It was named by the Venetians as “the Naples of Romania”. The locals called it Anapli. In the minds of most people, Nafplio has established itself as one of the most romantic destinations in the country. We found that it is also particularly baby friendly as we were able to move around almost everywhere with the stroller. The only thing certain is that the first capital of the Greek state captivates you from the first moment! Welcome to the most instagrammable city in the country…
Colorful bougainvillea climbs the walls, cobblestone streets invite you to walk through them, neoclassical mansions steal your gaze, medieval castles create a mysterious atmosphere. In Nafplio you will feel like you are in another era… Byzantines, Venetians, Franks, Ottomans, Bavarians have left their indelible mark on the city in a marriage that makes it unique!
If you think you can see everything in a weekend, you're kidding yourself. In addition to the fact that Nafplio is inexhaustible, within a short distance from it there are countless monuments worth exploring, such as Mycenae, Epidaurus, Tiryns, Argos. But let's look at them all in detail.
Nafplio
With the help and excellent work of his children Discover Nafplio We toured the main points of the city but also some hidden, non-touristy corners that we will talk about below. In general, in Nafplio it is worth getting lost in the narrow streets of the old town and walking through them again and again. To avoid wandering aimlessly, however, follow our plan.
King Constantine
From this street (also known as “Megalos Dromos”) you will start your walk. It is the busiest street in the city, starting from the old railway station. Heading towards the center you will come across two beautiful neoclassical buildings, the Courthouse (donation of the benefactor Andreas Syngrou) and the Nafplio Town Hall which housed the first High School. Next to it is the first Pharmacy of the Italian philhellene Bonifacio Bonafin, which is in the process of restoration. The square in front of you is called the Three Admirals and in the middle of it is the tomb of Demetrios Ypsilantis. Next is the Trianon-old mosque (was a co-educational school) and the Italian style Syntagma Square. The square is dominated by the particularly remarkable Archaeological Museum (located in a building built by the Venetians in 1713 for the fleet's ammunition) and the Parliamentary (mosque that housed the first Greek Parliament). The houses of the great fighters of the Greek Revolution, Nikitaras and Theodoros Kolokotronis, were once located there. Behind the Parliament building you will see the Turkish Madrasah. An austere Ottoman building that at times housed an Ottoman seminary, the Executive (the first government 1824-1825) and then the old prisons. Today it houses workshops and warehouses of the Archaeological Museum.
Plapouta Street
Here you will see the viceroy's palace. Armansberg (Venetian period, hosted numerous receptions and dances) and the Metropolitan Church of Saint George with the frescoes of the 18thth century, one of which is even a copy of Da Vinci's The Last Supper. Continue on Staikopoulou Street to admire some of the most picturesque mansions of Nafplio.
Papanikolaou Street
At the beginning you will meet the Land Gate which was the only entrance to the city and was surrounded by a sea moat. The gate was closed at sunset and those who did not manage to enter spent the night outside the walls. Where the hotel Dias is today, the house of the fighter was located Dimitrios Ypsilantis and opposite her Mantos MavrogenousIt is believed that the romance between them began there. Next is the historic temple of Saint Spyridon, where the first Governor of Greece, Ioannis Kapodistrias, was assassinated. At the entrance of the church there is still the spot where one of the bullets was wedged in the wall. Notice on the floor of the church the various tectonic symbols that hide stories of mystery and myths of the past.
Queen Amalia Avenue
Perhaps the longest street in the old city where the Venetians had built the city's sea wall around the 15th century.the century. This was demolished in 1867 and beautiful mansions began to be built. In a prominent position dominates the First Elementary School Nafplio and its building War museum, which operated as the first Military School of Cadets. It is worth visiting to learn about the history of the School, but also to learn about the participation of the inhabitants of Argolida in the national games. On the vertical road opposite the museum you will find the Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation "Vasilios Papantoniou" which is truly a jewel for the city. It houses approximately 50,000 objects of modern Greek culture with important relics, costumes, personal items, furniture, etc.
Coastal Road – Arvanitia Loop
The walk along the coastal road (Boumboulinas) is something we recommend you do at sunset. You will start your walk from the old Customs and the Filellininon Square, with the monument erected in 1903 in memory of the French Philhellenes who fought for the liberation of Greece from the Ottoman yoke. You will continue towards the bastion Five Brothers, which took its name from the five cannons that controlled access to the port. From there begins a beautiful walk known to the people of Nafplio as the “Tour of Arvanitia”. This is an idyllic route around Akronafplia, between high cliffs and the Argolic Gulf that leads to the beach of Arvanitia. This route is supposedly prohibited due to falling rocks, but as you will see, most people cannot resist its call!
