The Fortress of Akronafplia is one of the most important monuments of the city of Nafplio, and in recent years has been treated more as a tourist attraction rather than an archaeological site.
This is soon to change however, following a decision by the 25th Ephorate for Byzantine Antiquities to carry out restoration works aiming to showcase the monument.
Akronafplia, also known as Its Kale (Inner Castle), is the oldest part of the city of Nafplion, and was a town in its own right up until the 13th century. With the advent of the Venetians and Franks, it was incorporated into the city’s fortifications.
Later, a part of it was used as a political prison (1936-56), but the Greek government subsequently decided that the view from its location would benefit local tourism and built a hotel complex (Xenia) which still stands there today.
The Akronafplia Fortress, the oldest of Nafplio’s three castles, rises above the old part of the city and was the Acropolis of Nafplio. Walls of several eras are saved on it. The lower section of the fortress walls date back to the Bronze Age, while most of the remaining structures were built by the Venetians in the 15th century.
(Source: AMNA)
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