Ilion Suites

See more Small Hotels. See best of Peloponnese in Greece.

A 300-year old residence in historic Nafplion, with colourfully decorated bedrooms, plus spacious studios in an adjacent building

Greece’s first capital could hardly be more different from its current one. Cobbled pedestrian lanes, red-tiled rooves, Italianate piazzas, Turkish mosques and a Frankish castle all make the compact seaside town of Nafplion a far more enticing prospect than the sprawling metropolis of Athens. It’s also much better placed for the country’s prime sites: Mycenae, Epidavros, Corinth, Argos and Olympia are just a short drive away. And there are sandy beaches, rugged mountains and lovely islands (Hydra, Spetses) on your doorstep.

In the 1830’s, when Nafplion was capital of the newly liberated Greece, the city’s mayor lived in a grand, two-storey townhouse just above Constitution Square. The same building, now bearing the name ‘Ilion’ (Troy), has been converted to 10 ornate bedroom suites, each flamboyantly decorated with vivid-coloured walls, painted bedheads and antique furniture. If you want more space, book a 1- or 2-bedroom studio with kitchen and balcony in a modern building round the corner.