Anthemion Suites & Villas

Hidden gems of Nafplio, Greece

abouthotelier — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 08:05:52 +0000

The enticing Museum of Worry Beads
The owner of this museum committed more than 40 years to his project (the first and only museum of its kind in the world), collecting and learning everything there is to know about worry beads. About 700 different types of ‘rosaries’ – Muslim, Christian, Catholic, Hindu, Buddhist, Greek and Turkish are all represented in the collection.

The replica of Da Vinci’s Last Supper
The metropolitan church of Agios Georgios is one of the oldest churches in the city. The funerals of Palaiaon Patron Germanon, Dimitrios Ipsiliantis and Capodistrias all took place here. This is also where Otto, the first king of Greece, was crowned in the city of Nafplio. In the church’s interior, you’ll see an incredible replica of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper, painted by one of his pupils.

The Venetian Gate of Nafplio
The Pyli of Xiras constituted the only entrance to the lower town from land. Indeed, if you were on the outside when it closed, that’s where you remained. Today, the outside of the gate has been restored to its original form.

Source: discovergreece.com

What to do in Nafplio

abouthotelier — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 07:06:38 +0000

Climb all 999 steps of Palamidi Castle
Are there 999 or 857 steps that lead to the top of Palamidi Castle? Discover for yourself. Once you climb up the steep hill, you’ll be rewarded with a panoramic view of Nafplio and the sea. The fortress was built in record time, between 1711 and 1714.

Admire the view from the Acropolis of Nafplio
The Acropolis of Nafplio, which the Turks named Its Kale, was erected by the Venetians and later passed on to the Byzantines and Ottomans. It has three levels, each with a different castle and walls from different time periods. From the rock of Akronafplia, you’ll take in the view from the Bourtzi Castle to Arvanitias beach.

Feel the historical vibes of Bourtzi Castle
From afar, Bourtzi Castle looks like an elegant stone sculpture. As you approach the islet of Agio Theodoro by boat, travelling the few metres that separate it from the coast and finally see the Venetian castle up close, you’ll immediately feel its rich and tumultuous history.

The castle (shaped like an irregular hexagon) was built in 1473 and the executioners of Palamidi prisoners once lived here. It was also the residence of two governments (of 1824 and 1827) and a luxury hotel. Today it is one of the most significant attractions in Nafplio, and hosts various cultural events and festivals.

Take a long stroll along the famous promenade
The walk along Arvanitia promenade, with its view of the Argolic Gulf, is Nafplio at its most romantic. You’ll begin at the waterfront and end up, after about 1km, at Arvanitias Square. The whole time, you’ll be walking beneath the rock of Akronafplio and you’ll also come across the pretty little chapel of Panagia tis Spilia (Virgin Mary of the Cave), the Santa Maria Grotta of the Venetians.

Admire the architecture of Nafplio’s neoclassical buildings
At the epicentre of the old town is Syntagma Square, surrounded by historic buildings – Trianon, the Archaeological Museum and the National Bank of Greece, built in the 1930s. On the nearby streets, you’ll witness the modern history of Greece starting with the Hellenic Parliament (Vouli ton Ellinon).

Further along, witness the church of Agios Spyridonas (outside of which Ioannis Capodistrias, Greece’s first prime minister, was murdered in 1831) and across from that, the only Turkish bath in town. Two other squares, Agios Georgios and Trion Navarhon, also have several interesting monuments and grand mansions worth seeing.

Discover your inner aristocratic in a stately hotel
As one of the most popular Athenian weekend escapes, accommodation is plentiful: boutique hotels in modern buildings, traditional guesthouses and grand mansions from another era. You’ll find both traditional and creative Greek cuisine at the tavernas and restaurants around town, as well as dozens of coffee shops and bars.

Source: discovergreece.com

A walking tour of Nafplio’s romantic Old Town

abouthotelier — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 07:05:40 +0000

Whether you’re admiring the Venetian architecture or strolling along the waterfront, Nafplio’s Old Town is the perfect romantic getaway 2hrs from Athens.

When it comes to romantic escapes, there’s one town that springs to mind for Greeks: Nafplio, the Venetian’s ‘Naples of the East’, built on a small peninsula in the Peloponnese’s Argolic Gulf.

To spend a day in the Old Town is to relive some of modern Greece’s most important events. It was the first capital after independence from the Turks and the scene of both the crowning of the country’s first king and assassination of its first prime minister.

At the same time, its Venetian influences have the ability to sweep you off your feet. You’ll feel it all the way from the lofty fortifications (Palamidi Castle is an experience in itself) to the gelato you’ll enjoy whilst strolling down the narrow cobblestoned alleyways.

With tavernas serving local dishes with an undeniable finesse, atmospheric monuments and neoclassical mansions, Nafplio has a compelling story to tell. So whether you’re on a romantic stroll or exploring with the kids, plot your route or just let your feet guide you… either way, prepare to fall in love.

Source: discovergreece.com