Following the tradition in Nafplio |
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Following an old greek custom I traveled a few weeks ago in Nafplio, the old capital of Greece . So fasten your seat belts and be ready for a visit to a special place which I am sure you will love it. |
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Christina, my friend and I after the baptism of my god son discussed and we decided to follow an old tradition that most of the Greeks at the modern times forget. It is the washing of the baby's clothes of the baptism ceremony, at the sea. Christina and I are modern women, both marketing managers for our companies with the background of graphic artist behind us but we both enjoy following the tradition, a greek tradition that is so reach and goes back to ancient years. To wash the baby's clothes at the ceremony of baptism comes from our tradition and has a symbolism. It is one more duty for the god mother of the new Christian. According to our tradition this holly oil must not be in any other place except back to the nature and for Greece must placed at the water element… at the endless blue… at the Aegean sea . We planed carefully to find the right time to be close to the sea to be together in order to accomplish one of my duties as a God Mother. We have chosen as the right place a special place, Nafplio, a small city with a great history and exceptional beauty, a great place to visit especially in the off season when it is cool enough to explore, relax, shop, eat, drink and watch life. |
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We traveled in Nafplio a Sunday a few weeks ago. We left Vasilis, Christina's husband the driving duty and we enjoyed the 2 hours driving for Nafplio. Theodoros was also at our company. We did all this for him… he could not be absent from this. We found a nice quiet beach a few kilometers from the center of Nafplio and the God Mother started working inside the sea. Christina was the photographer who took the photos evidence. Theodoros need to have these photos. His god mother did what the tradition ordered her and it will be something to remember and must pass it to the next generation. We must not forget the tradition because we are going to loose our identity as Greeks. So here it is Fotini washing the clothes of Theodoros. |
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After the finish of my duty it was time to enjoy Nafplio. The day was sunny not too hot and a lot of people from the capital area visited the town in order to spend their free day away of monster city, close to the nature, close to the sea. The city of Nafplio was the first capital of the modern Greek state. Named after Nafplios, son of Poseidon, and home of Palamidis, their local hero of the Trojan war and supposedly the inventor of weights and measures, lighthouses, the first Greek alphabet and the father of the Sophists. |
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| The town was the capital of Greece from 1829 to 1834 and is the place where Capodistria , the first president of the modern Greek republic, was assassinated . Nafplion is also the capital of the prefecture of Argolis and the province of Nafplion. |
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| Nafplion is situated on the Argolic Gulf in the northeast Peloponnese . Most of the old town is on a peninsula jutting into the gulf; this peninsula forms a naturally protected bay that is enhanced by the addition of man-made moles . |
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| It is an area steeped in history and has a long connection with the sea, as it is named after the Argonaut son of Poseidon! It has a lovely harbor front and a well-protected harbor, and it is a frequent port-of-call for cruise ships, whose passengers get a peek at this lovely town, or go on to visit Epidaurus and Mycenae . Nafplio today is a modern, seaside town of 12,000 inhabitants. |
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| It has lovely streets populated by beautiful Venetian-style houses and neoclassical buildings, lots of good restaurants, harbor front cafes, and excellent shopping around Constitution Square (Plateia Syntagmatos), including a wide variety of handcrafts, ceramics, and jewelry. |
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| The town is quite picturesque and combines the beauty of the Venetian era, with a subtle Turkish influence, and the grandeur of the 19th century neoclassical period. Other attractions of the town include an excellent Archaeological Museum ; St. Spiridonas Church, where the first Governor of the newly liberated in 1828 Greece Ioannis Kapodistrias was assassinated; and the mosque at Constitution Square . As far as the legendary Nafplion Castles are concerned, Akronafplia, Bourtzi and Palamidi. |
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| Strolling through labyrinthine streets and alleys, the modern day visitor is impressed by the architectural wealth of Neoclassicism and Eclecticism for which Nafplio is famous. There is a harmonious mix of stately homes in the shade of their proud palm trees bearing the grandeur of bygone days with bougainvillea-crowned stone-built buildings and Turkish fountains. |
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| Time seems to stall here as the pace of life slows down. Appointments are set loosely at the central marble-paved Constitution (Syntagmatos) Square, known to the locals as 'the platanos square' in honor of the perennial plane tree whose thick foliage is the hospitable alternative to the coffee shop umbrellas. |
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| Warm, uncompromising smiles bid farewell to wrinkled foreheads and in a mute conspiracy four-wheeled vehicles are sent on a sabbatical, at least for short-distance routes, with bicycles and horse carriage taking over. Amid this leisurely atmosphere, walking is the best way to explore the town which has a story to tell every turn you take. |
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| I hope you have enjoyed the trip in Nafplio. It is a place I love and wanted to share with you. |