Here is the heart of Nafplion! The large paved square is located in the center of the old town and marks the end of the “Great Road”. Syntagma Square is a testimony to the active role of the city in modern history of Greece, since its name is associated with the struggle for the granting of a constitution on Otto. Its trademark is the historical plane tree next to the Archaeological Museum of Nafplion, which dominates the end of the square. Around it are the most important buildings of that era, such as Parliament, the former mosque of Aga Pasha, the houses of Nikitaras and Kolokotronis. A lively square with children playing, parents enjoying their coffee or eating at the adjoining cafe-restaurants, passers-by who enjoy their walk…

Parliamentary

In the well-preserved mosque of a Turkish Aga built in 1730 AD Above the Syntagma Square, the first Hellenic Parliament was housed in 1825-6 AD. From there it also took the name “parliamentary”, which is known as the mosque until today. Here was the Trial of the Chieftains of the Greek Revolution, T. Kolokotronis and D.Plaupoutas. Today, the Culture House is working as a conference room and hall for various cultural events.

Palamidi

At 216 meters above the city of Nafplion stands the imposing castle of Palamidi. Going either by car from the eastern side or on foot from the 999 steps on the west side, the story and the view takes your breath away! It was built in the 17th century in order to be the main defensive base of Nafplio, which was the capital of the Peloponnese. Although it was then considered impregnable, it was captured by the Turks in 1715 in the last Venetian-Turkish War.

Bourtzi

The “island-fortress” finds the root of his name in the Turkish-Egyptian. Bourtzi dominates at the entrance of Nafplion bay and is built on a small island in front of the port of the city. The Venetian fortress, erected in the 14th century, served as the residence of the public in the first years after the proclamation of Independence. In the 1950s it operated as a hotel that hosted famous personalities. A reference point for touring every visitor to Bourtzi is awaiting you to see it near by the shortboats carrying the short route starting from the port of the city. However, in recent years, the abandonment image of the historic fortress is of great concern to public opinion, and the processes of redevelopment unfortunately are lagging behind.

The Land Gate

It was built in 1708 and succeeded an earlier gate of the first Venetian domination. It is the only entrance of the lower city from the land, which was closed after sunset. Anyone who lived outside was forced to spend the night outside the walls. In front of the gate there was a sea trench that covered the eastern walls of the city and access to the gate was made by a movable wooden bridge. The destruction of the Gate has gradually progressed since 1894 AD. Until 1897 AD Close to the left portico there is a built-in votive plaque that mentions the release of Nafplion by the Venetian commander-general Morozini in 1687.

Acronafplia

The rocky peninsula of Akronafplia was the Acropolis of Nafplion. The Turks called it “Ich-Kale”, meaning inner fortress. The oldest Acropolis of Nafplio, inhabited since prehistoric times, consists of three levels, each of which was a separate castle. Its walls are 85m high, 400m wide. And a length of 900 meters. Below the acropolis and the northwestern part of the peninsula, the Venetians built the fortress of Toros with five cannons known as “five brothers”. Akronafplia has for many years been turned into a prison for anti-regime and political prisoners. Today, these prisons have been demolished and a luxury hotel has been erected in their place.

Bastion Five Brothers

The “Five Brothers” bastion is located in the northwestern slopes of Akronafplia and owes its name to the five same guns, which strengthened its defense. It is the only surviving bastion of the lower city that escaped the demolition. The bastion, which protected the western part of the Lower City and the port in combination with Bourtzi, was probably formed by the Venetians around the end of the 15th century. According to some researchers, however, it should be dated later, in the years of the Ottoman domination, due to the craftyness and lack of art observed.

Filellinon Square

It is the square next to the port of Nafplion. The Memorial of the Fillelines, which dominates the middle of the square, was erected in 1903 in memory of the French philhellenes who fought and sacrificed for the liberation of Greece during the Greek Revolution. On the elevated base of the obelisk, on one side, there is a relief representation with the personifications of Greece and France, with the figures of Athena and the Republic respectively, while on the eastern side of the base there is a votive inscription that mentions the great French Philhellenes. In the northeastern part of the square there is a bust of Manthos Mavrogenous, while on the northeastern side of the square there is a two-storey 19th-century neoclassical building of the Iatroys family, where it housed the City Hall from 1972 until its transfer to Trion Admirals Square.

