Recognized as the most beautiful city of the Peloponnese, Nafplio lies on a rocky promontory crowned by two fortresses. Buildings rise up towards them, many of which remember Venetian times. The narrow streets are full of souvenir shops, restaurants, taverns and cafes.
Although Nafplio was founded in the 12th century BC, in ancient times it did not play a significant role in the history of this area. In the 2nd century BC it fell and was forgotten until the Byzantine times. Then on the rock, in the place of the former Acropolis, a fortress stood today called Akronauplia. The stronghold at the other end of the hill was built by the Turks in the 17th century and gave it the name Palamidi. Nafplio gained the greatest importance in the first half of the 19th century, when after the war for independence Greece became the capital of a reviving state for several years.
Between the coast and the fortresses occupying the top of the rocky hill, the Old Town is full of narrow streets and stone buildings. Its buildings are drowned in creepers, flowering shrubs and citrus trees. Between the houses with colorful shutters you can see several historic churches, including the cathedral and the church of St. Spirydona, on whose stairs the first Greek Prime Minister Kapodistrias was murdered in 1828. The nearby streets house several interesting museums, including the Komboloi Museum presenting the history and techniques of making the famous Greek rosary beads that can be seen in the hands of many residents of this country.
