Palamidi (fortress)

Palamidi fortress

The fortress Palamidi ( Greek Παλαμήδι ) is a Venetian fortress in the urban area of Nafplio in the Peloponnese in the southern part of mainland Greece . The fortress is located on a 216 meter high mountain of the same name east of Nafplio and was built by the Venetians during the rule of Morea (1686 to 1715).

Naming

The fortress got its name from Palamedes , a hero of the Trojan War of Greek mythology .

history

Venetian period 1686 to 1715

Venetian lion

After the conquest of Nafplio by Francesco Morosini , the building of a strategic fortification became necessary. The construction was a large and ambitious project. Nevertheless, the nuclear installation was completed in a relatively short time from 1711 to 1714. However, no particular emphasis was placed on the eastern enclosure wall , as it was believed that it could not be overcome due to the steep mountain location of the fortress. The fortress was built in the baroque style according to the plans of the builders Antonio Giaxich and Lasalle. Thanks to the strategic location on the Argolic Gulf , access to the city, the port and the Argolic Gulf could now be controlled.

Ottoman period 1715 to 1822

In 1715 the fortress was overrun by the Turks . The fortress was expanded several times under Ottoman rule. It remained under their control until the Greek Revolution in 1822.

Greek period 1822 to date

Enclosing wall on the west side

During the war of independence, the Greeks tried to take the fortress several times, without success. The reconquest succeeded only on November 29, 1822 by Staikos Staikopoulos . In a coup d'état with around 350 soldiers, he was able to overcome the sparsely occupied and only about two meters high surrounding wall and penetrate into the interior of the fortress. The only small crew of the fortress gave up without further fighting. Nafplio became the first capital of Greece . Every year on November 30th, commemorative ceremonies take place in Nafplio in memory of the reconquest.

construction

Bastion of the Palamidi fortress

The fortress consists of a total of eight bastions . The Venetians named the individual bastions after the Venetian provinces ( Provveditore ). After the fortress fell to the Ottomans, the bastions were given Turkish names. After the recapture by the Greeks, they renamed the individual bastions after Greek personalities and mythical heroes. These names are still in use today:

The last two bastions were after

the Apostle Andreas (Agios Andreas)
and the French philhellenic Robert (died in the Battle of the Acropolis , 1821-1822)

named.

In the baroque style central bastion there are two central structures:

The church of Agios Andreas , which is integrated directly into the ramparts.
The bastion, known as "Miltiades" or now also the Kolokotronis prison , which was used as a prison. The most prominent inmate was the hero of the Greek War of Independence Theodoros Kolokotronis . He was imprisoned here for eleven months from 1834 to 1835.

Trivia

Steps to the west entrance

The fortress is open to visitors from May to November. There is a fee to enter. Many travel guides say that the fortress was laid out in such a way that exactly 999 steps lead from Nafplio to the west entrance. However, this can only be viewed as a myth. Today's path does not correspond to the historical path, which is roofed against fire and is passable for horses or donkeys (vaulted stairs). Depending on the count, the number of steps is between 847 and 901. The east entrance can be reached via a drivable road.