Above the old town of Nafplion, on a narrow rocky promontory, stands the ancient fortress of Akronafplia. The fortress is known as called Itz Kale that it has received during the Ottoman rule (in Turkish - "inner fortress"). This building is the oldest of the three remaining strongholds of Nafplion.

During the archaeological excavations of the area it was found more traces of settlements from the Neolithic period .  Some fragments of the walls of the fortress date back to the 4th century BC . e .  For centuries, the territory constantly changed its owners (the Byzantines, Franks, Venetians, Turks), each of which makes its own amendments to the defenses .  The appearance of Akronafplia, as we see it today, and most of the surviving buildings inside the fort, built by the Venetians were mainly in the 14-15 centuries on the remains of older buildings .  In 1829, under the leadership of Ioannis Kapodistrias (the first president of independent Greece in the years 1827-1831) the fortress was built a military hospital and a church .  In the days of George I fortress into a military prison (later the prison was used for the maintenance of civil and criminal) .  In the 1970s, the prison and several other buildings were destroyed and built a luxury hotel Xenia Palace .

The fortress well preserved to our times. And today over the gate you can see a beautiful bas-relief depicting the famous Venetian character Lion of St. Mark. Near an ancient acropolis. Now here is the symbol of the city - the clock tower.

Akronafplia Fortress - an ancient monumental structure, which is a very interesting and popular tourist attraction.