Dominating the town of Nafplion is the Palamidi fortress. Named after Palamedes who was a local hero of the Trojan War, the imposing fortress is lit up at night turning it into an almost magical site.
Strategically built on the highest point 216 meters high, the fortress was first constructed by the Franks and completed by the Venetians from the late 1600"s to the early 1700's.
Just after its final completion in 1715 the castle was taken over by the Turks and remained under their control until the Greek War of Independence when it was rightfully placed into the hands of the Greeks in 1822
To reach the fortress there are 999 steps to the very top. Steps that convicts under the supervision of the Bavarian Army during the Otto rule were made to build.
For the more faint hearted local taxis' will drive you up the road way whence you will have a choice of returning by taxi or walking back down the steps.
Giaxich and Lasalle are the engineers responsible for this typical baroque fortress with its' eight bastions surrounded by walls. Inside the fortress you will find the small Church of St. Andrew, built in one of the bastions of the fortress and in another bastion is the prison of Theodoros Kolokotronis a hero of the Greek Revolution.