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| Nafpaktos as seen from the castle above the city |
My first post about Limeni was clearly a choice for your summer vacations but the next 2 cities are equally good whenever you choose to go. Of course you may not swim in winter but these cities offer you many other things to see or do. Galaxidi and Nafpaktos can be combined for a few days exploration. For example you can stay in a hotel in Galaxidi and go to Nafpaktos for a day excursion. My opinion though is to do the opposite as Nafpaktos has many things to do and you can combine your stay with a day excursion to the villages of 'Oreini Nafpaktia' which are villages situated on a high altitude but not too far from the city. Nafpaktos is about 220 kilometers from Athens and even though it belongs to the region of 'sterea ellada' it's best to reach the city via Peloponnese region and Rio-Antirrio bridge. So starting from Athens you follow the national highway to Korinthos-Patras and just before you reach the city of Patras you should follow the road to Rio and then cross the bridge to Antirrio. From Antirrio it's only a small distance to Nafpaktos.
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The Rio-Antirrio bridge as seen at night from Nafpaktos castle
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You can easily stroll around Nafpaktos on foot and you may only need your car to go up to the castle. One of the best parts of the city is the old port that is kept in a very good condition and brings you images of the days when it's walls defended the city from pirate ships. All around this port there are many cafeterias and restaurants and it's obvious that there beats the heart of the city.
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| The old port (photo was shot the day of the representation of Nafpaktos seafight) |
In 1571 there was a great seafight in the sea area outside Nafpaktos and every year (at October) there is a representation of the whole event which is best to view from the cafe standing above the city (just bellow the castle). The event starts just before sunset and continues until night has fallen. The whole spectacle is very impressive with the use of fireworks and other light effects.
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Firework show after the end of the representation
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Before reaching the old port and while having the sea at you left hand there are hidden pedestrian small roads very graphic and filled with small restaurants where you can eat well in good prices. Visiting the castle is also a must and then you can have your coffee just bellow where there are 2 cafes with great views of the city and the sea. A good idea is to visit these cafes at night when you can have a drink while seeing the city at night from above.
Nafpaktos is also well known for the villages around. Many greeks don't even know the name of these villages but if you tell them 'oreini nafpaktia' they understand that you talk about these villages. The most famous of these villages is Ano chora at an altitude of 1460 meters. All these villages will astonish you if you are a nature lover. If not you may find them boring.The way up the mountain is passing by fir trees forest and springs of water. Also the drop of temperature as you get higher is obvious even on a hot summer day. Most of these villages have guesthouses, taverns (with nice food), and small traditional cafes who offer coffee and ''gliko koutaliou'' (it's a homemade sweet made of boiled fruits, sugar and other herbs.When you ask it you must define the type. For example ''gliko koutaliou kerasi'' which means with cherry, or siko which means with fig, or stafili which means with grape and there are many more). The road is such that you must go on low speed, so for a distance of 50 km. you may drive for an hour but as I said before if you like nice views and scenic route give it a try. There are two roads that lead to different villages. In my opinion the best is the one that leads to Ano chora. At the crossroads outside nafpaktos there is a big sign that names the villages so you will know where to go.
If you decide to visit Galaxidi you should leave Nafpaktos following the provincial coastal road to Itea. The distance between the 2 cities is about 65 km.
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Galaxidi as it seen from it's coastal road
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Galaxidi is a small beautiful city with a scenic port where you can go for a day's excursion or stay a night or two. Climate in Greece is mild and even in October (when the picture was shot) weather is usually good. Surely here you can relax, drink your coffee by the sea and eat in nice restaurants.
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Coastal road in Galaxidi ideal for a walk
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In the picture above you can see the start of the coastal road in Galaxidi which is ideal for a relaxing walk. Following this road you pass between a beautiful grove from one side and the sea at the other. You will also meet a monument dedicated to all seamen and their families as Galaxidi has a long naval tradition. (there is also a naval museum in the city). The building you see in the picture above is a small cafe where you can have breakfast and drink your coffee while enjoying a beautiful view.
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The monument dedicated to seamen and their families
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Graphic side street
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If you visit the area for you summer vacations a nice village also suitable for swimming and with a plenty of choices for lunch or dinner is Erateini. It's placed between Nafpaktos and Galaxidi and it's about 20km from Galaxidi.
After reading this post I hope that I did enough to introduce to you those 2 cities. I didn't mention details like visiting museums etc. because my intention is just to make you pinpoint them and aquire some basics. Details nowdays can be easily found if you search the internet. Moreover, judging by my self of course, joy of the journey starts from planning it!
