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Nafplio

Coordinates:37°33′57″N22°48′00″E/ 37.56583°N 22.80000°E/37.56583; 22.80000
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"Nauplia" redirects here. For other uses, seeNauplius.
Nafplio
Ναύπλιο
Municipality
Clockwise from top right:Palamidi Fortress,AcronaupliaClock Tower, Nafplio Old Town, Constitution Square,Bourtzi Castle,Othonos Street, Nafplio Town Hall.Bottom of the photo of the central square of Nafplio:View of Nafplio and the surrounding areas.
Nafplio is located in Greece
Nafplio
Nafplio
Location within the region
Coordinates:37°33′57″N22°48′00″E/ 37.56583°N 22.80000°E/37.56583; 22.80000
CountryGreece
Administrative regionPeloponnese
Regional unitArgolis
Government
• MayorDimitrios Orfanos[1](since 2023)
Area
• Municipality390.2 km2(150.7 sq mi)
• Municipal unit33.62 km2(12.98 sq mi)
Elevation
10 m (30 ft)
Population
(2021)[2]
• Municipality32,625
• Density84/km2(220/sq mi)
• Municipal unit
19,375
• Municipal unit density580/km2(1,500/sq mi)
• Community
14,532
Time zoneUTC+2(EET)
• Summer (DST)UTC+3(EEST)
Postal code
211 00
Area code(s)2752
Vehicle registrationΑΡ
Websitewww.nafplio.gr
View of the Nafplio Town Hall on Βασ. Κωνσταντίνου (Vasileos Konstantinou).

NafplioorNauplio(Greek:Ναύπλιο,romanized:Náfplio) is a coastal city located in thePeloponneseinGreece.It is the capital of the regional unit ofArgolisand an important tourist destination. Founded in antiquity, the city became an important seaport in theMiddle Agesduring theFrankokratiaas part of the lordship ofArgos and Nauplia,held initially by thede la Rochefollowing theFourth Crusadebefore coming under theRepublic of Veniceand, lastly, theOttoman Empire.The city was the second capital of theFirst Hellenic Republicand of theKingdom of Greece,from 1827 until 1834.

Name

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The name of the town changed several times over the centuries. Themodern Greekname of the town isNafplio(Ναύπλιο).[3]Inmodern English,the most frequently used forms areNaupliaandNavplion.[4]

The oldest reference to Nafplio appears to be in the so-called "Aegean List" from theMortuary Temple of Amenhotep III,dating to 14th century BCE, where it is recorded asnpry(nw-py-r-y).[5]

InClassical Antiquity,it was known asNauplia(Ναυπλία) inAttic Greek[6][7][8][9]andNaupliē(Ναυπλίη) inIonian Greek.[6]InLatin,it was calledNauplia.[10]

During theMiddle Ages,several variants were used inByzantine Greek,includingNáfplion(Ναύπλιον),Anáplion(Ἀνάπλιον), andAnáplia(Ἀνάπλια).[9]

During theLate Middle Agesandearly modern period,underVenetiandomination, the town was known inItalianasNapoli di Romania,after the medieval usage of "Romania" to refer to the lands of theByzantine Empire,and to distinguish it fromNapoli(Naples) inItaly.

Also during the early modern period, but this time underOttomanrule, theTurkishname of the town wasMora Yenişehir,afterMorea,a medieval name for thePeloponnese,and"yeni şehir",the Turkish term for "new city" (apparently a translation from the Greek Νεάπολη, ItalianNapoli). The Ottomans also called itAnabolı.

In the 19th century and early 20th century, the town was called indiscriminatelyNáfplion(Ναύπλιον) andNafplio(Ναύπλιο) inmodern Greek.Both forms were used in official documents and travel guides. This explains why the old formNáfplion(sometimes transliterated toNavplion) still occasionally survives up to this day.

Geography

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Panorama of modern Nafplion.

Nafplio is situated on theArgolic Gulfin the northeastPeloponnese.Most of the old town is on a peninsula jutting into the gulf; this peninsula forms a naturally protected bay that is enhanced by the addition of human-mademoles.The city was originally almost isolated by marshes; landfill projects, primarily since the 1970s, have nearly doubled its land area.

Municipality

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Nafplio municipality

The municipality Nafplio was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 4 former municipalities, that became municipal units:[11]

The municipality has an area of 390.241 km2,the municipal unit 33.619 km2.[12]The municipal unit Nafplio consists of the communities Nafplio,Aria,Lefkakia and Pyrgiotika.[13]

Population

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Year Community Municipal unit Municipality
1991 10,611 - -
1991 10,897 14,704 -
2001 13,802 16,885 -
2011 14,200 18,910 33,356
2021 14,532 19,375 32,625

History

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Mythical origins and Classical antiquity

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The area surrounding Nafplio has been inhabited since ancient times, but few signs of this, aside from the walls of theAcronauplia,remain visible. The town has been a stronghold on several occasions duringClassical Antiquity.It seems to be mentioned on an Egyptian funerary inscription ofAmenophis IIIasNuplija.[14]Nauplia (Ancient Greek:ἡ Ναυπλία) was the port ofArgos,inancient Argolis.It was situated upon a rocky peninsula, connected with the mainland by a narrow isthmus. It was a very ancient place, and is said to have derived its name fromNauplius,the son ofPoseidonandAmymone,and the father ofPalamedes,though it more probably owed its name, asStrabohas observed, to its harbour.[15][16]Pausaniastells us that the Nauplians wereEgyptiansbelonging to the colony whichDanausbrought to Argos;[17]and from the position of their city upon a promontory running out into the sea, which is quite different from the site of the earlier Grecian cities, it is not improbable that it was originally a settlement made by strangers from the East.[18]

Nauplia was at first independent of Argos, and a member of the maritime confederacy which held its meetings in the island ofCalaureia.[19]About the time of theSecond Messenian War,it was conquered by the Argives; and theLacedaemoniansgave to its expelled citizens the town ofMethoneinMessenia,where they continued to reside even after the restoration of the Messenian state by theThebangeneralEpaminondas.[20]Argos then took the place of Nauplia in the Calaureian confederacy; and from this time Nauplia appears in history only as the seaport of Argos.[21]As such it is mentioned byStrabo,[19]but in the time of Pausanias (2nd century) the place was deserted. Pausanias noticed the ruins of the walls of a temple ofPoseidon,certain forts, and a fountain named Canathus, by washing in whichHerawas said to have renewed her virginity every year.[16]

Byzantine and Frankish rule

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Further information:Byzantine Greece,Frankokratia,andLordship of Argos and Nauplia
The castle ofPalamidi
View ofBourtzi.
Map of the city of Nafplion (Napoli di Romania), 1597.
The Entry of KingOttointo NaupliabyPeter von Hess

TheAcronaupliahas walls dating from pre-classical times. Subsequently,Byzantines,Franks,Venetians,andTurksadded to the fortifications. In the Middle Ages, Nauplia was called τὸ Ναύπλιον, τὸ Ἀνάπλιον, or τὰ Ἀνάπλια. It became a place of considerable importance, and has continued so down to the present day. In the time of theCrusadesit first emerges from obscurity. Nafplio was taken in 1212 by French Crusaders of thePrincipality of Achaea.It became part of the lordship ofArgos and Nauplia,which in 1388 was sold to the Republic of Venice,[22]who regarded it as one of their most important places in the Levant. During the subsequent 150 years, the lower city was expanded and fortified, and new fortifications added to Acronauplia.[23]

Venetian and Ottoman rule

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Further information:Stato da MàrandOttoman Greece

The city, under Venetian rule twice repelledOttomanattacks and sieges, first byMehmed the Conquerorduring theOttoman–Venetian War (1463–79)and then bySuleiman the Magnificent.The city surrendered to the Ottomans in 1540, who renamed it Mora Yenişehri and established it as the seat of asanjak.At that period, Nafplio looked very much like the 16th century image shown below to the right.

TheVenetiansretook Nafplio in 1685 and made it the capital of their "Kingdom of the Morea".The city was strengthened by building the castle ofPalamidi,which was in fact the last major construction of theVenetian empireoverseas. However, only 80 soldiers were assigned to defend the city and it was easily retaken by the Ottomans in 1715. Palamidi is located on a hill north of the old town. During theGreek War of Independence,it played a major role. It was captured by forces ofStaikopoulosandKolokotronisin November 1822.

