The Palamidi Fortress at Nafplio

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Our legs might just be a little sore tomorrow. We spent three hours this morning climbing what we ascertained to be about 892 steps up the cliff face to Palamidi Fortress (or 939, depending on where you start and end your count - there are plenty of steps to choose from), and then clambering all over its fascinating grounds. What a wonderful place! I highly recommend it on a visit to the Pelopponesus. It was built in 1711-1714. The fort commands a 360° view over the sea and the town of Nafplio far (far, far) below, and the other nearby hills and distant mountains. It is an endless maze of stone stairways with no railings, but plenty of dropoffs to the sea, unruly wildflower/rock gardens, and archways, with the occasional dark, cramped, claustrophobia-inducing dungeon, and several proudly flapping Greek flags. It seriously seems to go on forever - over every ridge of crumbling walls there are more above or below...the farther up and in you go, the fewer people share your windy hike, and the more peaceful it gets. You just have to remember there are 892 steps to go down again when you're done with your tour (the self-guided, adventurous tour including many steps of its own in addition to scrambling over rocks).