Nafplion, Greece

Nafplion, Greece                                        April 5, 2017

Because of shallow seas, the ship dropped anchor...so the  tender boats took us into the city.

                           A tender boat passing Bourtzi Fortress on the way to the mainland.

                                         We took the bus up the hill to the Palamidi Fortress.

Nafplion was the first capital of Greece after independence around 1828. Three fortresses are found in the area-the massive principal fortress of Palamidi, the smaller Akronafplia Fortress and the smallest fortress, Bourtzi,  on an islet west of the town .

Larry and I went to Palamidi Fortress, which is accessed by over 900 steps from the town to the 700 meters high outcrop of rock or by modern road....we were happy to take the bus....it was our first rainy, over cast day.

 Entrance into the fortress

The Venetians built this incredible military outpost between 1711 and 1714.

                                                           A chapel inside the fortress

From the fortress the views of the sea and surrounding lands are breathtaking. It has eight independent bastions.

We spent about three hours wandering around this incredible piece of architecture.

The Miltiades Bastion in the northeast is the largest of the bastions. It was used as a prison for condemned criminals from 1840 to 1920.

We could see the Akronaplia Fortress rising from the town below.  It is the oldest of the three castles. It was used as a political prison  between 1936 to 1956.

We passed the Bourtzi Fortress on the tender boat coming into Nafplion this morning.  It too was built by the Venetians in 1473 and served as a fortress until 1865. It became the residence of the executioners who carried out the death sentences in  Palamidi prison. In 1935 it was converted into a hotel.

The city symbol, a lion, was carved into a hillside rock in the early 1900’s.

                                                    Courtyard of Memorial to War Heroes

Larry and I enjoyed walking through the town of Nafplion. It’s knock out location is graced by attractive narrow streets, marble squares, inviting cafes, posh boutiques, and elegant Venetian homes. I believe Napflion is one  of Greece’s prettiest and  most romantic  towns.