Whatever name you give it, Nafplion is the diamond of the Peloponnese, with a history full of myths, conquerors and revolutions. The name of the city is in honour of Poseidon's son, Nafplion, and the castle of Palamidios in honour of Palamedes, local hero of the Trojan War. The conquerors who have passed through the city have left strong marks on the architecture of Nafplio, giving the city a cosmopolitan atmosphere. In the mid 1400's Bourtzi was built. The Turks conquered the city in 1542 and Nafplio became one of the largest trading ports. The city was conquered by the Venetians again and the Palamidi and the fortress of Acronauplia were built. The city became independent in 1822 and because it participated actively during the revolution, it became the first capital of Greece. King Otto decided in 1834 to make Athens the capital of the country and until 1960 Nafplio continued to develop undisturbed until the next big stagethat played a decisive role: the arrival of tourism.
Homer's "golden Mycenae" promises to transport you to the Kingdom of the mythical Agamemnon. You will enter the Acropolis through the legendary Lion Gate, a symbol of power of the royal house of Mycenae. Following in the footsteps of Atreides, admire "the cyclopean walls", the famous "Treasure of Atreus", the "tomb of Clytemnestra", the "palace of Atreides", Burial Circles I and II, and many other monuments of the time where myth met history. The excavations of Henry Schliemann in the 19th century brought to light these priceless monuments that will take you on a journey to mythical and glorious times. Today, Mycenae awaits you to discover the place where the Homeric "best of men" once set foot.
The castle of Argos is one of the oldest and most historic castles in Greece. The castle of Larissa ("Argos" means plain and "Larissa" means acropolis) was built in prehistoric times, repaired and expanded several times since antiquity and played an important historical role during the Venetian rule and the Greek Revolution of 1821. A walk to the archaeological site of LARISA, as the Venetian castle on top of the homonymous hill is called, is always a pleasant route and a moment of tranquility looking out over the Argolic plain, Argos and Nafplio. The Argos Theatre was built in 320 BC. In front of the site is the Agora, the Roman Theatre and the baths of Argos. It is one of the greatest archaeological achievements in Greece and was renovated around 120 A. D. With a capacity of about 20,000 spectators, it is one of the largest ancient theatres in Greece.
Kefalari is a beautiful village. His houses are spread over a large area and built among towering trees and orchards. The scenery is enchanting. The surrounding temple, the gushing waters at the foundations of the temple, the stone bridges and arches, all the hanging rock that hides the cave within, the various flowers and climbing plants – the ivy and the bougainvillea, which are perched on the wild rock at the entrance of the cave – the square with the centuries-old plane trees and other trees, the cool and dense grove next to it, but also the traditional taverns and the country centers and the shops of the village and further south the water mills are elements of unique and unrepeatable beauty.
Karya, in the skirts of the Dagres. The beautiful head village. The second stop is Karya, officially classified as a preserved traditional settlement. Clinging between Artemisio and Xerovouni, it offers the visitor an amazing view with the traditional architecture of its houses and their amphitheatrical arrangement. Traditional stone houses and mansions adorn the cobbled streets and alleys of the village. In the courtyard of the church of Agios Ioannis, there is a statue of the local chieftain Giannakos Dagre. The stone school with its fountain was donated by the national benefactor Sygros. Karya has always been associated with the rich namas of Artemis and the seven watermills with their now deserted millstones bear witness to past glories.