Psaromahalas – Akronafplia
Psaromachalas is the oldest and most picturesque district of Nafplio! It took its name from the Greek fishermen who lived there during the Ottoman occupation. A tour there will give you incredible photographic clicks and you will feel like you are mentally transported to another era! You will be led to the district by the various staircases that you will encounter in the old town, while it is worth paying attention to the renovated buildings of First Court of Auditors (Grand Sarai Hotel), the Executive (first seat of the Government), such as Hotel Helion (one of the oldest buildings in Nafplio), where the Prefect-Mayor of Nafplio resided.
Akronafplia is defined as the rocky peninsula inhabited since prehistoric times and formed the Acropolis of Nafplio. On the Cyclopean walls, Venetians, Franks, Ottomans and Greeks added their own construction stamp, with fortresses, fortifications and watchtowers. You can visit it either by car or from the Catholic Church ramparts.
Palamidi
It is one of the most impressive and well-preserved Venetian castles in Greece! You will feel like you have suddenly been transported to the Middle Ages and the age of knights. You can climb it either by the steps (999 or maybe a little less) or by car via local roads. It is huge and you will need quite a bit of time to go around it. The best preserved bastions, which you should not miss, are those of Miltiades (where Th. Kolokotronis was imprisoned for a time) and of Agios Andreas with the eponymous chapel.
Mycenae
Half an hour from Nafplio lies the “Golden Mycenae” as mentioned by Homer, the mythical kingdom of Agamemnon, inhabited since 2500 BC! It is essential to visit at least once in your life one of the most brilliant centers of Greek prehistory and admire the Cyclopean walls, the Lion Gate, the vaulted tombs of Clytemnestra and Aegisthus, the Treasury of Atreus, the burial circle, the Mycenaean Palace and the particularly important archaeological museum. The history of Mycenae will captivate you!
Archaeological site of Epidaurus
It may be known for its world-famous ancient theater, but there was something much bigger here in the past! Asclepius. The most important therapeutic center of the entire Greek and Roman world… The place undoubtedly has an energy that may be due to the excellent microclimate, the flora but also to the thermal waters that existed in the past. When you walk through the archaeological site, you will feel an incredible calm and serenity. The Tholos, the Guesthouse, the Restaurant, the Stadium, the Baths, the Avaton, the Asclepius are just some of the monuments that you must see.
You will undoubtedly be impressed by the best preserved theater of the ancient world, with a capacity of 13,000 spectators with its wonderful acoustics and unparalleled symmetry. On your way out, make a stop at the small but remarkable archaeological museum with the medical tools and medical recipes of antiquity!
Tips:
– It is worth visiting the branch in Nafplio National Gallery in a magnificent neoclassical building that served as a hospital and headquarters of the gendarmerie. Its collections concern the Struggle of '21 with well-known works by Vryzakis, Gyzis, Lytras and others.
– If you have more days at your disposal, make a stop at the archaeological site of Tiryns, which has been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites (located outside Nafplio), the castle and the Byzantine Museum of Argos or indulge in a wine tasting experience at one of the many wineries Nemea.
– For them archaeological sites of Argolida there is a combination ticket at the price of 20 euros and includes the Archaeological site and museum of Mycenae, the Byzantine Museum of Argolida in Argos, the Acropolis of Tiryns, the Archaeological Museum of Nafplio, the Fortress of Palamidi and the Archaeological site of Asini in Tolo.
– In the summer the nearby beaches in Arvanitia, Tolo, Asini and Karathona are suitable for swimming and have beach bars as well as places to sit in peace and enjoy the sea.
– The sea fortress Bourtzi It is one of the most famous sights of Nafplio. However, it is currently closed due to maintenance work.
– If you visit the area summer, make sure to be at the archaeological sites early in the morning or late in the afternoon as the heat makes touring them particularly exhausting.
– For your accommodation, we recommend choosing an excellent boutique hotel with endless views of the sea and Bouji. Impero Nafplio Hotel and Suites.
Closing
Nafplio, in every corner, exudes a timeless charm that you can't help but feel. The centuries-old history it carries and its countless beauties will make you never get enough of it no matter how many times you visit it! Every time you explore it, you will discover something different. In the end, you will wonder why you haven't moved here yet!
Watch the video from our tour of Nafplio, Mycenae, Epidaurus:
