From afar, one can see the fortifications that surround the town of Navpaktos, whose houses climb the main hill on top of which sits an equally fortified Venetian castle. It is only as we get closer that we begin to distinguish the small round medieval port, enclosed in the heart of the city.
Port or anchorage?
Be careful, this one is very small and you should have prepared your mooring well in advance. It is recommended that boats longer than 12 m do not venture there for lack of space. And indeed, with our 12.50 m sailboat, we felt like an elephant in a china store! And still, we were only at the beginning of April, the latter is particularly crowded in July and August.
If you manage to moor there, beware of the stone ledge, which is 1.5 meters deep at the level of the southern quay. The bottom is not known to have a very good hold.
You can moor either along the small outside dock, but beware that this maneuver can be particularly perilous with the southwest and southeast winds blowing into the bay.
Finally, you can anchor off the beach. This is not the most comfortable place with the prevailing westerly winds, although they often fade away by nightfall. In any case, boats larger than 14 meters have no other choice than this anchorage, or else they will block the entrance to the miniature harbor. The sand or mud bottom is good. The city offers two beaches, Psani and Gribovo, protected by century-old plane trees.
At the port, you will be able to get water. For fuel, you will have to explore the downtown area, or plan to bring a tanker. Restaurants, stores, bars, banks and many taverns will allow you to have a good time on land.
A Venetian construction
The small port of Navpaktos, lined with old plane trees and overlooked by the medieval castle is worth a visit. It is one of the most beautiful in Greece with its fortifications dating back to the 4th and 5th century B.C. In medieval times, its defense was designed by the Venetians, who integrated it with the castle and the city with the help of five walls. Central point of the city's activity until modern times, it has always been a source of prosperity.
The fortifications are a magnificent example of medieval defensive architecture. The two towers that line its entrance, the crenellated ramparts and the gateway to the sea on the western quay were designed by the Venetians. The Ottomans reinforced the harbor walls with watchtowers, such as the one seen on the east side.
It is also where the naval battle of Lepanto (the old name of Navpaktos) took place in 1571. The Venetian, Genoese and Spanish fleets joined forces with the Pope to defeat the Ottoman fleet, challenging its power over the Mediterranean.
On the quay stands proudly the statue of G.Anemogiannis, hero of the war of independence of 1821, who tried to set fire to the Ottoman fleet in the port of Navpaktos.
A port in the heart of the city
On the harbor and its surroundings, life is full of surprises! The old houses along the paved harbor road have been transformed into modern and friendly bars and restaurants. A little higher up, a large square hosts numerous terraces to have breakfast in the sun. One is quite struck by the contrast between the picturesque charm of this small medieval port and the modernity of this inland city and its young population.
To escape the hustle and bustle of the city, you can walk up to the castle through the cobbled streets lined with flowering gardens. On your way, you will pass by the tower of the Botsaris family (dating from the Ottoman period), now transformed into a museum, the Fethiye mosque built in 1499 by Sultan Bayesid II after the conquest of the city, the Ottoman fountains and the church of Agios Demetrios, built on the site of a Byzantine church.
The castle, whose park can be visited, offers an incredible view of the sea and the Rion-Antirion bridge. It is one of the best preserved fortifications in Greece.
