NAFPLIO
Nafplio, or Anapli, the capitol of Argolis, is one of the best known and most beautiful cities in Greece. According to legend, the city takes its name from its founder, Nafplios, the son of Poseidon and Amimoni.
Nafplio went through a series of occupations: first the Franks, then the Venetians followed by the Ottoman Turks who lost control to the Venetians for a short while, before retaking the city. The city of Nafplio, or the Napoli di Romania as it was named by the Venetians, took shape during the first Venetian occupation. Until that time habitation had only been possible on the rock of the Acronauplia. Other notable works of the period are the Castello di Toro and the Bourtzi. In 1540, after a three-year siege, Nafplio surrendered to the Turks. During the first Turkish occupation of the city, it became the capitol of the Peloponnesus and the headquarters of the Turkish commander, Mora-Pasha.
In 1686, the Venetians re-took the city and hold onto it for the short period until 1715. Nafplio became a very important city during this period as the capitol of the Morean kingdom. The greatest work carried out during the second Venetian occupation is without doubt the Fort of Palamidi.
The second and harsher Turkish occupation began in 1715 and the city began to fall into decline. On the night of 29th November in 1822, after many months of siege, the Palamidi fell to the Greeks as the result of a surprise attack led by Staikos Staikopoulos.
The city became the capitol of the Greek state from 1827 to 1834.
On the 8th January 1828 the first governor of Greece, Ioannis Kapodistrias, alighted at Nafplio. The city was full of cafes, and in the salons of notable local families there were balls and literary soirees.
On 27th September 1831 Ioannis Kapodistrias was murdered outside the church of Agios Spiridon. Around the end of 1834, the capitol of Greece was moved to Athens.
