Friday, September 28, 2012
A beautiful town in the heart of a quaint Venetian harbour, Nafpaktos is the secret gem of the Corinthian Gulf. It boasts the best preserved Venetian fortresses in Europe, with a fortified castle offering amazing views of the whole port and the Rion Antirrion Bridge.
Lepanto -its medieval name- was the scene of one of the greatest naval battles in world history, when, in 1571, the allied Christian forces fought the Ottoman Turks and stopped them from taking over Western Europe.
Visitors strolling around the port should not be surprised when they come across a statue of Miguel de Cervantes; he fought with the Spaniard fleet in the Battle of Lepanto, during which he severely injured his left arm.
Nowadays, Nafpaktos is an important tourist resort featuring two beautiful beaches on either side of the harbour, lively cafés by the seashore and restaurants offering traditional cuisine.