19th century: Independence and first capital

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See also:First Hellenic Republic

During theGreek War of Independence,Nafplio 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 theprovisional government of Greece.

CountIoannis 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 and made it the official capital of Greece in 1829. He was assassinated on 9 October 1831 by members of theMavromichalisfamily, on the steps of the church of Saint Spyridon in Nafplio. After his assassination, a period of anarchy followed, until the arrival of KingOttoand the establishment of the newKingdom of Greece.Nafplio remained the capital of the kingdom until 1834, when King Otto decided to move the capital toAthens.

20th and 21st centuries

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Tourism emerged as an important economic activity following theGreek Civil War,and Nafplio became one of the first areas to develop mass tourism in the mainland. Nowadays it is one of the most popular destinations in Greece and attracts a large variety of tourists, with the most coming from Athens and other cities in Greece, followed by many tourists from Germany, France, Scandinavia, Russia, the Balkans and the United States. Due to its architectural legacy, its proximity to the capital, Athens, and its mild and pleasant climate it attracts visitors all-year round, and it is the most popular destination for weekend or one-day excursions.

Apart from tourism Agriculture is a very important sector and the city is also surrounded by a fertile irrigated plain and produces oranges, lemons, peaches, apricots, olives and almonds. The Port of Nafplio is used only for bulk cargo due to its insufficient depth and also hosts a great number of leisure ships during the tourist season. The city has not developed any industrial activity of note and all secondary activities are related to agriculture or the construction industry.

Plateia Syntagmatos (Constitution Square).

Transportation

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Nafplio train station in 2019.

Bus

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Since 1952, the town has been served by public bus (KTELArgolida), which provides daily services to all destinations in region as well as other major Greek centers such as Athens.[24][25]The journey to Athens takes two to two hours and 20 minutes, going via Corinth/Isthmos andArgos.[26]

Train

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Rail service began in 1886 using an earlier station that still stands.[27]

The town is connected by a branch line of ten kilometers from Argos to Nafplio. In 2011, the Corinth–Argos–Nafplio train service was suspended during theGreek financial crisis.TheRegion of the Peloponneseis currently trying to secure funding to restore railway services and modernize the line.[28]

Architecture

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Traditional houses. View fromAcronauplia.
Statue ofTheodoros Kolokotronis
Fortifications of Acronauplia

Acronaupliais the oldest part of the city though a modern hotel has been built on it. Until the thirteenth century, it was a town on its own. The arrival of theVenetiansand theFrankstransformed it into part of the town fortifications. Other fortifications of the city include thePalamidiandBourtzi,which is located in the middle of the harbour.

Nafplio maintains its own distinct traditional architectural style with many colourful buildings around the old town, influenced by the Venetians, due to their domination between 1338–1540 and during theKingdom of the Moreaand to a much lower degree by the Ottomans. Furthermore the city also contains a great number of eclecticist and neoclassical buildings and even a smaller number of modernist buildings such as Hotel Amphitryon (designed in the 1950s by architect Kleon Krantonellis).[29]The city also contains the only example ofMycenaean Revival architecture,[30]theNational Bank of Greecebranch of Nafplio.

It is one of the few Greek cities to have been spared the widespread destruction of traditional architecture during the process ofantiparochí,due to the efforts of the archaeologist Evangelia Protonotariou Deilaki, whose actions went against the prevailing trend of the post-war era.[31]

Around the city can be found several sculptures and statues. They are related mostly with the modern history of Nafplio, such as the statues ofIoannis Kapodistrias,Otto of GreeceandTheodoros Kolokotronis.

