Nafplio

Photographer's Note

If all the castles are lost
if all are devastated
beautiful Palamidi
will be saved by God. (folksong)

On our left, before entering the city, there rises Palamidi fortress (220 m. height) praised in many songs. It bears the name of Palamedes the sage. Nowadays there is a drive on the east side. Romantics can climb up all 999 steps, that were rebuilt in Othon's period. Previously one could climb up through the venetian galleries, that are still preserved οn the right of the steps.
Palamidi was fortified by the Venetians in the 12th century. The works were started by Morosini the conqueror of the city and were carried on till the last years of the Venetian occupation (1686 - 1715). Besides St. Andrew's bastion which is the tallest, there are six more : Phocio's, Themistocles', Miltiades', Epaminondas', Leonidas', and Achilles'. Five of the bastions are joined by a wall. Achilles and Miltiades are separate forts. In the fort there is the historical church of St. Andrew, built in the Venetian period.
In this group of forts and bastions, that really made Palamidi impregnable, we often see the Venetian coat of arms «St. Mark's lion». The cells of the forts, that during the Regency served as Kolokotronis' prison (great Greek General), were used as both prison and execution rooms. It was here that the brave men of Greece and the Orient, the murderers and the smugglers, were buried, as Venezis says.
Palamidi was besieged the very first year of the Revolution. The leaders made the right speculation that its possesion would offer the Revolution a bulwark and a proper seat for the Government. After many efforts and failures, on the night of November 29th 1822, Staikos Staikopoulos with Moschonissiotis and 350 select soldiers managed to set foot οn Achilles's bastion and subsequently occupy Palamidi. After a while Kolokotronis arrived and made Nauplion's guard surrender and sign a treaty. Every year οη the 30th of November the anniversary of the liberation of the city is celebrated at Nauplion.

Galmeida, vidpogachnik, capthaddock, papagolf21, Tue, aloyho, greg64g, Steft, supereira, MarekP, kebek, singuanti, Xalkida, gaby, gren4, john_c, Marcelo_Almeida, Emile, rajhema, robiuk ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

Galmeida (12559) 2005-07-16 16:21

Hi Ioannis,
A fine capture and also a fine angle of view and perspective of this interesting castle in ruins. Good colors and contrast. For me, possible a little degree of sharpness could be better. Excelent enquadrement and picture quality.

Congratulaions.
Have a nice weekend.
Fernando

weswang (18247) 2005-07-16 17:27

Hi John, It is nice to see your new posting. This is a beautiful shot of the old castle. Especially, I like the zigzag road leads to the top of the hill. A very well composed picture with trees on the side and the blue sky on the top to make a nice contrast. Well done.

papagolf21 (152607) 2005-07-16 17:30

Bonsoir John,
C'est tout un pan de l'histoire de la Grèce que nous voyons à travers cette très belle image.
Cette forteresse est particulièrement impressionnante de par sa position et son passé.
Encore une très bonne photo. Merci, John, de nous faire partager tant d'histoire.
Amitiés.
P.S. : C'est bien dommage de ne pas avoir publié les photos en atelier, elles sont superbes.
Philippe

Tue (93412) 2005-07-16 18:21

Hi John,
Thank you for this interesting work with this fortress. I like its location on that rock and you captured it well with the trees in front, well done!
Groeten,
Lars

aloyho (6798) 2005-07-16 23:18

Hi Ioannis,
The POV gave this shot a majestic view of this interesting fortress. The break in between the trees and the zigzag structure provided a nice entry point. The castle and the rocks harmonized beautifully and the variety makes it interesting. Well done!!! Have a nice weekend.

greg64g (11193) 2005-07-17 3:50

Hello,

Well the castle still looks alive, i mean from the pov it doesn' look on ruins. very impressive how the colors of the cstle is on harmony with rocks.
cheers
greg

Kenny10pin (19301) 2005-07-17 9:15

great angle of this castle, I like the colours and the composition,well done

Steft (6109) 2005-07-17 9:30

Very nice pov here, this looks like a very nice fortress. I like its colours, because they become with the rock. The sky has a nice blue colour - although I maybe would cropped a bit of the top. Very well done though! And thanks for the note!

capthaddock (28790) 2005-07-17 11:15

Hi John - I really like the perspective from below, it shows the skill required in building these structures on near vertical cliffs, nice idea to include the trees also.

supereira (9576) 2005-07-17 11:27

Great view.I like the composition and point of view.Good contrast between the sky and the rocks.Good colors,light and sharpness.I like the detail of the trees.Great place.I like it.Well done!

