A week in Athens is a long time. We decided to rent a car for a couple days to get out of the city. On our first day away from Athens we trekked into the Peloponnese, first stopping in Ancient Corinth, and then on to charming Nafplio.
Ancient Corinth and the Corinth Canal
To be honest, I expected a bit more. If I had known that this was only a super small downtown and an equally small ruins, probably we would’ve chosen the Archaeological site of Mycenae near Nafplio instead. Still, we saw the ruins, ate an excellent sandwich and spanakopita, saw the canal, and headed on our way.
Nafplio
According to mythology, Nafplio was founded by Nafplios, who was the son of the god Poseidon and Amymone, daughter of King Danuas. A port city, Nafplio has played an important role for centuries, and you can see the influences of many cultures and time periods reflected in it: Byzantine, Frankish, Venetian, and Turkish.
Fortress of Palamidi
The fortress was built by the Venetians in the early 1700s, and reaching the top affords some stunning views, as well as a decent workout. It’s just over 900 steps to reach the ticket office and entrance. We arrived 5 minutes after closing (darn it), but the climb itself was worth it.
Around Nafplio
Just before sunset we strolled along the water, spying sea urchins and fish, and eating some ice cream. What a relaxing way to end our visit to Nafplio; not to mention some great pictures.
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