Quarters

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Culture

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Cuisine

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Local specialties include:

  • Goglies(Goges), pasta
  • Striftades/Striftaria,hand made pasta
  • Giosa,lamb or goat meat
  • Bogana,lamb meat with potatoes

Museums

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Education

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Since 2003, theUniversity of Peloponnesehas incorporated a new faculty, the School of Fine Arts. In 2007, a single department exists, the Department of Theatre,[32]offering four majors:[33]

Notable people

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Charilaos Trikoupiswas born in Nafplio

International relations

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See also:List of twin towns and sister cities in Greece

Twin towns – sister cities

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Nafplio istwinnedwith:

Consulates

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The city hosts honoraryconsulatesfrom the following countries:

Sports

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[edit]

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Municipality of Nafplio, Municipal elections – October 2023".Ministry of Interior.
  2. ^"Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό"[Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
  3. ^« ΑΡΓΟΛΙΚΗ ΑΡΧΕΙΑΚΗ ΒΙΒΛΙΟΘΗΚΗ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟΥ."Ναύπλιον – Ετυμολογία του Ονόματος".Argolikivivliothiki.gr.Archivedfrom the original on 2012-03-17.Retrieved2012-01-26.
  4. ^See Merriam-Webster's (1993), p. 1495.
  5. ^Cline, Eric H.; Stannish, Steven M. (2011). "Sailing the Great Green Sea? Amenhotep III's" Aegean List "from Kom el-Hetan, Once More".Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections.3(2): 6, 9, 12.doi:10.2458/azu_jaei_v03i2_cline.
  6. ^abSee Liddell and Scott revised by Jones (1940), Ναυπλία. Retrieved 2012-01-26.
  7. ^See Liddell and Scott (1889), Ναυπλία. Retrieved 2012-01-26.
  8. ^See Bailly (1901), p. 585, Ναυπλία. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
  9. ^abSee Smith (1854), NAU´PLIA. Retrieved 2012-01-26.
  10. ^Entick, John (2007-11-20).Entick's English-Latin dictionary.Archivedfrom the original on 2023-06-15.Retrieved2012-01-26.
  11. ^"ΦΕΚ A 87/2010, Kallikratis reform law text"(in Greek).Government Gazette.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-10-23.Retrieved2021-09-07.
  12. ^"Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)"(PDF)(in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2015-09-21.Retrieved2016-11-15.
  13. ^"ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities"(in Greek).Government Gazette.
  14. ^See Latacz (2004), p. 131.
  15. ^ἀπὸ τοῦ ταῖς ναυσὶ προσπλεῖσθαι,Strabo.Geographica.Vol. viii. p.368.Page numbers refer to those ofIsaac Casaubon's edition.
  16. ^abPausanias(1918)."38.2".Description of Greece.Vol. 2. Translated byW. H. S. Jones;H. A. Ormerod. Cambridge, Massachusetts; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann – viaPerseus Digital Library.
  17. ^Pausanias(1918)."35.2".Description of Greece.Vol. 4. Translated byW. H. S. Jones;H. A. Ormerod. Cambridge, Massachusetts; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann – viaPerseus Digital Library.
  18. ^Public DomainSmith, William,ed. (1854–1857). "Nauplia".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography.London: John Murray.
  19. ^abStrabo.Geographica.Vol. viii. p.374.Page numbers refer to those ofIsaac Casaubon's edition.
  20. ^Pausanias(1918)."24.4".Description of Greece.Vol. 4. Translated byW. H. S. Jones;H. A. Ormerod. Cambridge, Massachusetts; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann – viaPerseus Digital Library.,4.27.8, 4.35.2.
  21. ^ὁ Ναύπλιος λίμην,EuripidesOrest.767; λιμένες Ναύπλιοι,Electr.451.
  22. ^DiplomatariumNo. 127.
  23. ^Wright, Ch. 1.
  24. ^"Company".K.T.E.L Argolidas.Archivedfrom the original on 19 April 2016.Retrieved6 April2016.
  25. ^"Transportation Means".Municipality of Nafplion.Archivedfrom the original on 9 July 2015.Retrieved6 April2016.
  26. ^"Map/Transport".Visit Nafplio.Archived fromthe originalon 1 April 2016.Retrieved6 April2016.
  27. ^"The historical railway station of Nafplio".TrainOSE.Archivedfrom the original on 22 April 2016.Retrieved6 April2016.
  28. ^Zikakou, Ioanna (August 24, 2021)."Hellenic Railway to Reach Nafplio".ypodomes.com.Archivedfrom the original on 27 August 2021.Retrieved27 August2021.
  29. ^"Ξενοδοχείο" Αμφιτρύων "στην παλαιά πόλη του Nαυπλίου".Archivedfrom the original on 2021-08-27.Retrieved2021-08-27.
  30. ^"Greece At Its Most Greek," by Phyllis rose, September 10, 2000,New York Times.Archived2023-08-13 at theWayback Machine
  31. ^"Πώς σώθηκε το Ναύπλιο".Archivedfrom the original on 2020-07-31.Retrieved2020-04-14.
  32. ^Faculties and Departments.Archived2017-09-25 at theWayback MachineUniversity of Peloponnese website. www.uop.gr.
  33. ^(in Greek)Study PlanArchived2012-03-17 at theWayback Machine.University of Peloponnese, Department of Theater Studies website.
  34. ^"University of Peloponnese".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-21.Retrieved2011-02-09.
  35. ^ab"Twinnings"(PDF).Central Union of Municipalities & Communities of Greece.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2016-01-15.Retrieved2013-08-25.
  36. ^"Royal city of Cetinje".Archivedfrom the original on 2013-09-23.Retrieved2013-09-21.
  37. ^"Office du tourisme de Menton".Archived fromthe originalon 2013-09-23.Retrieved2013-09-21.
  38. ^"Niles Sister Cities".Official website.The Village of Niles. 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-03-22.Retrieved2010-01-04.
  39. ^"City council minutes"(PDF).Royan city hall.2005-06-02. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2013-09-23.Retrieved2013-06-02.

