Nafplio, an enchanting Greek paradise
Nafplio,
like many other small towns, is one of those places that you rarely hear about
unless you’re actually in Greece and most likely having a conversation with a
local. Abroad, Greece is more famous for its islands (the likes of Santorini and
Mykonos) hence I like to think of places like Nafplio as hidden gems, true
pieces of paradise that not that many people know about.
I travelled to Nafplio from Thessaloniki via bus. And yes, it was a solo trip. A couple of people have mentioned to me that I am “brave” for doing this. I still don’t understand why travelling alone is considered brave, more people should do it…but that’s a blog post for another day.
It took me two bus rides to get to Nafplio. One from Thessaloniki to Athens (about 6 hours on the road) and another from Athens to Nafplio (about 2 hours on the road). I love road trips and it’s been a while since I took one. I was quite excited to travel from Northern Greece to Southern Greece by road, so as to take in the vast views. Unfortunately for me though, I fell asleep for most of the Thessaloniki – Athens leg of the trip. I remember waking up to the sight of snow-capped mountains and the most amazing greenery and architecture. I believe we passed Mount Olympus (Greece’s highest mountain) however, I barely managed to fumble for my camera and get a shot from the bus window.
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While in Nafplio…
Palamidi Castle
Nafplio felt homey to me because, despite the winter, it’s a lot greener than Thessaloniki (where I live). The first thing I noticed when I arrived was the gorgeous, enchanting Palamidi Castle, resting effortlessly on top of Palamidi hill (the castle is actually a fortress that was built in the early 1700s). After grabbing a cup of Greek coffee to-go (when in Greece…), I asked the lady at the coffee shop how I could get to the top of the castle. I was directed to the starting point of the legendary 999 steps that I would climb in order to make it to the top. I didn’t hesitate, despite having the wrong shoes (I always seem to be wearing the wrong shoes), I pulled out my camera, and started climbing.
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The view is definitely worth the climb! I was thrilled to make it to the fortress as the views along the way had already made my day. I was able to get a panoramic view of Nafplio from above. At the top, I explored the insides of the historic archaeological site until the cold wind started to get the better of me and I made my way down.
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Bourtzi Castle
Nafplio has a second castle, on the water! I took a walk to the port (somehow my feet could still move, even though I’d really put them to work at Palamidi) and simply gazed at the castle. One can take a boat to Bourtzi Castle (when the weather allows) and I’ve read that several musical and cultural events are held at the castle during the summer.
PS: a trip for another day.
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More Nafplio views
The next day, I was up for some more exploring and picture taking. I saw more of the city as well as the scenic Arvanitia beach. While looking across at the beach, I noticed a man casually swimming in what must have been ice-cold water…now that’s daring!
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[image error]Can you spot the man swimming?
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Have you visited Nafplio before? Do you know of any other “hidden gems” in Greece or the country where you live? Let me know in the comments below. X
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