Nafpaktos Castle

About the museum

The Nafpaktos Castle Museum is laid out in a complex of four parallel vaulted halls within the acropolis, on the upper enclosure of the castle. The halls probably belonged to the fortified core of a Byzantine tower or refuge and also received alterations in the Ottoman period. The museum is the first archaeological museum in the town of Nafpaktos and the only Byzantine museum in the Regional Unit of Aitoloakarnania. It was created within the framework of the European INTERREG Greece–Italy programme “Coastal Heritage Network – CoHeN” and opened to the public in August 2024.

The exhibition follows a chronological and thematic arrangement. The first hall is dedicated to early Byzantine Nafpaktos, with architectural members of the town’s five-aisled basilica, and finds relating to trade, everyday life and jewellery. Halls 2 and 3 tell the story of the middle and late Byzantine town, the Byzantine castle and life from the 11th to the 14th century. Hall 4 covers the Venetian rule, the Ottoman period, the Revolution and the rebuilding of the modern town after the liberation of 1829.

In the Oplothiki (Armoury), next to the church of Profitis Ilias, an information space operates with informative material and an interactive application on the medieval castles and fortifications of Aitoloakarnania. The castle of Nafpaktos crowns the hill above the town with five fortified enclosures that descend to the Venetian harbour, and from the summit there is a panoramic view over the Gulf of Patras.

Highlights

• Only Byzantine museum in Aitoloakarnania
• Vaulted halls in the acropolis of the castle
• Architectural members of the early Byzantine basilica and a marble templon
• Information space in the Oplothiki with an interactive application
• Five fortified enclosures and a panoramic view

Permanent exhibition

• Μόνιμη έκθεση: Η βυζαντινή και νεότερη Ναύπακτος – Four halls with finds, sculptures, ceramics and coins from the early Byzantine period to the 19th century, and an information space on the fortifications of Aitoloakarnania.

Founded

2024

Operated by

Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού – Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Αιτωλοακαρνανίας και Λευκάδας

Admission & discounts

Free admission: 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September, 28 October and every first and third Sunday of the month from 1 November to 31 March.

The ticket is valid for the castle and the museum.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

From the Venetian harbour of Nafpaktos the walk up to the castle takes about 15 minutes on a footpath. From Patras the car journey takes about 40 minutes.

Amenities & dining

• Wi-Fi

WiFi available.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit