Nafplio

Coordinates: 37°33′57″N 22°48′00″E / 37.56583°N 22.80000°E / 37.56583; 22.80000
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Nauplia
)
"Nauplia" redirects here. For other uses, see Nauplius.
Nafplio
Ναύπλιο
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).

Nafplio or Nauplio (

Kingdom of Greece
, from 1827 until 1834.

Name

The name of the town changed several times over the centuries. The modern Greek name of the town is Nafplio (Ναύπλιο).[2] In modern English, the most frequently used forms are Nauplia and Navplion.[3]

In

Latin, it was called Nauplia.[8]

During the

Byzantine Greek, including Náfplion (Ναύπλιον), Anáplion (Ἀνάπλιον), and Anáplia (Ἀνάπλια).[7]

During the

Naples) in Italy
.

Also during the early modern period, but this time under Ottoman rule, the Turkish name of the town was Mora Yenişehir, after Morea, a medieval name for the Peloponnese, and "yeni şehir", the Turkish term for "new city" (apparently a translation from the Greek Νεάπολη, Italian Napoli). The Ottomans also called it Anabolı.

In the 19th century and early 20th century, the town was called indiscriminately Náfplion (Ναύπλιον) and Nafplio (Ναύπλιο) in modern Greek. Both forms were used in official documents and travel guides. This explains why the old form Náfplion (sometimes transliterated to Navplion) still occasionally survives up to this day.

Geography

Panorama of modern Nafplion.

Nafplio is situated on the Argolic Gulf in the northeast Peloponnese. 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-made moles. The city was originally almost isolated by marshes; landfill projects, primarily since the 1970s, have nearly doubled its land area.

Municipality

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:[9]

The municipality has an area of 390.241 km2, the municipal unit 33.619 km2.[10] The municipal unit Nafplio consists of the communities Nafplio, Aria, Lefkakia and Pyrgiotika.[11]

Population

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

Mythical origins and Classical antiquity

The area surrounding Nafplio has been inhabited since ancient times, but few signs of this, aside from the walls of the

Egyptians belonging to the colony which Danaus brought to Argos;[15] 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.[16]

Nauplia was at first independent of Argos, and a member of the maritime confederacy which held its meetings in the island of

Messenia, where they continued to reside even after the restoration of the Messenian state by the Theban general Epaminondas.[18] 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.[19] As such it is mentioned by Strabo,[17] but in the time of Pausanias (2nd century) the place was deserted. Pausanias noticed the ruins of the walls of a temple of Poseidon, certain forts, and a fountain named Canathus, by washing in which Hera was said to have renewed her virginity every year.[14]

Byzantine and Frankish rule

Further information: Byzantine Greece, Frankokratia, and Lordship of Argos and Nauplia
The castle of Palamidi
Bourtzi
.
Map of the city of Nafplion (Napoli di Romania), 1597.
The Entry of King Otto into Nauplia by Peter von Hess

The

Argos and Nauplia, which in 1388 was sold to the Republic of Venice,[20] 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.[21]

Venetian and Ottoman rule

Further information: Stato da Màr and Ottoman Greece

The city, under Venetian rule twice repelled

sanjak
. At that period, Nafplio looked very much like the 16th century image shown below to the right.

The

Venetian empire overseas. 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 the Greek War of Independence, it played a major role. It was captured by forces of Staikopoulos and Kolokotronis
in November 1822.

19th century: Independence and first capital

See also: First Hellenic Republic

During the Greek 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 the provisional government of Greece.

Count

Kingdom of Greece. Nafplio remained the capital of the kingdom until 1834, when King Otto decided to move the capital to Athens
.

20th and 21st centuries

Tourism emerged as an important economic activity following the Greek 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

Nafplio train station in 2019.

Bus

Since 1952, the town has been served by public bus (KTEL Argolida), which provides daily services to all destinations in region as well as other major Greek centers such as Athens.[22][23] The journey to Athens takes two to two hours and 20 minutes, going via Corinth/Isthmos and Argos.[24]

Train

Rail service began in 1886 using an earlier station that still stands.[25]

The town is connected by a branch line of ten kilometers from Argos to Nafplio. In 2011, the Corinth–

Greek financial crisis. The Region of the Peloponnese is currently trying to secure funding to restore railway services and modernize the line.[26]

Architecture

Traditional houses. View from Acronauplia.
Statue of Theodoros Kolokotronis
Fortifications of Acronauplia

Bourtzi
, 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 of their domination between 1338–1540 and during the Kingdom of the Morea and 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).[27] The city also contains the only example of Mycenaean Revival architecture,[28] the National Bank of Greece branch of Nafplio.

