The “Toliano” Carnival is celebrated this year in March. The success, reminiscent of earlier events attended in the village. Sponsored by the Municipality of Nafplio, the Cultural association of Tolo, the Tourism association, the key elements is fun, banter, satire, food, especially the drinking and the imaginative costumes. With the taboos and fasting of Lent ahead everyone concentrates on having a good time.

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Easter is one of the nicest periods to be in Tolo for a couple of reasons. First of all even if you are not a devout Christian you can’t help but be moved by the ceremonies and the way life begins again on Easter Sunday after winter and 40 days of fasting. If you go to the countryside or to the islands wildflowers are in bloom and the hillsides that are usually parched brown in the summer are green from the winter rains. You can’t even imagine the fields of flowers and the way life seems to be popping and sprouting up from every crack and crevice.

The week of Easter begins on Palm Sunday and there are church services everyday commemorating the last week in the life of Jesus Christ. The evening services are the most well attended of course, except for Wednesday when the Service of the Holy Unction is held in the afternoon. On Thursday morning the service commemorates the Last Supper and the Betrayal of Christ. This is the day that the hard-boiled eggs are dyed red, signifying the blood of Christ, and the Easter bread, called tsoureki, is baked. The evening service is a long one and features twelve gospel readings. It is in this service that a two-dimensional figure of Christ on the cross is brought into the church and set up, while the church bells ring. In some places a vigil is kept in the church all night.

From the point-of-view of a spectator from Friday it starts to get very interesting. The nails holding the figure of Christ are knocked off and the figure is taken down from the cross and wrapped in a white cloth. A large piece of cloth, embroidered with the image of Christ, called the epitaphios which has been decorated with flowers by the girls through the night, is brought into the church where it is sprinkled with rose-water and more flower petals are thrown upon it. The bells of the church begin to toll and all the flags in Greece are lowered to half-mast in while women in the congregation weep in mourning for the dead Jesus. In the evening a funeral service is held and at about 9pm the epitaphios is taken from the church and with the bells tolling mournfully, is carried through the streets in a solemn procession.

At 11pm on Saturday night pretty much the entire village is in church. The lights are turned off at midnight and the priest announces that Christ has arisen from the dead as candles are lit from his and then from each other. The tiny glow at the front of the church grows and soon the whole room is illuminated by the light of everyone’s candles. At the stroke of midnight the priest intones the paschal hymn “Christ has risen from the dead and in so doing has trampled on death and to those in the tombs he has given life“. The church bells ring in celebration, fireworks go off, ships sound their sirens. People greet each other happily with the words Christos Anesti (Christ has arisen) which is replied to with Alithos Anesti (Truly He has arisen). Then everyone heads for home with their lighted candles where they trace the cross three times above the door and to bless trees and farm animals. Most people either stay home or go to a restaurant for the traditional bowl of mageritsa, a thick green soup made from the intestines of the lamb that will be roasted the next day, breaking their 40 day fast which began with the end of Apokreas. Easter day is most people’s favorite day of the year. A lamb is roasted and friends and families get together to eat, drink, talk and dance.

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Historic Nafplion in the Peloponnese is the place to be in the end of June. The annual NAFPLION FESTIVAL kicks off every year in the middle of June and promises lots of music all the way through the end of June. Already in existence for twenty consecutive years and being awarded as the best festival of its kind by the association of Music Critics of Greece, Nafplion Festival gives a good reason to visit the area.

The Festival and the artistic director, the well known pianist YIANNIS VAKARELIS, in its 20th consecutive year, features a panorama of unique musical performances staged at some of the city’s major venues: VOULEFTIKON, the first Hellenic Parliament and AGHIOS YEORGIOS SQUARE, the courtyard of St. George’s church. NAFPLION FESTIVAL spreads its wings every year with more and more ambitious plans.

Nafplio Festival – Program 2012

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Every July and August during the week ends you can participate at the performance of Ancient Tragedies and Comedies in the unique theatre built of limestone, famous for its amazing acoustic, which can seat 12000 spectators. It is considered one of the best Festivals in Greece.

