NAFPLION

Nafplion, first Capital of Greece, has 20,000 inhabitants and is divided into the old and the new town. The old town was built mainly in the days of the governor Ioannis Capodistrias, at the beginning of the 19th Century, but buildings still exist from the Venetian Era. The new town is an ordinary Greek town with no special assets, so stroll about the old, historical quarters with their neoclassical buildings, charming squares and majestic fonts. Nafplion is the capital of the prefecture and one of the loveliest towns in all of Greece.

The old city with its neoclassic houses, picturesque streets, wooden balconies with cascading flowers, Turkish fountains, Constitution (Syntagma) square with fascinating mosques and outdoor cafe tables and tavernas (restaurants), is like a faire land. Here, after centuries of struggle, happiness has finally settled. You feel like immersing yourself in its history, burrowing into its pass The House of The Regent Mauer, The Military Academy that operates as A Military Museum, The Army Ministry, The First High school, The Parliament house, and finally Saint Spyridon's Church where Kapodistrias, the first governor of Greece, was assassinated.

And the fairy tale world continues, whether you climb up the 999 steps to the Venetian fortress of Palamidi crowning the city, or wander around the battlements of Acronafplia or pop over to the fortified island, Bourtzi, afloat in the middle of the bay. Nafplion is full of the joy of life. It is the nobility and calm found in Minoan frescoes. In Syntagma Square the Archaeological Museum, with its findings from various periods and frescoes from Mycenae and Assini, is housed in an imposing Venetian building, while The Folk Art Museum on Vas. Alexandrou Street occupies a neoclassical house.

HISTORY

The Argolid was the heart of Greece from 1600 to 1100 BC under the Mycenaeans.With their decline; the Dorians controlled the fate of the region until the conquest of the country by the Romans. During the Byzantine era the Argolid shared the fortune of the rest of the Peloponnese. It was ruled by the Franks and surrendered to the Turks in 1460, Nafplion, however, remained in Venetian hands until 1540. Nafplio was the capitol of the newly formed Greek state from 1828 to 1834, when this role passed to Athens. Nafplio capitol of the prefecture and one of the loveliest towns in all Greece. The old city with its neoclassic houses, picturesque streets, wooden balconies with cascading flowers, Turkish fountains, Constitution (Syntagma) square with its fascinating mosques and outdoor café tables is like fairy land. And the fairy tale world continues, whether you climb up the 999 steps to the Venetian fortress of Palamidi crowning the city, wander round the battlements of Acronafpia or pop over to the islet, Bourtzi, afloat in the middle of the bay. A new sight or sensation keeps coming across your path.

EPIDAURUS

The road from Nafplio to Epidaurus passes through vineyards and age-gold olive groves with the mountains looming hazily in the distance, but for Mt. Arahneo, which rises directly above Epidaurus. Arahneo – that’s just how Aeschylus called it in his tragedy, Agamemnon. The breeze carries waves of sweet fragrances from the woods, resin and turpentine. On a hillside, within the sanctuary, lies the theater of Epidaurus (3rd c. BC), the most famous and best preserved of all the ancient theatres in Greece. Built of limestone, it can seat 12,000 spectators. Every summer it comes alive. Attending a performance of ancient drama in this theater is almost a mystical experience. Never to be forgotten. A catharsis of the soul. At Epidaurus the actors don’t need to shout or speak loudly. The acoustics are so perfect that the merest whisper can be heard in the last row. The entrance to the sanctuary lies to the north of the theater. Asklepios was worshipped here. Zeus struck him down with his thunderbolt because he wanted to destroy death. Among the ruins, one can see the foundations of the temple of Asklepios (Doric, 4th c. BC), the guest house, the tholos, the Abaton or sleeping porch, the temples of Artemis and Themis, the gymnasium, etc. The museum is near the entrance to the site and contains various artifacts plus a helpful model of what the sanctuary must have looked like. The town of ancient Epidaurus occupied the same location as the present village of Palia Epidavros (old Epidavrus), a seaside settlement wit a small harbor, nested in a plain thick with olive and orange trees, rimmed with scenic beaches and several tavernas. Seven Kilometers further north, at the foot of Mt. Akros, the road arrives at NEA Epidavros, an inland village and then proceeds several kilometers on to the lovely monastery of AGNOUNDA with its Byzantine frescoes.

THE MYCENAEAN TREASURE

The acropolis reveals itself in the heart of the landscape that is barred to the north, a bit tamer towards the south. A gray mound of rock with the marks of the Cyclops upon it. One has to touch these gigantic rough – hewn in order to comprehend the deep sense of security they offered the Mycenaean’s. Within these walls the leaders heaped the booty from their extended wars, gold and jewels, bowls and purple rugs. Mycenae was the most powerful, brilliant and sovereign influence in Greece up to 1100 BC when it was destroyed by fire. Centuries later the tragic poets Aeschylus and Sophocles brought it back to life with the magic of their verses. One enters the acropolis through the Lion Gate, the oldest example of monumental sculpture in Europe. A secondary entrance, built in the same style, exists in the north side. Inside the walls excavations have uncovered the palace complex, grave circle A with six royal tombs, courtiers’ houses, sanctuaries and other important buildings. Outside the acropolis lie the ruins of private houses. Grave Circle B with 14 royal tombs and 12 tombs of private citizens. On the nearby hill of Panayitsa archaeologists brought to light the most stunning edifice of Mycenaean architecture, the Treasure of Atreus, also known as the beehive tomb of Agamemnon. Most of the more exceptional finds from the site are on exhibit in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. These include frescoes, gold jewellery, and the gold mask said to have belonged to Agamemnon, among other priceless pieces.

TIRINS

From Nafplio the road passes through a fertile, verdant valley to arrive at the village of Tirins. The ruins of the fortress-palace of Tirins lie just off the road. Its cyclopean walls are older than those of Mycenae. The ancients believed that the Cyclops built these walls, creatures with superhuman powers. Homer mentions the “wall-girt” cities that took part in the Trojan War. Looking at these massive walls-the biggest boulders weigh 13 tons each one imagines that any attempt at besieging them must have been in vain. Tirins flourished up to 1200 BC, when the acropolis was destroyed by fire. In the enclosure below the acropolis are the famous tunnels (secret cisterns). Among the most interesting architectural achievements of the period. The palace with the royal throne room at its centre occupied the highest point on the acropolis. Fragments of wall paintings testifying to the wealth and luxury of the palace at Tirins are on display in the archaeological museums of Nafplio and Athens.