Bourtzi Castle in Nafplio

A small island at the entrance of the port of Nafplio which is fully covered by a venetian castle from which it took its name. On this small island there was once a Byzantine church consecrated to Agios Theodoros. The castle of Bourtzi is located in the middle of the harbour of Nafplio and is the landmark of the city.

History

The Venetians knowing the strategic importance of this site, built this fort in 1473 in order to protect the city from pirates and invaders from the sea. The fort was designed by the Italian architect, Antonio Gambello and completed by the engineer Brancaleone. The interior of the castle has three floors which were connected by moveable stairs for safety reasons. Water was supplied from a large circular water tank that was located in the cellar, under the tower. There are two entrances to the castle, one to the north and one to the south. 

Bourtzi has been renamed a lot of times through the years. The Venetians named it Castello dello Soglio (Kasteli) and they also named the port Porto Cadena (chain port) as the entrance of the cove could be sealed with a portable chain that was tied from Bourtzi to Akronafplia and pulled every time an enemy ship was coming close to the port, cutting it in the middle. During the time of the Greek revolution,Bourtzi was known as Casteli or Thalassopyrgos, sea tower.

The fort was occupied by the Turks and re-occupied by the Venetians several times. The Greeks regained it from the Turks on June 18, 1822. After the liberation, the Greek government resorted twice to escape the civil war of the nation. Until 1865 it served as a fortress. It was then transformed into residence of the executioners of convicts from the castle of Palamidi.

In 1935 it turned into a hotel after alterations by the German architect Wulf Schaeffer and it served as a hotel till 1970. Since then, it is mainly a tourist attraction hosting occasionally parts of the Summer Music Festival. It is a beautiful castle in a good condition. Visitors can gain access to the fortress by boats which are permanently tied to the mole of Nafplio and sail to Bourtzi on schedule.