menu.
- Nafplio hosts various events during the summer, including book festivals, art exhibitions, and concerts. The ancient theatre of Epidaurus is just a half an hour’s ride away.
My favourite website about this amazing city is Discover Nafplio. Here is the link if you want to have a look: https://www.discovernafplio.gr/en
Discover Nafplio is a web portal, a city guide and a travel agency that specialises in organising weddings, events & travels around the lovely city of Nafplio, Greece. Their team of creative and inspired people can manage and organise any travel need, group travel, private or corporate events, etc., in the Nafplio area.
