After years of delays and significant damage caused by landslides, a major project to safeguard and enhance the coastal promenade of Nafplio is finally moving forward.
The Arvanitia Trail, the city’s emblematic seaside walkway connecting the Arvanitia coast to Nafplio’s beach and harbor, is not only an integral part of daily life for locals but also a beloved attraction for thousands of visitors from around the world.
Serious landslides in June 2018 and August 2019 highlighted the urgent need for a permanent, technically robust solution, while the effects of climate change have further increased the trail’s vulnerability.
To ensure safe and uninterrupted access, a formal agreement was signed between the Municipality of Nafplio, the Region of Peloponnese, the Ministry of Culture, the Municipal Port Fund of Nafplio, and the Peloponnese Regional Development Fund. The project, titled “Mitigating Landslide Risk Using Innovative Techniques on the Arvanitia Trail in Nafplio”, has a total budget of €4.78 million and is part of the Peloponnese Operational Program 2021-2027.
The intervention is highly specialized, combining advanced technical and environmental expertise. Its goals are to fully stabilize the trail, protect the surrounding natural landscape, and preserve the historic character of this iconic route.
As the Minister of Culture noted after the contract signing:
“The Arvanitia Trail is a unique walkway, cherished not only by the local community but also by visitors to Nafplio. Its presence resonates across our culture, appearing in literature and even Greek cinema.”
Stretching along the Akronafplia peninsula, the trail is a 1,000-meter pedestrian walkway, 3–5 meters wide, connecting the western tip of Nafplio (near the “Five Brothers” bastion) with the Arvanitia beach. Overlooking the trail, the Akronafplia fortress, a historic walled settlement, rises dramatically at the rocky tip of the peninsula in the Argolic Gulf—a site that has shaped the city’s history from ancient times through the late 17th century.
With this ambitious project, visitors can soon enjoy the Arvanitia Trail with renewed safety while experiencing one of Greece’s most picturesque and historically rich coastal walks.