Old Town

The old or lower city extends north of Acronafplia Castle, from the old Railway Station to the bastion of the “Five Brothers” and is essentially the historical center of Nafplion. Towards the end of the 15th century the city began to expand with artificial deposits and foundations on wooden stakes, since until then the area was marshy and flooded by the sea (excluding the Psaromahala district). It was separated from the Acronafplia Castle with coastal walls that strengthened the bastions. In the old town there are nowadays buildings of various periods, mainly early Neoclassical of the Kapodistrian and Ottoman period, while few are the Venetian and Turkish houses. It is worthwhile to pass through the narrow streets of the old town with the dinghies and to go no farther into a distant, history-engraved time.

Triple Admiral Square

Dedicated to the admirers, Cordington of England, Derigny of France and Heiden of Russia who consumed the Turkish-Egyptian fleet at Navarino in 1827. The square was formed by John Capodistrias. In the middle there is the tombstone of Dimitrios Ypsilantis, the leading figure of the Greek Revolution. In the square there are remarkable neoclassical buildings, of which the Town Hall stands out. Behind the Ypsilantis monument, on the west side of the square, one can see the statue of King I of Greece, Othon. About one of the most important buildings of Nafplion, the Governorate, which was built in order to house the offices of the newly established Greek government and the house, was at the place where the statue of Othon was placed between Vassileos Konstantinos and Amalias streets The first Governor of Greece, Ioannis Kapodistrias. When Kapodistrias was assassinated, he was placed for folk pilgrimage, in the Governor’s Main Hall. In this, the young King Othon also stayed when he came to Nafplion and was then renamed “Royal Palace” while the world called it “Palataki”, a name he is still known for.

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The exhibit regarded the remotest in history here, is a Paleolithic cluster of altars (hearths) from the “Klisouras” gorge rocks or boulders in Prosymna. (32.000-21.000 BC)

The findings of the cave “Fragthi” in Ermionida attest to the transition from hunter-gatherer to productive economy.

Also, the exhibition presents stone and bone utility tools, shells and bones of animals and fish, jewelry made of shells, bones or stone, the first Neolithic pot-made jugs-vases along with a number of figurines resembling humans and animals, made of clay as well.

The early period of the Bronze Age or Early Helladic period (3300-2100\2000 BC) is represented with exhibits from regions such as, Tirynth, Assini, Berbati, and Ancient Epidaurus. Representative of the period’s pottery is also demonstrated through seals made of stone, clay or bronze, clay sealing-tops, bone-made tools, Early-Cycladic marble figurines, a clay made hearth from Berbati region. Among them, distinctive as well as unique boasts the Tirynth cooler.

Jugs, vessels and other artifices determine the Middle Helladic Period ( 2100\2000-1600 BC) from the settlements of Assini, “Pronoia” (settlement in Nafplio), Midea, Tirynth and Berbati of that period; one which was the herald, the precursor, the solid ground upon which the Mycenaean civilization would lay its foundation.

The administrative edifice of the great Mycenaean Palace is depicted through findings excavated in major centers, namely in that of Tirynth, Midea and Assini, each one under the influence of Mycenae. Distinction can be offered to worshipping tools and figurines, some of which are the impressive, paddle-steamer female figurines from both Tirynth and Midea as well as the great “Lord of Assini”, Linear B signs, storage amphorae (urns), workshop remainders ( casts, moulds, semi or unprocessed precious stones, half-finished artifices) together with cylindrical seal-tops, a copper-made talent (coin), pieces out of amber, faience, alabaster; all indicative of the trading channel Mycenae seemed to relish.

The museum’s most exquisite piece of archaeological finds still remains to be the Bronze Suit Armor of Dendra region, exhibited in a specially designed area together with the rest of the breathtaking tools which were excavated such as, armor equipment belonging to the soldier dressed in that armor, bronze and clay jugs.

In the hall of the second floor presentation begins with the material remains of the Iron Age. Prominently holds the bronze helmet of the famous tomb Tiryns (11th century BC.).

The Geometric or Homeric Era sketches itself through finds, burial tools from “Pronoia” zone, Nafplio, Tirynth, Assini and Berbati region. The horses and the horseman, perhaps of the most representative and finely designed work, does credit to the heroic aura of the time, while ceremonial drawings of dances, birds and animals compose the full picture drawn, to allow visitors to completely realize the Homeric years.

Worshipping and ritualistic practices of the time are greatly presented through findings in Tirynth. The goddess Hera and the goddess Athena seem to be adulated here. Tribute is being paid to the former through throne-set deities, a shield-bearer horse rider, micrographic vessels, flowers, seeds and wreaths. To the latter, rituals included bronze helmet and tibia covering effigies-models, as well as parts of craters of the 5th century BC, with dedicatory signs to the goddess. Attracted will the eye be by the clay-made donated shields depicting mythological settings as well as the 7th century BC clay-made ritualistic masquerades, found in a place called “Vothros” of Tiryns (or Tirynth) and the copper-made “Kouros” from the region of “Kefalari” outside Argos (560-540 BC).

