Hello dear Reader and welcome back to ”Travel Diaries #3”!
Today I will share with you my trip to Nafplio which took place on March 2019. It might sound strange sharing it after a whole year has passed but I figured that ”Travel Diaries” would be incomplete without including it.
Nafplio is a seaport town in the Peloponnese region of Greece that has expanded up the hillsides near the north end of the Argolic Gulf.
The town was an important seaport held under a succession of royal houses in the Middle Ages held initially by the de la Roche (following the Fourth Crusade) followed by the Republic of Venice and lastly the Ottoman Empire
From 1821 to 1834 it was the capital of the First Hellenic Republic and of the Kingdom of Greek. Today Nafplio is the capital of the regional unit of Argolis.
Now that the basic geographical and historical information have been provided let’s dive into the places I visited while there…
Syntagma Square
Syntagma Square (bearing the same name with the eponymous square in Athens) is one of the most central squares in Nafplio full of cafes, restaurants and fun activities to do.
Syntagma Square’s musts include:
- A walk through the historic square
- Having your lunch at Xenon Cafe (aesthetic vibes and good quality of food)
- Take a look at the many shops of the square and perhaps buy some unique souvenirs
Archaelogical Museum of Nafplion
The museum (housed on the top floor of the old Venetian barracks) has exhibits from the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Helladic, Mycenaean, Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods from all over southern Argolis.
Other Places I visited
- Acronauplia is the oldest part of the city of Nafplio and a town on it’s own until the thirteenth century
- Palamidi is a Venetian fortress nestled on the crest of a 216-metre high hill to the east of the Acronauplia.
- Bourtzi Castle is a Venetian water castle located in the middle of the harbour of Nafplio.
- Rendezvous Caffe-Bistro where you can enjoy delicious waffles and other sweet snacks with a beautiful view of the harbour
- Antica Gelateria di Roma to try the best authentic Italian ice-cream you have ever tasted
In conclusion, Nafplio is such a romantic city with it’s cobblestone streets and unique shops that makes you travel back in time. Ideal option for couples and lovers of art and history…
