Description of the attraction
Above the old town of Nafplio, on a narrow rocky promontory, rises the ancient fortress of Akronafplia. The fortress is also known under the name Itz Kale, which it received during the period of Ottoman rule (translated from Turkish as "inner fortress"). This structure is the oldest of the three surviving fortresses in Nafplion.
During archaeological excavations of this area, traces of settlements have been discovered since the Neolithic era. Some fragments of the walls of the fortress date back to the 4th century BC. Over the centuries, the territory has constantly changed its owners (Byzantines, Franks, Venetians, Turks), each of whom made their own additions to the defensive structures. The external appearance of Akronafplia, as we see it today, and most of the surviving buildings inside the fortress, were mainly built by the Venetians in the 14-15th centuries on the remains of more ancient buildings. In 1829, under the leadership of Ioannis Kapodistrias (the first president of independent Greece in 1827-1831), a military hospital and a church were built on the territory of the fortress. During the time of George I, the fortress turned into a military prison (later the prison was also used for keeping civil criminals). In the 1970s, the prison and a number of other buildings were destroyed and the Xenia Palace luxury hotel was built.
The fortress has been well preserved to our times. And today, above the gate, you can see a beautiful bas-relief depicting the famous Venetian symbol of St. Mark's Leo. The ancient acropolis was located nearby. Now there is a symbol of the city - a clock tower.
Akronafplia Fortress is an ancient monumental structure that is a very interesting and popular tourist attraction.
