Náfplion (Nauplia / Nafplion) has a magnificent situation in the Argolic Gulf below the rocky promontory of Akrónafplia (85m/280ft) and the fortified hill of Palamídi (216m/709ft). The beauty of it situation, the many places of archeological interest in the surrounding area and the town's numerous hotels have made
Náfplion a popular tourist center.
According to an ancient tradition Nauplia was founded by Nauplios, son of the sea god Poseidon, and his son Palamedes. From 628 B.C. it was the port of Árgos.
After the fourth Crusade (1203-04) Leon Sgouros, who had used the town as a base for his conquest of Corinth in 1202, held it against the Crusaders, who were unable to take it until 1246. In 1387 it fell into the hands of the Venetians, who made it one of the most powerful strongholds of the day under the name of Napoli di Levante. The town withstood two Turkish sieges, but was ceded to the Turks by treaty in 1540. It was further strengthened by the Turks, who held it from 1540 to 1686 and from 1715 to 1822. Between 1686 and 1715 it was briefly held by the Venetians under Francesco Morosini, who built the fortress of Palamídi.
The town was captured by the Greeks in 1822, and in 1828 became capital of Greece. The first President of Greece, Count Kapodistrias, was murdered in an act of private revenge outside the church of St Spyridon on November eighth 1831.
On January 25th 1833 the 18 year-old King Otto, son of Ludwig I of Bavaria, landed here to take up his new kingdom. In 1834 the king transferred his capital from Náfplion to Athens.
The town has remained largely unspoiled, in spite of land reclamation from the sea to the north and east of Akrónafplia and much recent building. It preserves a number of Venetian buildings, one or two churches and neo-classical houses dating from the reign of King Otto. In Syntagma (Constitution) Square is a former mosque now known as the Vouleftikó from its use as the meeting-place of the Greek Parliament (Vouli)
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