Nafplion (Ναύπλιο; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is a town on the Peloponnese in Greece. The town was the capital of Greece from 1829 to 1834 and is the place where Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first governor of the modern Greek state, was assassinated. Nafplion, with a population of (13,822), is the capital of the prefecture of Argolis and the province of Nafplion.

Name

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The name of the town in Greek is Ναύπλιο or, and in Ancient Greek Ναύπλιον (thus the transliteration Nafplion). As is the case with many Greek names, there is more than one possible Latin transliteration. Currently, the most commonly used English spelling is Nafplion (or sometimes Nafplio like the Modern Greek way of saying it).

Many sources, especially those dealing with the ancient city, refer to it by its Latin name of Nauplion. In other languages it is known variously as Nauplia, Navplion, Nauplio, Nafplion and Anapli. These names would have been current in English during the periods of Venetian and Ottoman domination. In Italian, Nafplion is known as Napoli di Romania, the last two words referring to the ancient name ("Romania") formerly used to define those territories inhabited by adherents to the Greek Orthodox faith, and serving to distinguish the town from the other Napoli (i.e. Naples) in Italy.

Geography

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Nafplion 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 man-made moles.

History of Nafplion

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The area surrounding Nafplion has been inhabited since ancient times though little sign of this remains within the town. The town has been a stronghold at several times in history.

The first of the visible fortification, on the Akronafplia, was built by the Byzantines. It was subsequently occupied by the French crusaders of the Principality of Achaea, then in 1377 the Venetians arrived and built the Castle of Bourtzi in the 15th century. Shortly after, the city, along with the rest of the Morea, was captured by the Ottomans. The Venetians returned in 1685, and strengthened the city by building the castle of Palamidi, which was in fact the last major construction of the Venetian empire overseas.

During the Greek War of Independence, Nafplion was a major Ottoman stronghold and was besieged for a whole year by Theodoros Kolokotronis. After its capture, because of its strong fortifications, it became the seat of the provisional governments of Greece. Kapodistrias made it the official capital of Greece in 1829.

After his assassination there in 1831 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.

Tourism popped up slowly in the 1960s, but not as much as other parts of Greece. Nafplion enjoys a very sunny and mild climate, even by Greek standards. Consequently it has become a...