Palamidi ( el, Παλαμήδι) is a fortress to the east of the
Acronauplia in the town of
Nafplio in the
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese (), Peloponnesus (; el, Πελοπόννησος, Pelopónnēsos,(), or Morea is a peninsula and geographic regions of Greece, geographic region in southern Greece. It is connected to the central part of the country by the Isthmu ...
region of southern
Greece. Nestled on the crest of a 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 Venetian engineer Antonio Giancix (Antun Jančić) and built by French military engineer Pierre de la Salle. In 1715 it was
captured by the Ottomans 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 The Italian title ''prov ditore'' (plural ''provveditori''; also known in gr, προνοητής, προβλεπτής; sh, providur), "he who sees to things" (overseer), was the style of various (but not all) local district governors in the exten ...
''. 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
Miltiades (; grc-gre, Μιλτιάδης; c. 550 – 489 BC), also known as Miltiades the Younger, was a Greek Athenian citizen known mostly for his role in the Battle of Marathon, as well as for his downfall afterwards. He was the son of Cimon C ...
,
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
Theodoros Kolokotronis ( el, Θεόδωρος Κολοκοτρώνης; 3 April 1770 – 4 February 1843) was a Greek general and the pre-eminent leader of the Greek War of Independence (1821–1829) against the Ottoman Empire. Kolokotronis's g ...
, 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,
Palamidi
', Municipality of Nafplio Website, Accessed January 21, 2019 and specials can be found on menus that incorporate this number to catch a tourist's eye.
Gallery
File:Monte-Palamida nuovamente fortificato - Coronelli Vincenzo Maria - 1708.jpg, Sketch of Palamidi in 1708
File:Palamidi fortress.JPG, Palamidi fortress seen from the Nafplio waterfront
File:05.Φρούριο Παλαμηδίου GR-J11-0053.jpg, Interior
File:Argolic Gulf.jpg, View of the Argolic Gulf from the Palamidi
File:Palamidi2002Video.ogv, Palamidi Fortress (2002)
File:Gate palamidi.jpg, A gate inside the fortress Palamidi, February 9, 2013.
References
Bibliography
* Takis MAVROS, ''Palamidi. A Brief History of the Fortress of Nafplion'', Athens, 1990.
External links
Palamidi
Castles in the Peloponnese
Tourist attractions in Peloponnese (region)
Venetian fortifications in Greece
Nafplion
Buildings and structures in Argolis
Articles containing video clips
18th-century architecture in Greece
Natura 2000 in Greece
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