Nafplion,
one of the most beautiful Greek cities, welcomes the visitor all year
round. When we, the elysian team, travelled there, the fortress of
the city immediately caught our eyes.
The
Palamidi fortress was built around 1700, during the Venetian
occupation, based on the plans of the engineers Lasalle and Giaxich.
It stands on a 216m high rock. It is very well preserved and its
architecture is really impressive. There are eight bastions, six of
them named after Greek heroes; Epaminondas, Miltiades, Leonidas,
Phocion, Themostocles. The seventh is named after saint Andrew and
the last after the French philehellene Robert who died in the battle
of the Acropolis. The fortress is connected with many historical
events. It was captured by the Greeks in 1822 during the Greek war of Independence against the Ottoman occupation. Furthermore, the
Miltiades bastion served as a prison for criminals. Theodoros
Kolokotronis, a leader of the Greek revolution, spent years there
after being condemned for treason. You may visit the prison, the
church of saint Andrew and the rest of the bastions and feel like
travelling through time.
You
can approach the fortress by two ways; the first is via the road (by
car or taxi). The other one is trickier but definitely more
rewarding; you can climb the 999 steps to reach the top of the
castle. We decided to take the steps and it was an unforgettable
experience!! Just a few tips; have water with you, climb early and
enjoy the route. The view from above is breathtaking and it will
enchant all travellers!!
