Archaeological Museum

The Archaeological Museum is accommodated in the imposing in size as well as strict in symmetry, stone-built Venetian structure which covers and encases the central, Syntagma Square on its west side. It was first built in 1713, during the second reign of the Venetians, under the Naval Proveditore Augustine Sagredo to be used as the navy’s depository, according to the marble inscription fitted on the building’s frontage, written in Latin. It is widely acknowledged as one of the best well-preserved Venetian structures in the whole of Greece. Do not miss.

Staikopoulou Street

Take a stroll in the old Staikopoulou Street, filled with antique shops and taverns. It’s a great opportunity to do some shopping as well as commute with the local shopkeepers.
Vasileos Konstantinou Street Dubbed as the ‘High Street’, Vasileos Konstantinou is considered the main road of Nafplio that stretches from Syntagma square to the Town Hall. Starting from the square and heading down, it’s a great place to discover local shops, cafes and the majority of the local resid.

War Museum

Located in the area where the first Army Cadet School was, the War Museum was inaugurated at the end of 1988. The Museum is a directive of the history of the Army Cadet School and that of contemporary history of the Greek state, the participation of the citizens of Argolida prefecture in all rebellious acts, from the Greek Revolution against the Ottoman Empire to the liberation from the occupation troops. Divided into two floors, the Museum follows a thematic presentation of the Greek state fightings and struggles.

The fort of Palamidi

The fort of the Palamidi, which has been preserved in excellent condition, is one of the greatest achievements of Venetian fortification architecture. The hill of Palamidi, which takes its name from the Homeric hero Palamidis, does not seem to have been systematically fortified until the second Venetian occupation. The construction of the fort was basically carried out during the time of Venetian General Superintendent of the Fleet, Agostino Sagredo, from 1711 to 1714, marking the fort not only as a major feat in terms of its fortifications, but also in terms of the speed with which it was constructed. The engineers Giaxich and Lasalle designed a fort that was based on a system of mutually supporting and mutually defending bastions, which are built one above the other on a east-west axis, and are connected to each other by a wall. The total of eight bastions are self contained so that if one of them was breached, the rest could continue their defence. This archaeological site must not be missed during your visit here.

The sea fortress of Bourtzi

The fort on the sea, which has remained known by its Turkish name ‘Bourtzi’, meaning tower, has become Nafplio’s trademark. On this small island, which is in the middle of the city’s harbour, there was once a Byzantine church consecrated to Saint Theodoros. Between the fort and the sea wall there was a narrow passage, which could be closed with a chain to protect the port from enemy ships.

This day will definitely pack a punch.

Mycenae

Home of Agamemnon, the ancient king who united and commanded the Greeks during the Trojan war, the ruins of Mycenae were thought to be a myth until Heinrich Schliemann proved otherwise. At one time the city overlooked a large bay which is now the plain of Argos. The site is impressive and features the Palace of Agamemnon, the Treasury of Atreus, and the tomb of Clytemnestra, the wife of the great king who stabbed.

him to death in his bath for either being unfaithful, sacrificing their daughter to get favorable winds for the journey to Troy, or both. The famous Lion’s Gate is the oldest monumental sculpture in Europe and is said to be the coat of arms of Atreus, mythical king of Mycenae. The ancient site is best visited in the winter and spring when it is covered in green grass and colorful wildflowers. But even in the summer it is an essential stop and the views are spectacular. The newly opened museum on the site is well worth going to. There is a small very touristy town nearby with restaurants and souvenir shops. Mycenae is about a half hour from Nafplio. It is an important stop in any tours of the Argolis and the Peloponnese.

The theatre of Epidavros

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This is one of the most beautiful archaeological sites in all of Greece and should not be missed. Home of the 3rd Century Theater, the tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides were performed here until the 4th century BC and then continued in 1955 to the present during the Epidavros festival that takes place from the beginning of July to the end of August. The theater is perhaps the most acoustically perfect in all of Greece, a fact illustrated to us by our history teacher who dropped a pin which we could hear from the top seats. At least I think we heard it. The God Asclepius, son of Apollo was worshipped here and Epidavros is acknowledged as his birthplace. Struck dead by a thunderbolt from Zeus for bringing back the dead, he was transformed by Apollo into the constellation of Serpentaria. The symbol of Asclepius is the snake coiled around the rod which is familiar to anyone who has studied medicine or been to a doctor. There was at one time a hospital at the sanctuary to Asclepius. In ancient times athletes competed at the festival of the Asclepia in the stadium and poets in the odeon whose ruins still exist.

