Nafplio

Greece is recognised by most for its beautiful islands and glorious beaches. Unfortunately, the mainland is somewhat neglected, which is a great shame given how much natural beauty there is to discover. Whether snowy mountains or golden sand, like most European countries, Greece has it all. Consequently, seeing as it's not island hopping season, I've decided to take the opportunity to see as much of the countryside as possible.

Last weekend I visited Nafplio, a town set in the heart of the Peloponnese mountains, surrounded by a stunning landscape of orange, lemon and almond trees. Although not famous for any food or local produce, Nafplio holds great significance for the Greeks. From the years 1821-1834, Nafplio was the original capital of Greece, before the head of state was overthrown. In fact, original elements from Nafplio were taken to new capital, for example, Nafplio's central square is called Syntagma square, just as there is a Syntagma square in Athens.

The old town of Nafplio has some of the most beautiful architecture of the mainland, which stems from past Venetian and Ottoman influences. It's extremely colourful and romantic, and, situated only 1.5 hours from Athens, is the perfect weekend getaway for Athenians. What I love about small towns like Nafplio is how personable they are. You go into a little art gallery and the artist is there to tell you about his or her work. You go for a coffee and have a conversation with the shop owner about everything and nothing. It just gives you a break from the hectic and somewhat anonymous life living in a big city.

The pictures below are taken all around Nafplio, including one from the top of a castle (which I had to climb 999 steps to reach!). Fortunately, spring finally decided to make an appearance that weekend, after one of the coldest and greyest winters Greece has seen since 1965!