A destination for all seasons, with rich history, significant landmarks and rare beauty, Nafplio is the city that keeps you coming back again and again.
A jewel of a city, Nafplio or Anapli is one of the most impressive and romantic places in Greece. The capital of Argolis lies a short distance from Athens and offers unique experiences to every visitor. The first capital of the modern Greek state transports you through time and into its significant history. The city is beautiful year-round, with its picturesque alleys, Venetian buildings, ancient monuments, blooming bougainvillea and uninterrupted sea views.
The beautiful Old Town of Nafplio
A stroll through the romantic Old Town of Nafplio will bring you to gorgeous neoclassical and Venetian buildings, balconies with blooming bougainvillea, imposing churches and Ottoman fountains. The cobbled Syntagma Square is surrounded by historic buildings, such as the Venetian Fleet Warehouse, which today houses the Archaeological Museum, the Vouleftiko, formerly the mosque of Aga Pasha, and the former Mutual Teaching School, known in more recent years as Trianon.
Other important sights include the Church of Saint Spyridon (where Ioannis Kapodistrias was assassinated), the Church of Saint George (with significant icons and frescoes, such as the copy of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper), Three Admirals Square with the Town Hall, the Government House or Palataki, as well as Philhellenes Square. Your day will be filled with strolls along the main pedestrian street of Vasileos Konstantinou with its countless shops, on Staikopoulou Street with its many tavernas, along Bouboulina’s seafront promenade, and in Psaromachalas, the oldest neighborhood, inhabited since the early 13th century.
Top sights in Nafplio
Bourtzi
The small islet-fort at the entrance of the bay is the emblem of Nafplio. Sailors originally called it the islet of Saint Theodoros. TheBourtzi was fortified by the Venetians in 1473, who placed cannons there, and it functioned as a fortress until 1865. It was the first prison of Kolokotronis, for a time it was the residence of the executioners of Palamidi, while during 1960-1970 it operated as a hotel.
Palamidi
There is the easy way (by car) and the hard way (the famed 999 steps that are in fact a little fewer) to climb up to Palamidi, the fortress which was built in 1687 by the Venetians at an elevation of 216 meters and today isone of Nafplio’s most popular sights. However you ascend, the view from there over the town and the sea is unique.
Acronafplia
Nafplio’s acropolis, which the Ottomans called Its-Kale, was built by the Venetians and later passed into Byzantine and Turkish hands. It consists of three levels, each a separate castle with walls built in different historical periods. From the rock of Acronafplia you will enjoy unique views toward Bourtzi and Arvanitia Beach.
What to do in Nafplio
- Don’t miss the one-of-a-kind Komboloi Museum, founded in 1998 by the Evangelinos couple. Its collection includes about 1,000 worry beads (komboloi) from around the world dating from 1700 to 1950.
- It’s worth making a stop at the Archaeological Museumon Syntagma Square, as well as at the Vasilis Papantoniou Foundation (formerly the Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation) which holds unique collections from the folk and modern culture of the region. Also visit the Nafplio Annex of the National Gallery, housed in an impressive neoclassical building and featuring an important collection of works inspired by the Greek War of Independence.
- The Arvanitia loop is the loveliest walk in Nafplio. If you follow Arvanitia’s paved footpath around Acronafplia, you will enjoy an idyllic stroll overlooking the waters of the Argolic Gulf. You will start from the end of the quay and end after about 1 km at Arvanitia Square.
- In summer, the small beach of Arvanitia with its white pebbles is wonderful for a swim after the walk in Acronafplia. If you feel like driving a few kilometers outside the city, you will find Karathona Beach. With a long sandy shore and shallow waters, it is ideal for families with children. There is also a large organized beach at Tolo, 10 km from Nafplio.
- At a distance of 4 km from Nafplio, Ancient Tiryns, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was one of the most important Mycenaean citadels. You will see the famed Cyclopean walls that enclosed the acropolis, the frescoed palace and the western bastion, among others.