The beach of Karathona

Favorite of locals, along with the natural beach of Arvanitia, Karathona turns you off from the stress of everyday life, and makes you part of an image, almost exotic, in few minutes! These are the good things of Nafplio. One minute you’re downtown, next remoteness. And what remoteness! The beauty of the city’s longest beach stretches behind the Castle of Palamidi, a length of approximately three kilometers. In order to get there you can drive, or you can continue your walk, from Arvanitia square. When you reach the beach for the first time, with a quick view you may understand why Karathona is the local’s favorite beach: palm trees, eucalyptus and the (island) Mouse, offer a characteristic specificity.

A perfect choice for families.

At summer, the beach feels (often muggy) with people sitting on deck chairs under umbrellas, drinking refreshments in the bars or eating in the traditional taverns. Perfect beach to spend a summer evening with your friends.

Museum of Kompoloi (Worry Beads)

This museum is on the first floor of a building on 25 Staikopoulou Street. The ground floor is a workshop making, repairing and selling worry beads. On the first floor you can see a unique collection of over 1000 komboloia from different cultures dating from 1700 – 20th century, made of amber, sea shells, horns, elephant tusks, coral, crystal, etc. A bit of a peculiar place to visit.

Folklore museum

The Peloponnesian “Folklore Foundation of public benefit” was established back in 1974. Its primary aim is the research, study, demonstration and conservation of the Hellenic cultural activity. It is located on King Alexander’s 1 street and has been awarded with the European Museum of the Year Main Award in 1981. The year 1999 was the time that the Foundation celebrated its first quarter of the century birthday, in an unforgettable ceremony.
The newly presented exhibition “The Best of PFF” (Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation) aims at demonstrating the depth and wealth of the foundation’s collection, which numbers more than 27.000 different items. Since 2006, the exhibition entitled “Hellenic Urbanism: Nafplio 1822-1922” has opened its curtains in the already renovated interior of the foundation. Prepared to be a permanent exhibition, it mainly encompasses urban Nafplio and the peripheral regions.

National Gallery Department

Under the management of Marina Lambraki and with the initiative of the prominent citizen of Nafplio and ex-president of the State Audit Council, Apostolos Botsos, was the department of the Art Gallery in Nafplio founded in 2004. The building, a courtesy of the Municipality of Nafplio, was restored and equipped museum-like. The neoclassical building where the gallery is held, houses a collection of works of art dedicated to the liberating cause of the Greeks against the Turks which underlines and provides the aesthetic element to the historic note of the city of Nafplio. The aim of this collection of paintings seeks to glorify the struggles of the Greeks and their ongoing yoke, extracting the realistic element of the cause and escalating them to the sphere of the idealistic.

The promenade of Arvanitia

The Arvanitia Promenade, as it is characteristically known by local residents, is one of the most popular walks in Nafplio. It starts at the end of the shore and leads to Arvanitia Square, a total distance of about 2 kilometers. The whole of the route is dominated by the rock of the Acronauplia with its impressive walls. About half way through the walk one comes across a small church perched on the rocks; a favorite place to visit for residents and visitors alike. The walk comes to an end in Arvanitia Square. According to local tradition, this area was given the name of Arvanitia because it was from off these rocks that Kapetan-Pasha threw the Albanian mercenaries who had overrun the area in 1779.
In reality, the name is due to the fact that Albanians had inhabited the area outside the walls and to the east of the Land Gate since before the time of the first Venetian occupation.
Further down from the square there is an organised beach area ( Arvanitia ), where one can go to relax, sunbathe and swim.

The beach of Arvanitia

Nafplio’s town beach is called Arvanitia, a beach with gravel and small rocks pleasantly situated between Palamidi and Karathona beach, in the south end of the town. The beach offers sun loungers / parasols, a cozy cafe, toilets, dressing rooms, etc in the summer season. It is also fun to dive and swim from the low cliffs nearby. The beach is quite steep.
The beach area was upgraded significantly in 2014, with a substantial amount of fine gravel at the water’s edge so that it is easier to get into the water.
And on summer evenings, come here to party!