Travel to Nafplio

Maria Brown
4 min readMay 17, 2019

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History

In the Neolithic period, the area around the fascinating historic town of Nafplion was a busy port. The reason this place was deserted during the Classical period is not known and the geographer Pausanias, who described the town of Tyrins in Mycena, gives no explanation of the incidents of that time. The town was named after Nafplios, Poseidon ‘s son, and was also known as the birthplace of Palamidis, the local Trojan war hero. He supposedly invented weights and measurements, built lighthouses along the bay, invented the Greek alphabet and was the father of Sophists, an ancient Greek philosophical current.

Nafplio Villages

Town Nafplion
The enchanting seaside town of Nafplion, known to the world as an important center of ancient Greek civilization, amazes every visitor. The town was the capital of Greece from 1829 to 1834 and is now the administrative center of the prefecture of Argolida. Inhabited by about 12,000 inhabitants, the city thrives on tourism all year round. The city itself dates back to the Neolithic period and is surrounded by the Epidaurus and Mycenae World Heritage Sites.

Tolo Nafplion
Tolo is near Nafplion ‘s most developed resort. It is particularly popular with tourists for its crystal clear sandy beach, Psili Ammos. This well-organized beach offers many possibilities for water sports, especially jet skiing. Just 10 km from Nafplion, Tolo is a tourist village that only comes alive in summer. There are plenty of hotels, rooms for rent, campsites and traditional taverns.

Beaches

Karathonas beach Nafplion
Nafplion, just 2 hours from Athens, is a famous tourist destination due to its magnificent beach resorts and historical monuments from the Neolithic era. There are several beautiful beaches with locals and people from abroad. Karathona Beach is the most popular bathing destination in the countryside, only 2 km south of the city centre. The beach is four kilometers long, with bars and taverns full of tourists. Cars and buses travel from the city to the beach.

Psili Ammos beach Nafplion
Tolo is a charming fishing village located only 12 km from Nafplion on the coast of Argolida. Tolo ‘s main beach is Psilli Ammos Beach. This picturesque fine sandy beach with sand dunes and tamarisk trees dotting the landscape at intervals is renowned for its relative serenity and its proximity to several amazing deserted islands that can be reached by ferry. The amphitheater form of the village of Tolo gives it a touch of uniqueness.

Best Sightseeing Source

Palamidi Fortress in Nafplion
The Palamidi fortress is a true architectural masterpiece. This fort was built in the early 19th century during the Venetian occupation and consists of eight bastions, each self-contained, so that if one bastion was broken, the other could still be defended separately. The bastions were built on top of each other and all linked to one wall. The Venetians named the bastions by ancient Greek names like Leonidas, Miltiades, Achilles and Themistocles to emphasize the castle’s strength.

The fortress of Bourtzi in Nafplion
It is still known by its Turkish name Bourtzi, which means the tower, and attracts many visitors throughout the year. Antonio Gambello, a Bergamo architect, built the castle on this tiny island in 1471 in front of the port of Nafplion, although the building was completed by the engineer Brancaleone. The design was specially designed to fit the island’s narrow shape.

The Church of Agios (Saint) Spiridon in Nafplion, Peloponnese
Agios Spyridon Church is situated in the old town of Nafplion along the paved streets of the city. This church was first built in 1702 with funding from the Orthodox Greek Nafplion Brotherhood. It is a one-space basilica with a cupola and a clock tower built in 1853. The interior of the church is solemn and the walls are surrounded by many Byzantine icons and paintings.

The Komboloi Museum in Nafplion
The unique Komboloi Museum is housed in a two-story mansion in the Old Town of Nafplion in the 18th century. The museum’s exhibits are located on the first floor of the building, while the workshop and the retail store are on the ground level. The beads of worry are handmade.

The Mycenaean Site of Ancient Tyrins close to Nafplion
The ancient town of Tiryns is situated in the Greek prefecture of Argolida, 5 kilometers from Nafplion. In ancient times, it was a very important city state and was referred to by Homer as a powerful military power. Tyrins is mostly known for his mythological background, as it is said that the king of Tyrins was Eurystheas, the uncle of Hercules who ordered him to do the twelve labors.

Important Links

Nafplio Website

Nafplio virtual tour

Car Rental Nafplio

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