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Nafplion © Greek National Tourist Office |
Overview Nafplion is a favourite holiday destination for hot and bothered
Athenians, and no wonder because it is not only a lovely city, but
exudes a cool and relaxed atmosphere soothing to busy locals and
foreign tourists alike. Nafplion was capital of the Greek state
from 1828 to 1834 after the war of independence, although its
history is modern compared to the rest of Greece, and particularly
the Peloponnese.
Nafplion is a popular holiday spot for its charm alone; it gets by
without any classical ruins, and the town is home to picturesque
streets overhung with wooden balconies cascading with bright
flowers. Some lively outdoor cafés and fascinating mosques
add to the atmosphere.
Energetic holiday visitors can climb the 857 steps to the Venetian
Fortress of Palamidi that overlooks Nafplion, but most prefer to
just enjoy the tavernas on the waterfront, the open-air cinemas and
the beaches, while using the town as a refreshing and comfortable
base from which to explore the archaeological sites of the
Peloponnese.
Nearby Attractions
Ancient Corinth
The ruins of ancient Corinth, a short drive from the modern
city, are spread around the base of the rock of Acrocorinth, which
forms a natural acropolis for the city. Most of the surviving
buildings are Roman rather than Greek, dating from the...
see full detailsEpidaurus
A definite must on a tour of the Peloponnese is the famed
ancient theatre of Epidaurus, built in the 3rd century BC and so
well preserved that with little or no restoration it is still in
use today for regular summer dramatic performances,...
see full detailsMycenae
This ancient site, 31 miles (50km) south of Corinth, bears the
remains of the ancient palace and citadel of Mycenae, a place of
archaeological controversy but fascinating for the lay visitor.
Homer's fabulous story has it that the kingdom of Mycenae was
dripping in...
see full details