Corinth Canal & Byzantine City of Nafplion

  We are going to depart from Athens and follow the coast line that leads to the Corinth Canal. We are going to stop for pictures and you will have the opportunity to walk on the old bridge that connects the two sides of the mainland. After this we are going to continue our roadtrip to Nafplio.

  Nafplio is a historical city of Greece, named after the son of Poseidon and Amymone, Nafplius. The city is very well known for “Bourtzi”a small fortress built on an islet inside the port) and “Palamidi”, a Venetian fortress dominating the city.The different conquerors that passed through the years, left their marks to Architectural style of the old city. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Greece, very popular to the Greeks for short vacation.

  After reaching the city, we are going to visit the Palamidi Fortress,  built in 1687 by the Venetians, after occupying the hill on which it is located, after a fierce battle with the Ottomans during the Venetian-Turkish War. The hill on which it stands is 216 meters high. During the Greek Revolution of 1821 the Turks fortified Palamidi but on 30 November 1822 the Greeks occupied it. After the Revolution, Palamidi served as a prison, where Theodore Kolokotronis, chief of the Greek Revolution, was imprisoned in 1833 and released 11 months later, thanks to King Otto.

  After your visit to Palamidi, you are going to visit the “floating” Fortress Bourtzi. You will get on a boat for a small ride, and in a few minutes you will be on the islet of Bourtzi. This fort was built by the Venetians after Mahmut Pasha’s departure in 1473, supplying it with newer cannons. In 1502 the Venetians, fortifying the southwestern side of the Acronafplia into self-propelled bastions (the “Five Brothers”), connected it with an artificial block of boulders on which a chain was attached to the city that reached its seafloor and to Thalassopoulos. , hence the name “Port of Alysos”. Until 1865 it served as a fortress, then it was transformed into residence of the executioners of convicts from the castle of Palamidi. From 1930 to 1970, it served also as a hotel.

  Finally, you are going to explore the magical old city of Nafplio, by walking inside the narrow paths, full of interesting local places for lunch, shopping, coffee and ice cream. After this tour one thing is for sure, you will fall in love with this small beautiful city.

  After your Nafplio exploration, we are going to depart for a lovely road trip back to Athens.