PROGRAM OF ANCIENT EPIDAURUS FESTIVAL 2012

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The most important festival on Spetses is “Armata”, which extends over the second week of September and includes mainly artistic events, such as traditional dances, theatrical performances, various exhibitions and presentations.
This celebration reaches its highest on Saturday, when locals and visitors get together in order to celebrate the anniversary of the Spetses naval battle, occurred on September 8th of 1822. This battle was part of the 1821 revolution, and constituted one of its most important fights.
There are dramatizations of this victory, performed by night. Real ships are used, and a model ship is built especially for the occasion, in order to be burnt in the sea among a massive firework display, which closes in a big manner the festive week.

You can participate to the festival by booking a ticket with the cruise boat from Tolo port.

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You have set the date! And you want your wedding or christenings reception to be as special to your guests as it is to you. Tolo’s unique beauty, its breathtaking sunrises and romantic atmosphere all come together forming the ideal place where lifelong memories are born. Entrust your wedding or christening reception to the specialised personnel of the John & George Group.

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The Peloponnese is the south most extremity of the Balkan Peninsula and is linked to the Greek mainland by a narrow neck of land, the Isthmus of Corinth. The land is mountainous, leveling out to fertile alluvial plains at the head of inlets and along the coast. The morphology of the area and its favourable geographical situation has played an important part in the history of the Peloponnese, attracting many people of similar or different origins. Today it is divided into seven prefectures, still preserving the names they bore in antiquity and approximately the same boundaries: The Argolid, Corinthia, Achaea, Elis, Messinia, Laconia, and Arcadia. Each region of the Peloponnese offers special interest to the visitor, both because of the unique grandeur and beauty of the scenery and because of many archaeological sites, where the past is so vividly present. A mythical land whose every corner brings to mind some Greek myth. The Peloponnese is composed of images and music, the scent of the sea, of the mountains, of grapes, olives and citrus. The cities, towns and spas of the region were important centres in antiquity, and remain so today. Villages seem to grow out of the grey rock, the wild stones next to the hostile furze. Other villages lie by the vast open sea, but everywhere the people are hospitable and proud.

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The Argolida region is famous for its citrus groves, particularly oranges, mandarins, lemons and grapefruit and, depending on the time of year, on passing through the country roads one is able to smell the wonderful aroma of orange blossom.  Or towards the end of the year, see the oranges on the trees like fairy lights.

In general the Argolida region is a magnet to tourists due to its easy access fromAthens.  The history of the area is renowned worldwide – one can laze on some of the loveliest beaches in Greece.  Important ancient sites such as the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, Ancient Tiryns, Mycenae, Argos, Ancient Assini, the Heraion, Lerna, Midea and of course, Nafplion the first capital of Greece- are all worth visiting.

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“You said there is no Paradise. Yet, I live in Nauplio.”

Christos Katsigiannis “Once Angels” 

The phrase displays in a simple way the prevalent opinion that both Greeks and foreigners share about Nauplio; that it is one of the most beautiful towns of Greece.

Paul Morand, in his book “Mediterranean, Sea of Surprises” asserts that Nauplio, out of all other Greek bays is the most picturesque, as well as the most glorious and much sought after by all conquerors coming from both the East and West.

This historical dimension is also evident in the words of Aggelos Terzakis whose birthplace is Nauplio: “…in Nauplio, time has sanctified blood and death, it has transubstantiated them into a monument of beauty, a strict, secret beauty that demands preparation of the soul, initiation to approach it. And reverence.”

With the same romantic and nostalgic tone, the French traveller Pouqueville, was saying goodbye to Nauplio when saying: “I was sad for the first time… and I stared at the city with grief in my eyes, because it seemed to be leaving us…I was bidding farewell to this ancient town, to its highly praised and glorious places, to such a beautiful land…”

And it was in this beautiful land that God Poseidon first saw Amymone, the lovely daughter of Danaos, and fell madly in love with her. From their unison Nauplios was born in one of Euboia’s shores, but when he grew up he sailed with his ship to the creek of the Argolic bay and founded there the ancient city of Nauplia, which took after his name.

