The town was named in honor of the mythical founder of Nafplio - the son of the god Poseidon. For a long time the city served as the nearby harbor of Argos. In the Middle Ages the Venetians bought Nafplion, and if the Turks it was the capital of the province of Morea. In 1829-1834 years the city was the capital of independent Greece.

The city has as many as three of the fortress. Bourtzi The fortress was built on the island by the Venetians, and until 1930 was the residence of the city hangman. The fortress guarded the passage in the Gulf and in case of danger overlaps it with the outstretched in the water circuit. Fortress Acronafplia (the second name "Itz Kale") stands on a hill above the city. Above the gate of the XV century, you can see the wonderful bas-relief of the Venetian lion. Nearby is the ancient acropolis. Palamidi was built in 1710-ies. It is the largest fortress in Greece, but is she was taken twice - by the Turks in 1715 and the Greek rebels in 1822.

Church of the Transfiguration was initially a Byzantine monastery church, then a mosque, now the Catholic church. The city also has a Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Folk Art.