Click map for larger view

Visiting Nafplio, Greece with Azamara Club Cruises

After leaving Athens, Greece, the first stop on our Azamara Club Cruises sailing was the beautiful seaport town of Nafplio.

Nafplio throughout the centuries was a very important seaport that was constantly under siege and was ruled at one time or another by the Byzantines, Franks, Venetians, and the Turks.

During the Greek War of Independence in the 19th-century, the Ottomans were ousted, and Nafplio became the capital of the young nation until 1834 when the nation’s capital was moved to Athens.

View of Nafplio from the Palamidi Fortress

Note: click all photographs for larger views. ©2017, David A. Porter

I shot this photograph from the Venetian-built Palamidi Fortress nestled on the crest of a 600-foot hill overlooking the bay. In the background is the Azamara Club Cruises Quest with a smaller commercial yacht in front and a private yacht in front of that.

When I moved to the other side of the fortress, this is the view that greets the eye.

If you look in the middle of the harbor, you will notice the Bourtzi Castle.

The Venetians completed its fortification in 1473 to protect the city from pirates and invaders from the sea. The Greeks regained it from the Turks on June 18, 1822, from where they assisted in the siege of Nafplio. Until 1865 it served as a fortress. It was then transformed into the residence of the executioners of convicts from the castle of Palamidi. From 1930 to 1970, it served as a hotel. Since then, it is mainly a tourist attraction occasionally hosting parts of the Summer Music Festival (via Wikipedia).

Here is a close-up…

“The Palamidi Fortress is nestled on the crest of a 216-metre high hill. The fortress was built by the Venetians during their second occupation of the area (1686–1715).

The fortress was a very large and ambitious project but was finished within a relatively short period from 1711 until 1714. It is a typical baroque fortress based on the plans of the engineers Giaxich and Lasalle. In 1715 it was captured by the Turks and remained under their control until 1822 when it was captured by the Greeks.

The eight bastions of the fortress were originally named after the Venetian provveditori. However, when it fell to the Ottoman Empire, the bastions were given Turkish names. Lastly, when the Greeks overthrew the Turks, the bastions were renamed after ancient Greek leaders and heroes (Epaminondas, Miltiades, Leonidas, Phocion, Achilles, Themistocles. The two remaining bastions were named after St. Andrew (Agios Andreas) and the French Philhellene Robert who died in battle on the Acropolis of Athens. The “Miltiades,” was used as a prison and among its walls was also held Theodoros Kolokotronis, the hero of the Greek Revolution.

The fortress commands an impressive view of the Argolic Gulf, the city of Náfplio and the surrounding country. There are 913 steps in the winding stair from the town to the fortress. However, to reach the top of the fortress, there are over one thousand. Locals in the town of Nafplion will say there are 999 steps to the top of the castle, and specials can be found on menus that incorporate this number to catch a tourist’s eye (via Wikipedia).”

Here are a few more photographs from our visit to the Palamidi Fortress.

Lastly, when visiting the town of Nafplio, be certain to explore the Old Town.

The area is full of boutique shops, restaurants, and is a delightful place for lunch and a stroll.

And, if you’re a lover of Greek salads, then make certain to get one in one of the many restaurants in Nafplio.  Ours was the best Greek salad we’ve ever had.

If you want to sample this Greek salad, HERE is a link to their Facebook Page.

Oh, the fresh tomatoes, the olives, the capers, and of course, the fresh olive oil dripping over the huge block of feta cheese.  Holy Greek Salad Batman!  That was good!

Just look. And be sure to click for the large view!

Well, that’s it for now. Stay tuned for more of our adventures sailing with Azamara Club Cruises in coming episodes.

How about you?  Are you ready to head to Greece?

For more information about Greece, or to book a fun cruise with Azamara Club Cruises, call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235, or use our convenient online information request (CLICK HERE), and we’ll reach out to you.
 
If you enjoyed this article, sign up for our travel newsletter to keep abreast of our best travel tips, on-location reviews, exclusive travel offers, group travel events, and much more.

Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40