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Naupactus

A past as deep as the ocean, Naupactus (Nafpaktos) is the quintessence of Greece. Seeped in history since the 15th century, this ex-Venetian stronghold was more commonly known as Lepanto. Liberated in 1829 when Greece gained independence, Naupactus (meaning “boatyard”) is an ancient Greek name, which was revived in the 19th century. Historically the name goes as far back as the Doric period, as the Dorian first used the island to build rafts. Legend has it that Heraclidea built a fleet of ships in the harbor which were then used to invade the Peloponnese. Set on the mainland at the entrance to the Corinthian Gulf, Naupactus was initially chosen as a strategic point due to its high hills and fertile land. The Byzantine navy used it as a communication point and, among others, the Knights Hospitaller occupied it in 1378 before it was captured by the Venetians in 1407. Over 600 years later, today the town could be considered one of the oldest in Greece.