Nafplio is a historic seaport town located in the Peloponnese region of Greece. It was the first capital of modern Greece from 1821 to 1834 after Greece gained independence. The old town of Nafplio is situated on a peninsula jutting into the Argolic Gulf. It has ancient fortifications and was an important city in ancient Greece and during Byzantine and Venetian rule before being conquered by the Ottomans in the 16th century. Tourism is now a major industry in Nafplio, attracting visitors to its historic architecture and beaches.

1. Nafplio is a seaport town in the Peloponnese in Greece that has expanded up the hillsides near the north end of the Argolic Gulf. The town was the first capital of modern Greece, from the start of the Greek Revolution in 1821 until 1834. Nafplio is now the capital of the peripheral unit of Argolis. Nafplio

2. NAME The city was named Nauplia in ancient Greek and Latin. In Ionian Greek, it was also known as Naupliē . In Byzantine Greek, several variants were used, including Naúplion , Anáplion , and Anáplia.The Turkish name of the town was Mora Yenişehri, after Morea, a medieval name for the Peloponnese, and "yeni şehir," the Turkish for "new city". In Italian, the town was formerly known as Napoli or Napoli di Romania, after the medieval usage of "Romania" to refer to the lands of the Byzantine Empire. In modern Greek, the town is now called Nafplio, although English continues to employ Nafplion, Navplion, and Nauplia as well.

3. Geography of Nafplio Nafplion is situated on the Argolic Gulf in the northeast Peloponnese. Most of the old town is on a peninsula jutting into the gulf; this peninsula forms a naturally protected bay that is enhanced by the addition of man-made moles. Originally almost isolated by marshes, deliberate landfill projects, primarily since the 1970s, have nearly doubled the land area of the city.

4. Nafplio in Ancient Greece ( Photos )

5. Nafplio in Ancient Greece The Acronauplia has walls dating from pre-classical times. Subsequently, Byzantines, Franks, Venetians, and Turks added to the fortifications. Nafplion was taken in 1212 by the French crusaders of the Principality of Achaea, then in 1388 was sold to the Republic of Venice.During the subsequent 150 years, the lower city was expanded and fortified, and new fortifications added to Acronauplia.The city was surrendered to the Ottomans in 1540, who renamed it Mora Yenişehri and established it as the seat of a sanjak. At that period, Nafplion looked very much like the 16th century image shown below to the right. The Venetians retook Nafplion in 1685 and strengthened the city by building the castle of Palamidi, which was in fact the last major construction of the Venetian empire overseas. However, only 80 soldiers were assigned to defend the city and it was easily retaken by the Ottomans in 1715. Palamidi is located on a hill north of the old town. During the Greek War of Independence, it played a major role. It was been captured by Staikos Staikopoulos on 31 November 1821.

6. Nafplio in Modern Greece ( Photos )

7. Nafplio in Modern Greece Tourism emerged slowly in the 1960s, but not to the same degree as around other areas of Greece; nevertheless, it tends to attract a number of tourists from Germany and the Scandinavian countries in particular. Nafplion enjoys a very sunny and mild climate, even by Greek standards, and as a consequence has become a popular day- or weekend road trip destination for Athenians in wintertime. Nafplion is a port, with fishing and transport ongoing, although the primary source of local employment currently is tourism, with two beaches on the other side of the peninsula from the main body of the town and a large amount of local accommodation. There are frequent bus services from/to Athens (KTEL). The building of the National Bank of Greece is probably the only in the world built in the Mycenaean Revival architectural style.

8. Mpourtzi

11. Sources : WWW.GOOGLE.GR WIKIPEDIA www.Nafplio.gr