NAPHLIO AND THE HERO OF THE TROJAN WAR by Roberta Mark Engel

How is the hero of the Trojan War related to the Peloponnese Peninsula? Is the Peloponnesus locale an island or is it part of the mainland? Why is the coastline of this region so special? Since there is so much to see along the way, we will begin our tour in Athens. Bring your camera and tour Corinth, Nemea and its beautiful vineyards, Also; visit Mycenae, Epidavros, Argos, and my personal favorite, Naphlion with us.

Look, we can see a ship going through the isthmus of the Corinth Canal. If we are lucky, we can also get a glimpse of lowering the bridge into the water as the ships pass through. Did you know that St. Paul was put on trial by the Romans in Corinth? The Roman Baths are visible in Ancient Corinth plus there is a museum, in the temple of Apollo (where St. Paul preached to the Corinthians in 52 B.C). Corinth was influenced by Roman architecture.

Did you know that the Peloponnese region grows some of the best olives and grapes in Greece? Our next stop is in Ancient Nemea which is surrounded with vineyards. Do your want some wine? Follow me. It is also where the ancient Nemean Games were held. The city also has ancient fortifications for the viewing.

Continuing through a big forest of orange trees, we will reach Mycenae. The ancient city of Mycenae was discovered by Heinrich Schliemann in 1870. We will see the Tholotos tomb of Agamemnon and then we head toward his palace where we will see the Cyclopean walls the Lions Gate, the tomb of Clytemnistra and the museum.

Further east is Epidavros near the Saronic Gulf. It hosts many orange fields and olive trees. It also boasts about the ancient theater which was built in 4 B.C. and is known for its great acoustic sound. The theatre is used today by Greek actors who perform various ancient Greek plays. I actually heard an oratory by one of the patrons. It was impressive. The Sanctuary of Asklipeious and the beautiful museum are also well worth the viewing.

Argos is the city of Ancient Greece, in the Northeast section of the Peloponnese Peninsula which is three miles inland from the Gulf of Argos, near modern Naphlion. It was occupied from the early Bronze Age and is mentioned in Homer’s Iliad. Argos houses the Heraeum temple, six miles (9.7 km) North of Argos, was the principal center for the worship of the Goddess Hera. The Ancient Theater is another site in Argos. Argos has produced important sculptors, including Polyetus.

My favorite city is Naphlio, which is “the old Venetian town” was re-built by the Venetians in the 16th century and was the first capital of Greece. It is one of the finest cities in Greece and was the capital of the country in 1829. Because of the strength of the fort that sits above the bay, this town became an important strategic and commercial center to the Byzantines around the sixth century AD. The Franks controlled the city for 200 years and then sold it in 1470. That same year, they built a fort on the small island in the center of the harbor called the Bourtzi. The Venetians continued the fortification of the upper town and completed their work later that year. The new additions to the city surround the Church of Saint George which is a beautiful Venetian church. When the Peloponessos falls to the Venetians, Naphlio becomes the capital. Unfortunately, the Turks take control of the city, destroy and loot it. They even kill almost all of its defenders. Naphlio became the center of activities which would result in the formation of Modern Greece. In 1823, it becomes the capital of the state which is then recognized as a world power in 1827. In 1862, there is a rebellion in Naphlio against the monarchy. Then, the capital is moved to Athens which makes the city of Naphlio less important, but it continues to attract visitors daily.

Palamidi in Naphlion is one of the best castles in Greece. It was named after Nafphlios, son of Poseidon, and home of Palamidis, their local hero of the Trojan War. He also was the inventor of weights and measures, lighthouses, and the first Greek alphabet. Palamidi was built on the hillside. It is six hundred years old and offers a breathtaking view of Nafplio ad the Argolic gulf.

Naphlio is also a wonderful place to stop for lunch and to shop for souvenirs. The old town boasts the best tavernas and night life. See, Naphlio is not just a tourist area. As you can read, it is steeped in history. Therefore, the best way to enjoy it is to spend a couple of nights here. My top two hotel choices are the Grande Bretagne, and the Afitrion, both in Naphlion. The best eateries are Souvours and Elatos. They are in front of the harbor.

We hope you enjoyed your tour of “Naphlio, and the Hero of the Trojan War”. We also hope you relished learning about Corinth, Nemea, Mycanea, Argos, Epidavros, and Naphlio. We look forward to sharing our next tour with you!