Nafplio - Agios Nikolaos

Today the coastal town of Nafplio is an important tourist destination. Founded in antiquity, the city became an important seaport in the Middle Ages under Frankish rule. Initially held by the de la Roche family following the Fourth Crusade, the territory later came under the control of the Republic of Venice.

In 1542, the city briefly fell under Turkish rule but was recaptured by the Venetians and served as the capital of the province of Morea under the name "Napoli di Romania" until 1715. During this period, the city was heavily fortified. In 1715, it was conquered by the Turks under Sultan Ahmed III, who perpetrated a massacre of the Greek civilian population and the Venetian soldiers.

During the Greek Revolution, Nafplio was besieged by Greek revolutionary forces for a year and finally captured in December 1822. From 1829 to 1834, Nafplio served as the capital of modern Greece following independence from the Ottoman Empire. In 1833, the city became the residence of Otto of Bavaria, who became King of Greece. In 1834, the royal court moved to Athens, which has been the Greek capital ever since.

Agios Nikolaos, dating from 1836, is located near the harbor. However, the façade and the bell towers are later additions.