It is one of the few Greek cities to have been spared the widespread destruction of traditional architecture during the process of antiparochí, due to the efforts of the archaeologist Evangelia Protonotariou Deilaki, whose actions went against the prevailing trend of the post-war era.[29]

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

Quarters

Culture

Cuisine

Local specialties include:

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

Museums

Education

Since 2003, the University of Peloponnese has incorporated a new faculty, the School of Fine Arts. In 2007, a single department exists, the Department of Theatre,[30] offering four majors:[31]

Notable people

Charilaos Trikoupis was born in Nafplio

International relations

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

Twin towns – sister cities

Nafplio is

twinned
with:

Consulates

The city hosts honorary

consulates
from the following countries:

  • Italy
  • Russia

Sports

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ « ΑΡΓΟΛΙΚΗ ΑΡΧΕΙΑΚΗ ΒΙΒΛΙΟΘΗΚΗ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟΥ. "Ναύπλιον – Ετυμολογία του Ονόματος". Argolikivivliothiki.gr. Archived from the original on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2012-01-26.
  3. ^ See Merriam-Webster's (1993), p. 1495.
  4. ^ a b See Liddell and Scott revised by Jones (1940), Ναυπλία. Retrieved 2012-01-26.
  5. ^ See Liddell and Scott (1889), Ναυπλία. Retrieved 2012-01-26.
  6. ^ See Bailly (1901), p. 585, Ναυπλία. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
  7. ^ a b See Smith (1854), NAU´PLIA. Retrieved 2012-01-26.
  8. ^ Entick, John (2007-11-20). Entick's English-Latin dictionary. Archived from the original on 2023-06-15. Retrieved 2012-01-26.
  9. ^ "ΦΕΚ A 87/2010, Kallikratis reform law text" (in Greek). Government Gazette. Archived from the original on 2021-10-23. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
  10. ^ "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. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  11. ^ "ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
  12. ^ See Latacz (2004), p. 131.
  13. ^ ἀπὸ τοῦ ταῖς ναυσὶ προσπλεῖσθαι, Strabo. Geographica. Vol. viii. p.368. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
  14. ^ a b Pausanias (1918). "38.2". Description of Greece. Vol. 2. Translated by W. H. S. Jones; H. A. Ormerod. Cambridge, Massachusetts; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann – via Perseus Digital Library.
  15. ^ Pausanias (1918). "35.2". Description of Greece. Vol. 4. Translated by W. H. S. Jones; H. A. Ormerod. Cambridge, Massachusetts; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann – via Perseus Digital Library.
  16. ^ Public Domain Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Nauplia". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
  17. ^ a b Strabo. Geographica. Vol. viii. p.374. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
  18. ^ Pausanias (1918). "24.4". Description of Greece. Vol. 4. Translated by W. H. S. Jones; H. A. Ormerod. Cambridge, Massachusetts; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann – via Perseus Digital Library., 4.27.8, 4.35.2.
  19. ^ ὁ Ναύπλιος λίμην, Euripides Orest. 767; λιμένες Ναύπλιοι, Electr. 451.
  20. ^ Diplomatarium No. 127.
  21. ^ Wright, Ch. 1.
  22. ^ "Company". K.T.E.L Argolidas. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  23. ^ "Transportation Means". Municipality of Nafplion. Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  24. ^ "Map/Transport". Visit Nafplio. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  25. ^ "The historical railway station of Nafplio". TrainOSE. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  26. ^ Zikakou, Ioanna (August 24, 2021). "Hellenic Railway to Reach Nafplio". ypodomes.com. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  27. ^ "Ξενοδοχείο "Αμφιτρύων" στην παλαιά πόλη του Nαυπλίου". Archived from the original on 2021-08-27. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
  28. ^ "Greece At Its Most Greek," by Phyllis rose, September 10, 2000, New York Times. Archived 2023-08-13 at the Wayback Machine
  29. ^ "Πώς σώθηκε το Ναύπλιο". Archived from the original on 2020-07-31. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  30. ^ Faculties and Departments. Archived 2017-09-25 at the Wayback Machine University of Peloponnese website. www.uop.gr.
  31. ^ (in Greek) Study Plan Archived 2012-03-17 at the Wayback Machine. University of Peloponnese, Department of Theater Studies website.
  32. ^ "University of Peloponnese". Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  33. ^ a b "Twinnings" (PDF). Central Union of Municipalities & Communities of Greece. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-01-15. Retrieved 2013-08-25.
  34. ^ "Royal city of Cetinje". Archived from the original on 2013-09-23. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  35. ^ "Office du tourisme de Menton". Archived from the original on 2013-09-23. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  36. ^ "Niles Sister Cities". Official website. The Village of Niles. 2010. Archived from the original on 2009-03-22. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
  37. ^ "City council minutes" (PDF). Royan city hall. 2005-06-02. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-09-23. Retrieved 2013-06-02.

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

Sources

  • 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.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nafplion.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Nafplion.
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