The city holds a key position which enables sea communications, but is also protected by the steep rock of Akronauplia, a combination which made Nauplio ever since the Neolithic era, one of the most desirable places of inhabitance but also of conquest. Indeed, Nauplio would be repeatedly invaded by Argians, Goths, Slavs and Albanians, Byzantines, Franks, Venetians and Turks – until 1822 – when the Greeks revolted against the Turks, fought and won back Palamidi and finally freed Nauplio.

In January 1823, it became the seat of the temporary government of the Greek nation, which was at the time struggling for its independence. In January 1828, the first governor of Greece came to the city, but a few years later in 1831 he was assassinated near the church of Agios Spyridon. A period of anarchy and upheaval followed until King Othon, accompanied by 36 foreign vessels and a large retinue arrived at Nauplio’s bay in January 1833. The next year, the Greek capital transferred to the city of Athens.

From an architectural point of view, Nauplio is an amalgam of Frankish, Venetian and Turkish buildings both secular and neoclassic. Its broad streets and small alleys, its squares, Ottoman fountains, monuments, statues and beautiful parks paint the portrait of a most charming city which captivates its visitors.

But apart from Nauplio’s picturesque quality, one can take a journey back in time, unfolding the city’s glorious history by visiting the Archaeological Museum and its abundance of archaeological findings; the Museum of the Peloponnesean Folklore Institute, the fortified Akronauplia and Palamidi with its magnificent Venetian castle and the endless hewn steps. After relaxing and enjoying a cup of coffee next to the Pili of Xiras, with its peculiar waterfall which looks as if it is springing out of Palamidi’s soul, or opposite the old train station which brings back memories of the past, you can start your stroll around the city.

Inhabited ever since pre-historic times, the rock of Akronauplia offers the most breathtaking, panoramic view! From one side lies the old city with its numerous tile-roofs interrupted here and there by perennial tree tops, the churches’ belfries with the unique Bourdzi standing like a stationary ship amidst the waters of the serene harbour, and from the other -which is full of fig trees hanging from the rocks – the stunningly beautiful view of the Nauplio Gulf and the beach of Arvanitia which hides under the dominant presence of Palamidi, will be your next stop.

If  its 990 steps sound like an intimidating number to climb, don’t get discouraged.

There is a paved street which takes you all the way up to the top and to one of the two entrances of the castle. So, if you decide to go on foot, be certain that the impressive, well-preserved Venetian fort and the wonderful view of the Argolic plain, will be more than rewarding.

After a swim in Arvanitia, or the nearby Karathona, relax over a good meal in one of Nauplio’s tavernas and prepare yourselves because in the evening the city transforms into an endless promenade. As soon as the afternoon sun begins to set, the city looks like a colourful human bee-hive full of tourists, permanent residents, Greeks and foreigners who have settled here from all over the world, making their country beautiful.

From the foot of Palamidi with the Staikopoulos park, the Pili of Xiras, the house of Armansberg, the courthouse, Kapodistria’s statue and the Trion Navarhon square with the first pharmacy of Greece, the first gymnasium (today’s Town Hall), the Army Cadet School, King Othon’s statue and Platia Syntagmatos with the house of Kolokotronis, the old Vouleutiko, the Mosque, the prison of Leonardos, and the archaeological museum -which used to be an old Venetian warehouse – the visitor takes a journey into a unique place of historical memory.

The numerous shops of the old city which sell mostly souvenirs, gifts jewellery, antiques, traditional pastries, and figurines of the folkloric Karagiozis – all of high quality – will lead you to the port with its famous fish tavernas, cafes and bars located opposite the illuminated Bourdzi.

At the quay you will walk past families strolling, young people, couples, artists and intellectuals – all seeking inspiration. With the night flowers creating an exceptionally erotic atmosphere, Nauplio, all lit up, gives in to night life till the early morning hours.

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