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Nafpaktos is a seaside town of Aitoloakarnania in the Corinthian Bay. It is built between Antirrio and the mouth of the river Mornos and has a population of 17.154 inhabitants (2021). It is one of the oldest Greek cities that experienced periods of great prosperity and was associated with important historical events, while today it is also classified as a traditional settlement.
It takes its name from the words ” ναυς” and “πήγνυμι“, which means “to build a ship”. It first appears in 1104 BC with the Dorians, who used Nafpaktos to build rudimentary ships in their Kathodos, so “Nafpaktos” became a legacy.
Built amphitheatrically, on the slopes of a green and pine-clad hill on which dominates the impressive Venetian castle, one of the best preserved in the country and visitable in most of its part, unfolds wonderful images for the visitor wherever he turns his gaze.
The view from the top of the castle will make up for it. At your feet, the settlement spreads out and to the southwest, where the horizon joins the sea, the “cabled” bridge of Rio – Antirrio stands out impressively. The horseshoe-shaped Venetian port with its two breakwaters at its opening is the trademark and the heart of the city. To the left and right of the port two beautiful beaches, Gribovo and Psani, offer the visitor hours of relaxation under their century-old plane trees.
Today Nafpaktos is rapidly evolving into a quality holiday destination of Western Greece, with a great number of visitors! It has a lively life, especially during the summer months and a multitude of cultural and traditional events throughout the year.
The visitor will find what suits him, for relaxation, recreation and entertainment. Specialised services such as hotels, rooms to let for comfortable accommodation, outdoor activities, archaeological sites open to visitors, coastal and mountain routes, picturesque cafes, quality restaurants and seaside taverns for fresh fish are at his disposal.
The commercial market of the city is constantly evolving and can now satisfy every visitor in a wide range of products and services.
The nightlife in Nafpaktos is also rich and intense! It offers unforgettable moments to locals and visitors alike and caters to all tastes. The port of Nafpaktos is full of life, restaurants, cafes and bars to enjoy the gastronomy of the area, as well as quality options for dining or a glass of wine, in the city centre and on the two beaches.
In the summer there is a rich cultural activity not only in Nafpaktos, but also in the wider area of Nafpaktia and Dorida, including artistic events such as concerts and theatre performances, and sporting events such as running and cycling races and kitesurf and windsurf races.
Video: mele_snaps
Walk through the town, along the cobbled streets, through the narrow streets with traditional two-storey buildings, and discover the traces of a long history combined with a wonderful nature.
Photos + Video: potamoulas_a
The port of Nafpaktos, which is essentially the first defence zone of the castle, looks like a small horseshoe, as its entrance has an opening of only 35 metres.
The Castle of Nafpaktos is one of the most representative monuments of fortress architecture in Greece. It stands imposingly, on a hill, in a position of great strategic importance that provides the possibility of controlling the sea strait of Rio-Antirrio, at the entrance of the Corinthian Gulf and in the middle of the Ionian Sea.
The monument is located in contact with the eastern jetty of the Venetian port of Nafpaktos. It is the first Muslim mosque built in the city and part of its timeless history, with a name that indicates the capture of the city by Sultan Bayezid II in 1499. During the Venetian years and until the end of the 19th century it was used as a salt depot.
Since its expropriation in the 1970s and until 1998, the building was used as the first small archaeological collection where archaeological finds from the wider area of Nafpaktia were gathered and as an office space for the Archaeological Department of the Ministry of Culture.
Today it is an exhibition space and hosts cultural events.
The Museum of the Dimitrios and Aigli Botsaris Foundation is housed in the mansion known as the “Tower” of Botsaris. The tower rises proudly northeast of the Western Gate of Kato Polis.
Today it hosts a collection of paintings by well-known artists on the theme of the Battle of Nafpaktos, as well as cultural events, both in the halls of the Tower and in its magnificent courtyard.
The Clock of Nafpaktos is the newest monument of the historic city of Aitoloakarnania. It was built in 1914 by Metropolitan Seraphim Domboitis on the Byzantine castle.
Its trunk is square in cross-section, built of chipped stone. In the inner part of the structure is the bell of the clock. Its sound – which the locals call Sarafim in honour of its creator – is heard when the clock strikes precisely.
