Nafpaktos Attractions
Náfpaktos (Naupaktos) is a charming little port on the north side of the Gulf of Corinth, 9km/6mi east of the Strait of Ríon. It was known to the Venetians as Lepanto, and became famous as the scene of the naval battle of Lepanto in 1571.
The ancient town of Naupaktos in western Lokris was captured by Athens in 455 B.C. and was used by the Athenians to house the Messenians who had been expelled from their city by Sparta. At the end of the Peloponnesian War, however, the Messenians were once again expelled. During that war, in which Naupaktos played an important part as a base for the Athenian expedition to Sicily, Phormion defeated a numerically superior Spartan fleet (429 B.C. - the year in which Perikles died).
From 1407 to 1499 and from 1687 to 1700 Náfpaktos was a Venetian naval base, which along with the fortresses of Ríon and Antírrion controlled the entrance to the Gulf of Corinth. From 1499 to 1687 and from 1700 to 1821 the town was held by the Turks, whose fleet sailed from here to fight the battle of Lepanto, the first naval victory by the allied European powers over the hitherto undefeated Turks (October sixth 1571). This historic battle took place off the Oxia Islands to the west. The commander of the "Holy League" formed by the Pope, Spain, Venice, Genoa and the Order of St John was Don John of Austria, a natural son of the Emperor Charles V. Among those who fought in the battle was Cervantes, author of "Don Quixote", who lost an arm in the encounter.
The Papakharalambia festival of artistic and sporting events is held annually in July.
The ancient town of Naupaktos in western Lokris was captured by Athens in 455 B.C. and was used by the Athenians to house the Messenians who had been expelled from their city by Sparta. At the end of the Peloponnesian War, however, the Messenians were once again expelled. During that war, in which Naupaktos played an important part as a base for the Athenian expedition to Sicily, Phormion defeated a numerically superior Spartan fleet (429 B.C. - the year in which Perikles died).
From 1407 to 1499 and from 1687 to 1700 Náfpaktos was a Venetian naval base, which along with the fortresses of Ríon and Antírrion controlled the entrance to the Gulf of Corinth. From 1499 to 1687 and from 1700 to 1821 the town was held by the Turks, whose fleet sailed from here to fight the battle of Lepanto, the first naval victory by the allied European powers over the hitherto undefeated Turks (October sixth 1571). This historic battle took place off the Oxia Islands to the west. The commander of the "Holy League" formed by the Pope, Spain, Venice, Genoa and the Order of St John was Don John of Austria, a natural son of the Emperor Charles V. Among those who fought in the battle was Cervantes, author of "Don Quixote", who lost an arm in the encounter.
The Papakharalambia festival of artistic and sporting events is held annually in July.
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Naupaktos - Town
At Naupaktos, the harbor is protected by a Venetian wall, in which many fragments of ancient masonry can be seen. From the harbor the town's powerful fortifications climb in several successive rings to the castle on top of the hill. A walk through the town, passing the main square just off the harbor with its coffee-houses and tavernas, will give some impression of the skill displayed by the military engineers in taking full advantage of the town's excellent strategic situation.