This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Smith, William,ed. (1854–1857). "Nauplia".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography.London: John Murray.

Sources

[edit]
  • Entick, John.A Compendious Dictionary of the English and Latin Tongues.New edition carefully revised and augmented throughout by Rev. M.G. Sarjant. London, 1825. ([1])
  • Ellingham, Mark; Dubin, Marc; Jansz, Natania; and Fisher, John (1995).Greece, the Rough Guide.Rough Guides.ISBN1-85828-131-8.
  • Gerola, Giuseppe (1930–31). "Le fortificazioni di Napoli di Romania,"Annuario dell regia scuola archeologicca di Atene e delle missioni italiane in oriente 22-24.pp. 346–410.
  • Gregory, Timothy E. (1983).Nauplion.Athens.
  • Karouzos, Semnes (1979).To Nauplio.Athens.
  • Kolokotrones, Theodoros (1969).Memoirs from the Greek War of Independence, 1821-1833.E. M. Edmunds, trans. Originally printed asKolokotrones: The Klepht and the Warrior. Sixty Years of Peril and Daring. An Autobiography.London, 1892; reprint, Chicago.
  • Lamprynides, Michael G. (1898).Ê Nauplia.Athens, reprint 1950.
  • Latacz, Joachim (2004),Troy and Homer: Towards the Solution of an Old Mystery,Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
  • Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert (1940),A Greek-English Lexicon,revised and augmented by Sir Henry Stuart Jones, Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press.
  • Luttrell, Anthony (1966), "The Latins of Argos and Nauplia: 1311-1394",Papers of the British School at Rome,Vol. 34,pp. 34–55.
  • McCulloch, J. R. (1866). "A Dictionary, Geographical, Statistical, and Historical of the Various Countries, Places, and Principal Natural Objects in the World". New edition carefully revised. Longmans, Green, and Co., London, UK. p. 457. ([2])
  • Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary(10th ed.), Springfield, Mass., US: Merriam-Webster, 1993.
  • Schaefer, Wulf (1961). "Neue Untersuchungen über die Baugeschichte Nauplias im Mittelalter,"Jahrbuch des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts.Vol. 76, pp. 156–214.
  • Smith, William, ed. (1854),Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854),London, UK: Walton and Maberly.
  • Thomas, George Martin (1966).Diplomatarium Veneto-Levantinum.B. Franklin, New York, US. ([3])
  • Wright, Diana Gilliland (1999).Bartolomeo Minio: Venetian administration in 15th-Century Nauplion.Doctoral dissertation. The Catholic University of America, Washington DC, US.
[edit]
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