description Palamidi Castle Overview
Palamidi Castle is an 18th-century Venetian military fortress situated on a steep hill overlooking the coastal town of Nafplio in Greece. Completed between 1711 and 1714 under Venetian rule, the fortification was designed as a defensive stronghold and consists of eight mutually supporting bastions connected by ramps and tunnels. The fortress is accessible by a steep, winding stairway traditionally said to contain 999 steps, though the actual count is lower. It later served as a prison for Greek independence fighters.
help Palamidi Castle FAQ
Are there really 999 steps up to Palamidi Castle?
Local tradition famously speaks of 999 steps from Nafplio to Palamidi. Modern counts commonly come out lower, often around the mid-800s, because the route and the way individual steps are counted differ.
Who built Palamidi Castle above Nafplio?
The Republic of Venice constructed the fortress during its second occupation of the Peloponnese, completing the main works around 1714. Ottoman forces captured it soon afterward in 1715.
Why does Palamidi have several separate bastions?
Its eight major bastions were designed to operate with a degree of independence, so losing one position would not automatically surrender the whole fortress. Several carry names connected with ancient Greek figures or later Orthodox saints.
Was Greek independence hero Theodoros Kolokotronis imprisoned at Palamidi?
Yes, Kolokotronis was imprisoned at Palamidi after being convicted of treason during the reign of King Otto. A small cell traditionally identified with his imprisonment is shown to visitors.
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