View source for Palamidi

{{Short description|Historic Venetian fortress on a headland of the Argolic Gulf at Nafplio}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Palamidi
| native_name = {{no italics|{{lang|el|Παλαμήδι Νικόλαος Σκαρης}}}}
| partof = 
| location = [[Nafplion]], [[Peloponnese (region)|Peloponnese]], [[Greece]]
| map_type = Greece
| map_alt = 
| coordinates = {{coord|37.563889|N|22.795278|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| image = Palamidi fortress (Nafplio, Greece).jpg
| caption = The fortress of Palamidi.
| type = [[citadel]] Fortress
| built = 1714
| builder = [[Pierre de la Salle]]
| materials = hewn stone ([[ashlar]])
| height = 
| used = 
| demolished = 
| condition = Ruin
| ownership = {{flag|Greece}} [[Ministry of Culture and Sports (Greece)|Greek Ministry of Culture]]
| controlledby = {{plainlist|
*{{flag|Republic of Venice}} <small>1711–1715</small>
*{{flag|Ottoman Empire}} <small>1715–1822</small>
*{{flagicon image|State Flag of Greece (1863-1924 and 1935-1973).svg}} [[Greece]] <small> c. 1822</small>}}
| open_to_public = Yes
| garrison = 80 (1715)
| commanders = 
| occupants = 
| battles = 
| events = 
}}

'''Palamidi''' ({{langx|el|Παλαμήδι}}) is a fortress to the east of the [[Acronauplia]] in the town of [[Nafplio]] in the [[Peloponnese]] region of southern [[Greece]].  Nestled on the crest of a {{convert|216|m|adj=on}} high hill, the fortress was built by the [[Republic of Venice|Venetians]] during their [[Kingdom of the Morea|second occupation]] of the area (1686&ndash;1715).

The fortress was a very large and ambitious project, but was finished within a relatively short period from 1711 until 1714.  It is a typical baroque fortress based on the plans of Venetian engineer and [[Oltremarini|oltramarini]] officer [[Antonio Giancix]] (Antun Jančić)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Andrej|first=Žmegač|url=https://fortmed2018.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/vol-7_web.pdf|title=Antonio Giancix - an Ignored Genius?|publisher=Politecnico di Torino|year=2018|isbn=978-88-85745-12-4|location=Turin|pages=281–286}}</ref> and built by French military engineer [[Pierre de la Salle]]. In 1715 it was [[Siege of Nauplia (1715)|captured by the Ottomans]] and remained under their control until 1822, when it was [[Siege of Nauplia (1822)|captured by the Greeks]].

The eight bastions of the fortress were originally named after the Venetian ''[[provveditore|provveditori]]''. However, when it fell to the [[Ottoman Empire]], the bastions were given Turkish names. Lastly, when the [[Greeks]] overthrew the Turks the bastions were renamed after ancient Greek leaders and heroes ([[Epaminondas]], [[Miltiades]], [[Leonidas]], [[Phocion]], [[Achilles]], [[Themistocles]]. The two remaining bastions were named after St. Andrew (Agios Andreas) and the French Philhellene Robert who died in battle on the Acropolis of Athens. The "Miltiades," was used as a prison and among its walls was also held [[Theodoros Kolokotronis]], hero of the [[Greek Revolution]].

The fortress commands an impressive view over the [[Argolic Gulf]], the city of Náfplio and the surrounding country.  There are 913 steps in the winding stair from the town to the fortress. However, to reach the top of the fortress there are over one thousand. Locals in the town of Nafplion will say there are 999 steps to the top of the castle.<ref>''[https://www.nafplio.gr/en/arxaiologikoixoroiseimiamenu2/62-2011-03-20-10-43-36.html Palamidi]''

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="150">
File:Monte-Palamida nuovamente fortificato - Coronelli Vincenzo Maria - 1708.jpg|Sketch of Palamidi in 1708
File:Palamidi fortress.JPG|Palamidi fortress seen from the Nafplio waterfront
File:05.Φρούριο Παλαμηδίου GR-J11-0053.jpg|Interior
File:Argolic Gulf.jpg|View of the Argolic Gulf from the Palamidi
File:Palamidi2002Video.ogv|Palamidi Fortress (2002)
File:Gate palamidi.jpg|A gate inside the fortress Palamidi, February 9, 2013.
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Bibliography ==
* Takis MAVROS, ''Palamidi. A Brief History of the Fortress of Nafplion'', Athens, 1990.

==External links==
{{commonscat|Palamidi castle}}
* [http://www.kastra.eu/castlegr.php?kastro=palamidi Palamidi]

{{Castles in Greece}}
{{portal bar|Greece}}

[[Category:Castles in the Peloponnese]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Peloponnese (region)]]
[[Category:Venetian fortifications in Greece]]
[[Category:Nafplion]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Argolis]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:18th-century architecture in Greece]]
[[Category:Natura 2000 in Greece]]