Guide to Nauplion

"Whether to explore some of the world's most important historical sites, or simply to absorb the atmospheric charm of Greece's prettiest town, Nauplion makes a superb base."

Built on a vast rock cast in the sea off the coast of the eastern Peloponnese linked to the mainland by a narrow causeway, Monemvasia is a perfectly preserved showcase of medieval Greece - an extensive citadel dating back as far as the 6th Century, and a lower town still bustling with life which appears completely unchanged since the days it was fought over by the Byzantines, Turks and Venetians. No new building has been permitted since 1902 and none of the handful of cafes, tavernas and the little jewellery and gift shops within the town are allowed any garish signs or bright lights to advertise their fare. An air of supreme serenity reigns here, especially in the evenings when the daytrippers have left and the town belongs once again to the locals and the few visitors privileged enough to be staying inside the ancient town walls. Remarkably well preserved, Nauplion must rank as the most picturesque town on the Greek mainland. Much of the laid-back charm of Nauplion as we find it today dates from the early 19th century, when it enjoyed brief fame as the first capital of modern Greece after the liberation of the country from Turkish occupation in 1828. Behind the bustling port and the spaciously laid-out waterfront, colourful town houses and neo-classical buildings overlook narrow paved streets. Elegant squares are buzzing with life, whilst in the narrow backstreets, tavernas set out their tables below arches of dazzling bougainvillaea and fragrant jasmine. Understandably enough, a town as pretty and as interesting as Nauplion does attract a certain number of visitors, but the town never feels 'touristy' and local life continues unchanged. NB: We are also able to arrange stays in the Hotel Malvasia in Monemvasia.

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