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Square · Náuplia, Peloponeso
Praça Syntagma de Náuplia (Plateia Syntagmatos)
The main square of Náuplia's old town, surrounded by Venetian and Ottoman buildings, where the Archaeological Museum is housed in a former naval warehouse from 1713, containing the bronze panoply of Dendra and finds from the Franchthi cave.
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 Praça Syntagma de Náuplia (Plateia Syntagmatos)
The Plateia Syntagmatos, the Constitution Square, is the heart of Náuplia's old town. Large and without trees in the center, it is surrounded by cafés and by buildings that tell the city's history: the Venetian naval warehouse of 1713, of grey stone, on the west side; the old Trianon mosque from the 16th century, now a theatre; and the Vouleftikon mosque, where the first Greek parliament met in 1825. Around the streets are the Komboloi Museum and the Peloponnese Folklore Museum, with costumes and textiles from all over Greece.
The Venetian warehouse houses the Archaeological Museum of Náuplia on two floors. The most famous exhibit is the panoply of Dendra, a complete bronze armor from the 15th century BC, found in a Mycenaean tomb near Midea, the oldest of its kind known. There are also tools, shells and jewelry from the Paleolithic and Neolithic from the Franchthi cave, figurines, seals and pottery from Tiryns and Mycenae, and pieces from classical Argolis.
The square is the natural starting point for exploring the old town. From there lead the pedestrian streets with iron balconies, bougainvillea and shops, Staikopoulou Street with its tavernas and the descent to the quay. Nearby is the church of Agios Spyridon, where Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first ruler of independent Greece, was assassinated in 1831.
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
Half an hour for the square; 1 to 1½ hours for the Archaeological Museum.
Best time
In the morning the square is for residents and cafés; in the late afternoon and evening the tables fill the stone pavement and children run around. The museum usually closes one weekday; check before you go.
How to get there
The square is in the center of the old town, about a 10-minute walk from the KTEL bus station and 5 minutes from the quay. From the car park by the port, just enter via the pedestrian streets.
Tip
Study the panoply of Dendra at leisure: it's one of the few complete Bronze Age armors in any museum. Then walk along Staikopoulou and Vasileos Konstantinou to the quay, and finish with a gelato in the shops around the square, a local tradition.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Praça Syntagma de Náuplia (Plateia Syntagmatos)
What's the main attraction at the Museu Arqueológico de Náuplia?
The panoply of Dendra, a complete bronze armor from the 15th century BC, as well as finds from the cave of Franchthi, from Tirinto and from Micenas. The museum occupies a Venetian warehouse from 1713 on the square itself.
Is Náuplia's Syntagma square the same as Atenas'?
No. Syntagma means Constitution, and several Greek cities have a square with that name. Náuplia's is the main square of the old town.
Where is the Museu Folclórico?
A few metres from the square, on Vasileos Alexandrou street. It displays costumes, textiles and objects of traditional Greek life, with a fashion collection from the 20th century.
What is a komboloi?
A string of beads that Greeks pass between their fingers, with no religious function. The Museu do Komboloi, near the square, displays examples from various countries and materials.