NAFPLION

'Nafplion' ('Ναύπλιο'; see also List of traditional Greek place names), on the Peloponnese in Greece, is a seaport town that has expanded up the hillsides near the north end of the Argolic Gulf (Argolikos Bay). The town was the capital of Greece from 1829 to 1834, and is where Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first governor of the modern Greek state, was assassinated. Nafplion, with a population of (13,822) is the capital of the prefecture of Argolis and the province of Nafplion.

Contents

Name

Geography

History

Byzantine/Venetian Era

Greek War of Independence

Modern Era

Historical Population

References

See also

External links

Name

The name of the town in Greek is Ναύπλιο or in Ancient Greek Ναύπλιον/Ναύπλιων (adding omega/nu, thus the transliteration "Nafplion"). As is the case with many Greek names, there is more than one possible Latin transliteration. Currently, the most commonly used English spelling is "Nafplion" (or sometimes "Nafplio" like the Modern Greek way of saying it).
Many sources, especially those dealing with the ancient city, refer to it by its Latin name of Nauplion. In other languages it is known variously as Nauplia, Navplion, Nauplio, Nafplion and Anapli. These names would have been current in English during the periods of Venetian and Ottoman domination. In Italian, Nafplion is known as Napoli di Romania, the last two words referring to the ancient name ("Romania") formerly used to define those territories inhabited by adherents to the Greek Orthodox faith, and serving to distinguish the town from the other Napoli (i.e. Naples) in Italy.

Geography

Nafplion is situated on the Argolic Gulf in the northeast Peloponnese. Most of the old town is on a peninsula jutting into the gulf; this peninsula forms a naturally protected bay that is enhanced by the addition of man-made moles.

History

The area surrounding Nafplion has been inhabited since ancient times though little sign of this remains within the town. The town has been a stronghold at several times in history.

Byzantine/Venetian Era

The first of the visible fortification, on the Akronafplia, was built by the Byzantines. It was subsequently occupied by the French crusaders of the Principality of Achaea, then in 1377 the Venetians arrived and built the Castle of Bourtzi in the 15th century. Shortly after, the city, along with the rest of the Morea, was captured by the Ottomans. The Venetians returned in 1685, and strengthened the city by building the castle of Palamidi, which was in fact the last major construction of the Venetian empire overseas.

Greek War of Independence

During the Greek War of Independence, Nafplion was a major Ottoman stronghold and was besieged for a whole year by Theodoros Kolokotronis. After its capture, because of its strong fortifications, it became the seat of the provisional governments of Greece. Kapodistrias made it the official capital of Greece in 1829. After his assassination there in 1831 a period of anarchy followed, until the arrival of King Otto and the establishment of the new Kingdom of Greece. Nafplion remained the capital of the kingdom until 1834, when King Otto decided to move the capital to Athens.
Tourism popped up slowly in the 1960s, but not as much as other parts of Greece. Still, Nafplion tends to attact many tourists from Germany and the Scandinavian countries in particular. Nafplion enjoys a very sunny and mild climate, even by Greek standards. Consequently it has become a popular day- or weekend road trip destination for Athenians in wintertime.

Modern Era

Nafplion is a port, with fishing and transport ongoing, although the primary source of local employment currently is tourism, with two beaches on the other side of the peninsula from the main body of the town and a large amount of local accommodation. There is now a railway station with daily trains from/to Athens (OSE).
Since 2003, the University of Peloponnese has opened a new faculty, the School of Fine Arts. Until 2007, a single department exists, the 'Department of Theatre'[1]. The department of Theatre works on four pathways:
(1). Acting & Directing (2). Scenography & Costume Design (3). Contemporary Dance (4). Dramaturgy & Theatrology

Historical Population

Year	Population	Change	Municipal population	Change
1981	10,611	-	-	-
1991	11,897	1,286/12.1%	14,740	-
2001	-	-	16,885	2,145/14.55%

References

★ Greece, the Rough Guide. Mark Ellingham, Marc Dubin, Natania Jansz and Joh Fisher, Published by Rough Guides 1995, ISBN 1-85828-131-8,

See also

★ History of Greece

★ Politics of Greece

External links

★ Municipality of Nafplion Official Website

★ GTP - Nafplion municipality

	'North:' Nea Tiryntha
'West:' Argolic Gulf	'Nafplio'	'East:' Askilipio
	'South:' Argolic Gulf	'Southeast:' Asini