Naupactus

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Naupactus Ναύπακτος
Town of Naupactus, view from the fortress.
Location
Coordinates	38°23′N 21°49′E / 38.383, 21.817Coordinates: 38°23′N 21°49′E / 38.383, 21.817
Time zone:	EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Elevation (min-max):	0 - 3 m (0 - 10 ft)
Government
Country:	Greece
Periphery:	West Greece
Prefecture:	Aetolia-Acarnania
Population statistics (as of 2001[1])
City Proper
- Population:	18,231
- Area:[2]	159.9 km² (62 sq mi)
- Density:	114 /km² (295 /sq mi)
Codes
Postal:	303 xx
Area:	26340
Auto:	ME
Website
www.nafpaktos.gr

Naupactus or Nafpaktos (Greek: Ναύπακτος, rarely Έπαχτος, Latin: Naupactus or Naupactos; Turkish: İnebahtı; Italian, Spanish and Portuguese: Lepanto), is the second largest town in the prefecture of Aetolia-Acarnania, Greece, situated on a bay on the north side of the straits of Lepanto. The harbour, once the best on the northern coast of the Corinthian Gulf, is accessible only to the smallest craft. The origin of Naupactus comes from the two Greek words: ναύς naus ship, boat and πήγνυμι pêgnumi, pegnymi builder, fixer. Distance from Patras is about 15 km NE and about 215 km NW of Athens with the new Rio-Antirio bridge. Other distances are WSW of Amfissa, W of Itea and Delphi, NE of Antirio and GR-5/E55, E of Messolonghi and SE of Agrinio. The Mornos river is a few kilometres ENE which is also the prefectural boundary with Phokida. Naupactus is an episcopal see. In Greek legend it appears as the place where the Heraclidae built a fleet to invade the Peloponnesus.

[edit] History

In historical times it belonged to the Ozolian Locrians; but about 455 BC, in spite of a partial resettlement with Locrians of Opus, it fell to the Athenians, who peopled it with Messenian refugees and made it their chief naval station in western Greece during the Peloponnesian war. Two major battles were fought at this location. In 404 it was restored to the Locrians, who subsequently lost it to the Achaeans, but recovered it through Epaminondas.

Philip II of Macedon gave Naupactus to the Aetolians, who held it till 191 BC, when after an obstinate siege it was surrendered to the Romans. It was still flourishing about 170, but in Justinian I's reign was destroyed by an earthquake. It was again destroyed by earthquakes in 553 and in the 8th century and so on.

In the Middle Ages it fell into the hands of the Venetians, who fortified it so strongly that in 1477 it successfully resisted a four month's siege by a Turkish army thirty thousand strong; in 1499, however, it was rumoured to have been sold by the Venetians to Beyazid II (Turks invading forces). The mouth of the Gulf of Lepanto was the scene of the great sea fight in which the naval power of the Ottoman Empire was nearly completely destroyed by the united papal, Spanish, Habsburg and Venetian forces (Battle of Lepanto, October 7, 1571). In 1678 it was recaptured by the Venetians, but was again restored in 1699, by the treaty of Karlowitz to the Ottomans.

Venecian fortress

The city is a titular see of the Roman Catholic church.^[3]

In the war of independence it finally became Greek once more (March 1829). After World War II and the Greek Civil War, its buildings were rebuilt while its architecture remain.

In 1990, construction of a bypass of Naupactus began but when it was finally paved, the opening was delayed for eight years. However, it had to be partly reconstructed due to errors on the previous construction and as of late 2004. Finally it has opened in July 2006 but with no traffic.

Recently, Nafpaktos was devastated by a forest fire that began in a hot afternoon of July 18, 2007 and consumed hundreds of hectares of land to the valley area to the north. It took several firefighters, helicopters and planes to put out the blaze. The blaze was seen as far as Patras and its area. The fire threatened several houses were damages along with several in a settlement. The fire continued into July 19. Several buildings were burnt down and transformed several famous views into an unpopular scenery with burnt trees that may takes years to replace and recover and an ashy ground which won't be normal unil that time.

The statue of Miguel de Cervantes at the harbor of Nafpactos by Vaggelis Vlahos

[edit] Residents

The town square of Naupactus

Fortifications along the sea wall

Today the population is about 18,000 people. Residential homes align with the Gulf of Corinth over a length of about 3 km and a width of about 1km. The port divides the beachfront in two parts. The Western part is called Psani, while the Eastern part Gribovo. Both beachfronts provide the backdrop for a nice promenade while a wide range of restaurants and cafes can also be found. Naupactus sits on a shoulder of a mountain range on the north while farmlands dominate the western part. The climate is one of the best in Greece. It used to be passed by GR-48/E65 linking Antirrio and Amfissa now it is bypassed to the north at the elevation of 150 to 200 m above sea level. The bypass has contributed significantly in lowering the number of heavy trucks passing through the narrow streets of the town. The deviation though is not complete today, as the final part of the road along with a tunnel in the area of Xeropigado are under construction.

The municipality is mainly made up of mountains while much of the fertile land is within the Gulf of Corinth.

[edit] Landmarks

• Tha port and castle provide the main attraction for the town. Shops, cafes and bars dot the immediate area, while a cafe is also located within the castle walls
• The port also includes monuments commemorating the Battle of Lepanto (1571), of which a statue of the famous writer Miguel de Cervantes can be found
• A small water park just passed the western portion of the beach near Psani
• Nafpaktos is also home to a local museum and also offers visitors a look back to its recent and ancient past with historic sites also marked off within the town providing insight to its Classical era

[edit] Municipal districts

• Afroxylia
  • Ano Afroxylia
  • Kato Afroxylia
• Dafni
  • Kato Dafni
• Lygia
• Mamoulada
  • Kato Mamoulada
  • Mamoulada (settlement)
• Nafpaktos
• Neokastro
  • Paliampela
• Palaiochoraki
  • Mikro Palaiochoraki
• Pitsineika or Pitsinaiika
  • Kastraki
  • Sykia
• Rigani
  • Diasello
  • Poros
• Skala
• Velvina
• Vlachomandra
  • Gefyra Bania
  • Sfikeika or Sfikaaika
• Vomvokos
  • Agios Vasileios
  • Lefka Vomvolous
  • Marmara
• Xiropigadi

Panoramic of the port of Nafpaktos

[edit] Nearest places

• Antirrio (west)
• Katafygio (Katafigio): is one of the traditional villages in Orini Nafpaktia (mountainous Nafpaktia).
• Ano chora (north): One of the villages of Orini Nafpaktia
• Skala: Village found in the hills minutes from the town centre; overlooks the town itself
• Skaloma: One of the more picturesque villages found minutes outside the town; one of the more beautiful beaches in the area
• Hiliadou: Part of the strip of beachside villages outside of Nafpaktos (Hiliadou-Monastiraki-Skaloma); sandy beach makes it a popular destination for residents of Nafpaktos and tourists

[edit] Historical population

[edit] Communications

[edit] Television

• Nafpaktos TV, formerly Lepanto TV since the 2000s

[edit] Twin Towns

• Marino, Italy

[edit] References

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

[edit] See also

• Communities of Aetolia-Acarnania

[edit] External links

• Guide about Nafpaktos and the province of Nafpaktia (Greek)
• Naupactus Castle
• http://students.ceid.upatras.gr/~politop/nafpak.html
• Mapquest - Naupactus
• GTP - Municipality of Naupactus
• [http://www.katafigio-amorani.gr/ Katafigio: is one of the traditional villages in Orini Nafpaktia (mountainous Nafpaktia).

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	Antirio
		Naupactus
		Gulf of Corinth