The small yet enchanting water castle of Nafplio, Bourtzi, is one of the town’s top landmarks. Dating back to 1471, the castle was built by the Italian architect Antonio Gambello. This is the reason why its first name derived from Italian and was “Castello dello Soglo” or else “The Dream Castle”. If you visit the harbor of the town in pursuit of a boat ride to Bourtzi, you might hear to the boatmen shouting: “Castellino”!

However, the name Bourtzi comes from the Turkish and still means the Fortress or the Castle. Although it was built as a fortress to protect the locals from pirates and other hostile intruders, it has been used for various other purposes over the years. For instance, it was once used as prison. Then, it was transformed as House to the Greek Government and even became a luxury hotel at one time. Nowadays, ongoing renovations are taking place. Soon there will be a restaurant and exhibition center within the premises.

For now, travelers who wish to explore Nafplio and Bourtzi water castle can embark on the small boat and get across. The view from the castle is purely mesmerizing!