MarekP (4750) 2005-07-17 11:39

Hi John,
This is a nice fortress and you have captured it from a very good low PoV. I like the detail of stairs as well as the trees in foreground. Well done.

Thanks,
Marek

kebek (5438) 2005-07-17 15:20

Serwus Ioannis !
You show us here really solid peace of fortress :)
Amazing view with quality contrast between clear blue sky and sandy architecture. I love also Your use of greenery in forground.
Very well done,
Mat

singuanti (15250) 2005-07-17 19:26

Hi Ioannis. I like the way you went with the closer in composition. This fortress sure is impressively perched. Sharpness could perhaps be a hair higher but everything else is excellent. Nice shot Ioannis!

Xalkida (11744) 2005-07-18 1:23

Εξαιρετική απόδοση του κάστρου με όμορφη γωνία λήψης αν και θα το προτιμούσα κάπως πιο φωτεινό!

Ωραία δουλειά πάντως. Βλέπω δεν άφησες την ευκαιρία χαμένη όπως μου είχες πει τότε... :)

gaby (19819) 2005-07-18 4:18

Hi Ioannis - great compo and perspective - very nice -
I like the peace of this view
Thanks
Gaby

gren4 (603) 2005-07-19 2:16

I like the perspective from this angle with the fortress following the slope of the cliff.If anything I think I would have included more of the base and less sky as to off centre the horizon and include the start of the spiraled steps.The picture is nice clear quality and lighting is v.good

john_c (24666) 2005-07-19 20:30

Hi John,
The POV in this well composed shot is excellent. The road takes the eye up the hill, and there is a good juxtaposition of rocks, castle and trees here. The blue sky contrasts well. Great shot!
John

jbweasle (9393) 2005-07-20 17:59

I took a hike up those steps sometime last year - it's quite a climb but well worth it at the top. You have captured the building at a good angle so its profile stands out well against the sky. I also like the way the lower steps are framed by the trees.

Ulises (1026) 2005-07-20 19:00

ioannis,
lovely note, i like the point of view of this picture, as of my frog it was no more than 5cm . it looks life size (1:1) because i used my macro
rgrds
ulises

Marcelo_Almeida (1044) 2005-07-21 9:21

Hi Ioannis,
Great composition, DOF and colors.
Well done,
Marcelo Almeida

Emile (20352) 2005-07-23 1:21

Very good picture, captured from an excellent angle with a natural frame. Good compo and sharpness. Love the colours.
Well done Ioannis.

rajhema (1873) 2005-08-03 12:28

very useful comment. You have captured the entirity of the subject with colors as well.

robiuk (10807) 2005-08-16 11:43

Hi John,
I see I missed a few shots of yours whilst on holiday...
The fortress that tells many stories through its rich history!
It looks beautiful - you presented it in a good way taking an interesting POV and composing it carefully against the pristine blue sky and tall trees rising from the bottom.
Excellent note, too!
Robi

nbournas (3229) 2005-09-15 13:17

Omorfo kastro kai ekanes poli kali doulia na to apothanatisis. TFS

sixTL (8596) 2005-10-19 17:09

Hi John, The wonderful work of human hands. Architecture is indeed a great area for photographers. Colors are great. I like the composition. Regards Artur

coco (30439) 2005-10-20 17:24

Hi Ioannis.
Nice view of the famous castle of Napflio. Has good colours and also is a good capture of part of the city and his history.
Regards.