Travel Log for Melvin: World Cruise 2017 Day 90 Nafplion, Greece

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Today the ship arrived at Nafplion, Greece at 7 AM. At 8:50 I left on a tour called "Epidaurus & Palamidi Castle". We stopped and walked up to the theatre of Epidaurus which in a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We saw the site and also visited the museum. Returning back to the bus we drove back to Nafplion to view the Palamidi Castle. Perched on a crag over 700 feet high with commanding views of the town and the harbor. Ruben Vilagrand was the show after dinner. He presented a unique and modern approach combining mime, magic and comedy.

Nafplion or Nafplio is a seaport town in the Peloponnese in Greece that has expanded up the hillsides near the north end of the Argolic Gulf. The town was an important seaport held under a succession of royal houses in the Middle Ages as part of the lordship of Argos and Nauplia, held initially by the de la Rochefollowing the Fourth Crusade before coming under the Republic of Venice and, lastly, the Ottoman Empire. The town was the capital of the First Hellenic Republic and of the Kingdom of Greece, from the start of the Greek Revolution in 1821 until 1834. Nafplio is now the capital of the regional unit of Argolis.

The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus is a theatre in the Greek city of Epidaurus, located on the southeast end of the sanctuary dedicated to the ancient Greek God of medicine, Asclepius. It is built on the west side of Cynortion Mountain, near modern Lygourio, and belongs to the Epidaurus Municipality. It is considered to be the most perfect ancient Greek theatre with regard to acoustics and aesthetics.

Palamidi is a fortress to the east of the Acronauplia in the town of Nafplio in the Peloponnese region of southern Greece. Nestled on the crest of a 216-metre high hill, the fortress was built by the Venetians during their second occupation of the area (1686–1715).

The fortress was a very large and ambitious project, but was finished within a relatively short period from 1711 until 1714. It is a typical baroque fortress based on the plans of the engineers Giaxich and Lasalle. In 1715 it was captured by the Turks and remained under their control until 1822, when it was captured by the Greeks.

The eight bastions of the fortress were originally named after the Venetian provveditori. However, when it fell to the Ottoman Empire, the bastions were given Turkish names. Lastly, when the Greeks overthrew the Turks the bastions were renamed after ancient Greek leaders and heroes (Epaminondas, Miltiades, Leonidas, Phocion, Achilles, Themistocles. The two remaining bastions were named after St. Andrew (Agios Andreas) and the French Philhellene Robert who died in battle on the Acropolis of Athens. The "Miltiades," was used as a prison and among its walls was also held Theodoros Kolokotronis, hero of the Greek Revolution.

The fortress commands an impressive view over the Argolic Gulf, the city of Náfplio and the surrounding country. There are 913 steps in the winding stair from the town to the fortress. However, to reach the top of the fortress there are over one thousand. Locals in the town of Nafplion will say there are 999 steps to the top of the castle, and specials can be found on menus that incorporate this number to catch a tourist's eye.

This picture was taken in Nafplion, Greece of the Palamidi Castle.

This picture was taken from the bus on the way to Epidaurus. These are olive trees.

This picture was taken on the walk from the bus to the Theatre of Epidaurus.

This is a picture of the Theatre of Epidaurus.

This picture was taken at the visit to the Theatre of Epidaurus.

This picture was taken at the visit to the Theatre of Epidaurus. It shows detail of the seats in the Theatre.

This picture was taken at the visit to the Theatre of Epidaurus.

This picture was taken in the museum at the visit to the Theatre of Epidaurus.

This picture was taken from the bus of a town near the Theatre of Epidaurus.

This picture was taken from the bus on the way back to Nafplion.

This picture was taken on the visit to the Palamidi Castle.

This picture was taken on the visit to the Palamidi Castle. It shows the town of Nafplion below the castle.

This picture was taken on the visit to the Palamidi Castle.

This picture was taken on the visit to the Palamidi Castle. It shows the town of Nafplion below the castle.

This picture was taken on the visit to the Palamidi Castle.

This picture was taken on the visit to the Palamidi Castle. It shows the town of Nafplion below the castle.

This picture was taken on the visit to the Palamidi Castle.

This picture was taken on the visit to the Palamidi Castle. The shows the area outside of the castle.

This is a picture was taken in the town of Nafplion.

This is a picture was taken in the town of Nafplion. This is the water castle of Bourtzi. The Venetians completed its fortification in 1473 to protect the city from pirates and invaders from the sea.