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Fortress · Náuplia, Peloponeso
Fortaleza de Palamidi
Venetian fortress built between 1711 and 1714 on top of a hill 216 metres above Náuplia, with eight bastions, the cell where the hero Kolokotronis was imprisoned and a staircase of hundreds of steps rising from the old town.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Fortaleza de Palamidi
Palamidi was built by the Venetians between 1711 and 1714, designed by engineer Antonio Giancix and carried out by the Frenchman Pierre de la Salle. It was Venice's last major military work outside Italy and did not remain in their hands for long: in 1715 the Ottomans took the fortress and stayed until 1822, when the Greeks captured it during the War of Independence.
The fortress occupies the top of a 216‑metre hill and is made up of eight independent bastions, linked by walls, each capable of holding out on its own if the others fell. The names changed with each owner: the Venetians used governors' names, the Ottomans Turkish names, and the Greeks renamed the bastions after heroes of Antiquity. In the Miltiades bastion there was a prison where Theodoros Kolokotronis, one of the leaders of the Greek revolution, was held. The cell can be visited.
There are two ways up. The first is the staircase that starts near the praia de Arvanitia, at the end of the old town: tradition speaks of 999 steps, but counts range between 850 and 900 depending on the starting point. The second is the road that climbs the east side to the main entrance, with parking. From the top you can see the old town, the bay of Argos, the Bourtzi and, on clear days, the mountains of Arcádia.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Allow 1½ to 2½ hours inside the fortress. Add 30 to 40 minutes for the climb up the staircase.
Best time
Right at opening, before the heat and the crowds; the staircase is in the sun and has no shade. In the late afternoon the light is good for photos of the town, but check the closing time, which varies between summer and winter.
How to get there
The staircase begins on rua Polyzoidou, near the praia de Arvanitia, about a 10‑minute walk from praça Syntagma. By car or taxi, the road climbs through the bairro de Pronoia to the east entrance, with parking by the ticket office.
Tip
Bring water and shoes with rubber soles: the bastions' stones are smooth. If you climb the staircase and descend by taxi, arrange the pickup at the upper entrance, where there are not always cars waiting. Tickets are sold at the entrance; check whether there is a combined ticket with the archaeological museum.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Fortaleza de Palamidi
How many steps does the Palamidi staircase have?
Tradition speaks of 999, but the actual count ranges between 850 and 900 steps depending on the starting point. The climb takes 20 to 40 minutes.
Can you drive up?
Yes. A road climbs the east side of the hill to the main entrance, where there is parking. Taxis make the trip from the old town.
What can you see from up there?
The old town of Náuplia, the bay of Argos with the Bourtzi, Karathona beach and the Argólida plain. On clear days, the inland mountains.
Who was imprisoned in the Palamidi?
Theodoros Kolokotronis, the military leader of the Greek War of Independence, was imprisoned in the Miltiades bastion in 1834. The cell is part of the visit.