16 May 2025 - Astros and Nafplion

Navplion is an ancient coastal city at the head of the Argolic gulf, in the Peloponnese. It became an important sea port in the Middle Ages, having emerged from obscurity during the crusades, around 1212.  The name is said to derive from Nauplius, son of Poseidon. As with other places in this area, it has been occupied by Byzantines, Franks, Venetians and Turks. It therefore has old fortifications and several castles.

The city, under Venetian rule twice repelled Ottoman attacks and sieges, first by Mehmed the Conqueror during the Ottoman–Venetian War (1463–1479) and then by Suleiman the Magnificent. The city surrendered to the Ottomans in 1540, who renamed it Mora Yenişehri and established it as the seat of a sanjak. 

The Venetians retook Nafplion in 1685 and made it the capital of their "Kingdom of the Morea". The city was strengthened by building the castle of Palamidi, nestled on a rock 219 metres high. The position was supposed to make the castle impregnable, comprising of 8 bastions, but it was not finished, when, 3 years after construction started, it was captured in less than a week. The views from this fortress are worth the climb of 999 steps from the town.

Palamidi Castle dominates the town


We really wanted one of these, particularly liking the key to wind it up









During the Greek War of Independence, Nafplion was a major Ottoman stronghold and was besieged for more than a year. The town finally surrendered on account of forced starvation. After its capture, because of its strong fortifications, it became the seat of the provisional government of Greece.

Count Ioannis Kapodistrias, first head of state of newly liberated Greece, set foot on the Greek mainland for the first time in Nafplion on 7 January 1828 and made it the official capital of Greece in 1829. He was assassinated on 9 October 1831 by members of the Mavromichalis family, on the steps of the church of Saint Spyridon in Nafplion. After his assassination, 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.

More recently tourism and agriculture have been its most important activities. The city is surrounded by a fertile, irrigated plain and produces oranges, lemons, peaches, apricots, olives and almonds.

Distance today -          0 miles

Distance this year - 700 miles 

Tricia (and Steve) 


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