Nafplion Peloponnese Page 6

The Archaeological Museum

The Archaeological Museum (photo just above far left) (Tues-Sun 8:30am-3pm; 2euros) is housed in an old Venetian mansion near the square, which was once a naval barracks. The most famous exhibit includes a complete suit of Mycenaean armour found in a cave in 1960 as well as Neolithic pottery found in another cave. Early to Late Helladic pottery and finds from grave circles, terracotta idols from Mycenae, frescoes, are only some of the other items from all over the Argolid which are displayed here.

The Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation Museum is at Vassileos Anexandhrou (Wed-Mon, 9am-3pm;3euros). This museum opened in 1981 and promptly won a European 'Museum of the Year' award. Here you will find traditional household items from all over Greece, costumes and embroideries.

The unique Komboloi Museum (komboloi being 'worry-beads') is at Staikopoulou 25 (open daily 9:30am-8:30pm; 3euros) with displays of these fascinating beads made from many different materials and dating from different centuries. There you will find the book for sale that gives the history of these beads and the custom of running them through the fingers (something to be seen throughout present-day Greece). On the same street a little farther along you can see Karaghiozis puppets being made by Ilias Moros at To Enotion.

The War Museum includes objects from the Greek War of Independence up through the Greek civil war (1946-49)-uniforms, weapons, photographs of heroes, etc. (open Tues-Sun 9am-2pm;free). The Byzantine monastery of Aghia Moni dating from the 12th century, is 4km towards Epidaurus from Nafplio. Its fountain is much more recent-from the 19th century, though supposedly its waters are those of the ancient spring of Kanthanos.

More Naufplion, Peloponnese Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6