Jaap van 't Veen's photos with the keyword: Argolis

The Arvanitia Promenadeas is one of the most beautiful walks that Nafplion has to offer. It begins at the end of the small harbor next to the lighthouse and ends a distance of one kilometer reaching the square of Arvanitia next to the beach of Arvanitia. The route of Arvanitia is a paved path, with on one side the Argolic Gulf and on the other the rock walls of Acronafplia with flowers and lots of cactuses. On the second part of the promenade one has a beautiful view towards the imposing Palamidi fortress (PiP6). The name Arvanitia Promenade is due to the fact that Albanians had inhabited the area outside the walls of Nafplion since before the time of the first Venetian occupation.

Palamidi fortress is one of the most important and best-preserved castles in Greece, a beautiful example of Venetian architecture of the 18th century. It is located located on a 216 meters high hill above the city of Nafplion. The hill at which the castle is located was named after Palamidis, the hero of Homer’s Epics. 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 a Venetian engineer. In 1715, just one year after its completion, it was occupied by the Turks. During the Greek War of Independence - in 1822 - Palamidi was captured by the Greeks. The fortress commands an impressive The view from the fortress over Nafplion, the Argolic Gulf and the surrounfing county are just stunning

Kefalari (nearby the town of Argos) is a well-known pilgrimage site for the Greek Orthodox people, due to the Zoodochos Pigi Church. The first church, built in 1634, was possibly the place where the miraculous image of the Holy Virgin was found. The church was destroyed in 1918 after an explosion in the German ammunition depots. That first church was called “Panagia Kefalariotissa”, meaning “Holy Virgin of Kefalari”. Half of the church was inside a cave. The explosion was survived only by the picture of the Holy Virgin and the altar. The people of Argos wanted to rebuild the church, and aided by the Greek immigrants of Argos in America, collected enough money to do it. In 1924, the new church was opened. In 1955 the bell tower of the church was built. In front of the church is a small pond, created by the waters of Erysinos.

The history of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour - also knowns as Frankoklisia - probably began during the time of the Frankish occupation of Nafplio, when the church must have been used as a convent for Franciscan nuns. Shortly before the outbreak of the Greek revolutionin 1821, when Nafplio was still under Turkish control, the widow of the Aga-Pasha converted it into a mosque, as a memorial to her husband. In 1839, with the mediation of King Otto (the first king of the modern Greek state), the Municipality of Nafplio granted the mosque to the Catholic Church, for the ecclesiastical needs of the approximately three hundred Greek and foreign Catholics - mainly the Bavarian soldiers who belonged to the king's entourage. After repairs, the church was officially opened in 1840. The church has been in continuous operation from 1839 to the present day.

The Church of Panagia ( Ιερός Ναός Παναγίας ) – consecrated to the Presentation of the Virgin Mary - is one of the oldest and most beautiful churches of Nafplion. The original temple, dating back to the 15th century was smaller and belonged to the Orthodox Church. Around 1700, during the second Venetian domination, the church took its current form, a three-aisled basilica. A further addition is the church-porch, while the bell tower dates added in 1907. The Church of Panagia has a beautiful wood-carved temple of Ionian style inside, created in the 19th century. The pulpit and the episcopal throne of the church are of a similar style. Its frescoes are impressive.

Larissa Castle ( Κάστρο Λάρισα ) - the ancient and medieval acropolis of the city of Argos - is located on the top of the Larissa hill on a height of 289 meters above the city of Argos. The first inhabitants of the area were the Pelasgians - pre-Hellenic people inhabiting parts of Greece - and the names "Argos" and "Larissa" are pelasgian. The meaning of the first was “valley” and of the latter “acropolis”. Τhe castle was created in the 6th century B.C. but there was a fortification there since prehistoric times and the epoch of the Pelasgians. The medieval castle was first built by the Byzantines in the 10th century. During the Byzantine period, the fortress was of strategic importance. In 1203, it came under the control of the archon of Nafplio. In 1212 it was captured by Othon de la Roche, the Bourgoundian Duke of Athens, and was controlled by the Franks until 1388. Between 1394 and 1463 it was occupied by the Venetians. In 1463 it was captured by the Turks and remained under their control until 1822, interrupted during 1686-1715, when Larissa came under the control of the Venetians. The site was liberated by the Greeks in 1822 during the Greek War of Independence. .

According to mythology, Nafplion was founded by Nafplios, the son of god Poseidon and the daughter of Danaus Anymone. The town’s history traces back to the prehistoric era when soldiers from here participated in the Argonautic expedition and the Trojan War alike. The town declined during the Roman times and flourished again during the Byzantine times. Frankish, Venetian and Turkish conquerors left their mark in the town and strongly influenced its culture, architecture and traditions during the centuries. After Greek War of Independence, Nafplion became the first Greek capital in 1829. Nafplion remained the capital of the kingdom until 1834, when King Otto decided to move the capital to Athens. Nowadays Nafplion is considered being one of the most beautiful cities in Greece. It offers magnificent neoclassical buildings, large squares, pretty flower-decorated shopping streets along with the harbour and imposing forts and castles.

Because the city of Argos was constantly growing the small Church of St. Nicholas no longer served the needs of the people and it was outside the center of the city. The people of Argos therefore decided to establish a large and luxurious church in a central point of the city. The foundation of the Cathedral of St. Peter was laid in July1859. The ceremony was attended by King Otto, the first king of independent Greece. The inauguration of the church took place on April 18, 1865.

The nunnery of Agia Moni is located a couple of kilometers outside the town of Nafplion. The katholikon (= main church) is dating back to the middle of the 12th century. It is one of the most important churches of the middle Byzantine period in Greece. According to its foundation inscription the church was built with donations of the bishop of Argos and Nafplion, who had constructed it in the year of 1149. The church is mainly of architectural interest as the murals and decorations have not survived. Apart from the church, the monastery complex consists of small chapels and housing and living quarters for the nuns, who still life here. The church is dedicated to Zoodochos (= “Source of life”). Just outside the nunnery one can find the monastic spring, which is famous for its water.