Palamidi Fortress

Peloponnese, Greece

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Palamidi Fortress is a large and meticulously designed Venetian fortress located on a hill above the city of Nafplio in the Peloponnese, Greece.

Constructed in a remarkably short period between 1711 and 1714 during the second Venetian occupation, it was engineered to control the city, port, and access to the Argolic Gulf with advanced military architecture featuring eight interconnected but independently defendable bastions.

In 1715, shortly after its completion, the fortress fell to the Ottomans and remained under their control until the Greek War of Independence, when Greek rebels, led by Staikos Staikopoulos, captured it in 1822, marking a critical victory that led to Nafplio becoming the first capital of modern Greece.

The fortress later served as a prison, with prisoners building the 999 steps that lead up to it under Bavarian supervision. Palamidi Fortress stands today not only as a symbol of military ingenuity but also as a monument of Greek resilience and freedom, offering panoramic views and a glimpse into the region’s turbulent history.