The archaeological exhibition comes to its end with the donations to the Museum. Figurines and jugs from Attica, Viotia and Corinth are proudly revealed, gifted by collectors-donors of Glymenopoulou, Potamianou, Archbishop Nikandrou, Thermogianni families.

Prestigious among others stands the pan-athenian amphora, work of the Painter of Mastos (530-520 BC). The tragic scene of the assassination of Clytemnestra by her son, Orestes is shadowed on the surface of a red shaped, Attican urn-jug (around around 440BC). A “skyphos” or cup from Viotia region,red figured Caberian, sketches a parody of the renowned fable of Odysseus’s accommodation to Circe’s palace. (425-400 BC).

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According to scientific studies, not all  children are “lovers” of the sea, nor do  they achieve the same resistances on  the scale of fear.  Every child is a special case, a different  entity of which we have to respect the  preferences. Many parents, however,  are throwing anchor in their own  personal “wanting” forcing children to  love the sea directly or indirectly,  perhaps ignoring the fact that no love is  gained either by the strength or by the  stiffness. Big mistake, since experts  have pointed out from time to time that  no “miraculous” sea water and no  exercise on the sea are beneficial if they  are not made with joy and appetite from  the child. My own child is, for the time  being, in the category of those who do  not love the sea. Neither the pool. Not  the fish either. Not even the mermaids.  Neither Nemo.    For example she loves to hang on the  deckchair, to drink frozen juices, to  browse magazines and to repeat in  imperative style every two minutes  “Andea I need to go to the toilet !” I tried  everything, I read everything, bought it  all and “I saw everything” to change it .  No. This, the third summer of his life, is  not going to be transformed into a shark  that will run threateningly out of him for  sinking at the “elbow” at the moment he  screams. Nor will I try to buy one of her  plunge with tons of orange juice and ice  cream promises. This summer, I will let  him sit on his sunbed, with his juices,  his magazines, the cliche expression  “Anda wants to go the toilet !” Regards  to the contemporary child  psychologist’s notion that advices that  children need to be more  free. The freer  it can by by our own stereotypes.

Ten tips for marine adventure

1.  Before going to the sea, cultivate a  feeling of joy. Talk about toys with  water and towers in the sand.

2.  First, play with him at a great distance  from the edge of the sea, taking care to  often watery it with seawater.

3.  Never push the child into the sea and  never attempt to dive with it. Such a  move can make it dislike the sea (and  you) for a long time.

4.  Even if it is true, do not show the child  that you are afraid of water. Your panic  is not only perceived by the child but  transmitted as if it is Illness.

5. Do not show him that you want to  swim. Act as you are  … indifferent!

6. Avoid seas with waves, icy waters  and rocks.

7.  Walk slowly into the water by holding  the child in your arms, standing or on  the side, speaking calmly, smiling and  facing his face towards yours.

8.  The bracelets or the life jacket do not need before the child becomes familiar  with the sea and this will be easier if you  feel safe in your arms.

9.  Slowly immerse his whole body in the  water, which should not overcome his  shoulders

10. Do not keep it stagnant, but move  softly into the sea and do various toys  with hands and feet.

11.  If the child does not want to get into  the water, you have to retreat and leave  the beach by postponing the “bathroom”  business for the next day

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1. Choose shoes that match as many  clothes as possible.
2. Do not make the mistake and you  have not packed even a thin jacket, (we  have mentioned combinations for  jackets in a corresponding article).
3. Always place the shampoos and all  the fluids in bags inside your cosmetic  bag.
4. Do not strap underwear and T-shirts.  You never know what can happen.
5. Leave some space in your suitcase  because maybe you buy something  while your there.
6. The clothes that you will take with  you make sure you match everything  with … all! So surely you will wear all the  clothes and no one will be crumpled  unfairly
7. Avoid jeans as comfortable as they are … Or at least limit them! They take a  lot of space and are heavy … There are  many other options to distinguish  stylistically (chino pants have  mentioned in another article their  effectiveness!)

THINGS TO BE TAKEN WITHOUT  SECOND THOUGHT:

– Mobile and mobile charger
– iPad –  camera – photo camera.
-Toothbrush.  -Pharmaceuticals, etc.
-Paper, pens, magazines for more  pleasant time.
-Sunglasses.  -Face towel.
– Car / engine luggage.

Tips
One way to pack the trousers is to wrap  them like tapeworms. So we save space  in the suitcase.

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