The secret is out about Nauplio, one of Greece’s prettiest and most romantic towns. It occupies a knockout location – on a small port beneath the towering bulk of the Palamidi fortress – and is graced with attractive narrow streets, elegant Venetian houses, neoclassical mansions with flower-bedecked balconies, and interesting museums. Overseas visitors have caught on to why weekending Athenians love this lively, upwardly mobile place that is jammed with quayside cafés, posh boutiques and many comfortable hotels and guesthouses.

The town, 12km southeast of Argos on the Argolic Gulf, was the first capital of Greece after Independence and has been a major port since the Bronze Age. So strategic was its position that it had three fortresses – the massive principal fortress of Palamidi, the smaller Akronafplia and the diminutive Bourtzi on an islet west of the old town.

Removed from the spotlight as capital of Greece after Kapodistrias’ assassination (by the Maniot chieftains Konstantinos and Georgos Mavromihalis), the town of Nauplio is regaining attention as a trendy resort (it does get somewhat overcrowded in high season and holidays). With good bus connections and services, the town is an ideal base from which to explore many nearby ancient sites.

The area surrounding Nauplio has been inhabited since ancient times though little sign of this remains within the town. The town has been a stronghold at several times in history. It seems to be mentioned on an Egyptian funerary inscription of Amenophis III as 'Nuplija'.

Byzantine/Venetian era

The Acronauplia has walls dating from pre-classical times. Subsequently, Byzantines, Franks, Venetians, and Ottomans added to the fortifications. Nauplio was taken in 1212 by the French crusaders of the Principality of Achaea, then in 1388 was sold to the Venetians. 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. Ottomans renamed her as "Mora Yenişehri" ("New City of Pelloponnes"). It was a sanjak centre during Ottoman rule. 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 a castle constructed by Venetians during the 17th century. It is located on a hill north of the old town. During the Greek War of Independence it played a major role. It has been captured by Staikos Staikopoulos (Στάικος Σταικόπουλος)on 31th November of 1821.

Greek War of Independence

During the Greek War of Independence, Nauplio was a major Ottoman stronghold and was besieged for a year by Theodoros Kolokotronis. The Acronauplia, and then Palamidi, finally surrendered because of starvation. After its capture, because of its strong fortifications, it became the seat of the provisional governments of Greece, and Kapodistrias made it the official capital of Greece in 1829. After his assassination there in 1831 a period of anarchy followed, until the arrival of King Otto and the establishment of the new Kingdom of Greece. Nafplion remained the capital of the kingdom until 1834, when King Otto decided to move the capital to Athens.

Count Ioannis Kapodistrias, first head of state of newly-liberated Greece, set foot on the Greek mainland for the first time in Nafplio on 7 January 1828. He was subsequently assassinated by local warlords on the steps of the church of Saint Spyridon in Nafplio on 9 October 1831.