Bourtzi

Bourtzi is a historic Venetian water castle situated in the middle of the harbor of Nafplio, in the Peloponnese region of Greece. Constructed initially in 1471 by Italian architect Antonio Gambello and completed in 1473 under engineer Brancaleone, this island citadel was built using hewn ashlar stone. Its primary architectural purpose was to serve as a defensive fortress protecting the port entrance. The Venetians significantly enhanced its capabilities over time, notably adding a heavy chain in 1502 to block hostile ships and later erecting sturdy towers and bastions with cannons following the Treaty of Karlowitz in 1699. These modifications created the imposing structure that dominates the harbor today.

The fortress holds profound historical significance due to its strategic role through centuries of conflict. Control of Bourtzi shifted repeatedly between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire from the late 15th century until 1821. During the Greek War of Independence, revolutionary forces captured the castle to bombard the city and disrupt Turkish supply lines. In the subsequent Greek civil wars, the fledgling government twice used the islet as a safe refuge. In a darker chapter of its history, King George I ordered the castle disarmed in 1865, converting it into the residence for the city's executioner and the site for executions by guillotine.

Currently owned by the Greek Ministry of Culture, Bourtzi remains intact and open to the public. In the 1930s, the Greek National Tourism Organization restored the site, transforming it into one of the country's first tourist centers complete with a twelve-room hotel and restaurant. Although it operated as a hospitality venue until the era of the Greek junta, it now stands as a preserved monument and popular landmark. Visitors can access the castle to view its well-maintained fortifications, which continue to symbolize the rich maritime and military heritage of Nafplio.