Nafplio Favorites

Favorite thing: Nafplio is a great place to visit especially in the off season when it is cool enough to explore, the tourist hordes are gone, and you want to do nothing but shop, eat, drink and watch life in this small city, the first capital of modern Greece.

Favorite thing: There is a beach in town just around the other side of the Akronaphlia where you pay to get in, but it has changing rooms, a bar and watersports. A few km away there are two beaches: a beach at Karathona and the town of Tolon with a sandy beach and many hotels, bars and restaurants.

Favorite thing: The big square at the waterfront and the sidewalk that follows the harbor is a place where people watch the sunset, walk off their evening meals or just enjoy the air.
It's very festive with vendors selling hot nuts, roast corn and even cotton candy.

Favorite thing: Nafplio is like a bigger version of the Plaka in Athens, only more beautiful. The main square is called Syntagma (Constitution). It is paved in marble and surrounded by historical buildings including a Turkish mosque, cafes, shops, bank and a hotel. The streets are closed to automobile traffic and filled with people casually strolling, looking at the jewelry shops, bakeries, tourist shops and the many bars and restaurants. Of particular interest is the shop which makes bouzoukis and other stringed instruments.

Favorite thing: Behind Acronafplia is a mountain covered entirely by cactus and a few of the coast that is pretty spectacular. Below Acronafplia is the Psaromahalas or fisherman's district.The streets of the city are generally small and steep.

Favorite thing: The Akronapflia is the oldest part of the city, in fact up until the Venetians and the Franks arrived in the 13th Century, it was the city. Now, unbelievably there are 2 sixties style concrete hotels on it, built by the Greek government.

Favorite thing: Bourtzi Castle is a Venetian creation, blazon of Nafplio. The Venetians firm its fortification in 1473. Greeks regain it from the Turks in 18th June 1822, from where they wil assist the siege of Nafplio. Bourtzi serves as a fortress until 1865. It then transformed into residence of the hangmen who executed the convicts in Palamidi. From 1930 to 1970 served as a hotel.

Favorite thing: First capital of the liberated, from the Turks, Greece. The first primary school was also accomodated in Nafplio, under the auspices of Kapodistrias.
Today, Nafplio is the capital and administrative center of the prefecture of Argolida, but also an important touristic center. With its buildings, renowned castles and generally the whole layout of the city makes Nafplio one of the most beautiful places in Greece.