A historical retrospective, a few years before the Second World War, was recalled for us by the former high school principal of Nafplio, Vasilios Charamis, who remembers hearing it recounted by the older generations.
By Evangelos Bougiotis
It was in the years 1928–1930 when, at daybreak in Nafplio, a powerful storm broke out with heavy rain and hail. It was so intense that disaster soon followed. Tons of water swept along everything in their path. The district of Pronia suffered the greatest damage at that time: the roads — which were dirt roads then — were carved into enormous gullies, almost all the houses were flooded, and the residents, in order to save themselves, climbed onto the roofs of their homes.
When dawn came, the inhabitants saw that the calendar showed January 20, the feast of Saint Euthymios. The vow they made to Saint Euthymios was that they might be saved from destruction. And this indeed came to pass. The residents of Pronia, as one body, had an icon of the Saint made, which they placed in the Church of the Holy Trinity at the heart of Pronia, and since then they honor him every year with the blessing of bread (artoklasia) and the Divine Liturgy.
This year as well, Saint Euthymios was honored with an artoklasia offered by Mr. Vasilios Charamis. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the parish priest of the church, Fr. Konstantinos Serros.
Pronia is the district of Nafplio that Kapodistrias built in order to house destitute refugees of the War of Independence. Pronia is a suburb of Nafplio, located to the east of the old town and only a five-minute walk from it. To the south and east it is “embraced” by the hills of Palamidi and Evangelistria. To the north lies the Argolic plain, and to the west the Argolic Gulf and the mountains of Arcadia.
Pronia was the first organized refugee settlement created by Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias to accommodate Cretans and other refugees. Indeed, he himself “christened” this suburb, giving it the name “Pronia.”
Pronia is the district of Nafplio that Kapodistrias built in order to house destitute refugees of the War of Independence. Pronia is a suburb of Nafplio, located to the east of the old town and only a five-minute walk from it. To the south and east it is “embraced” by the hills of Palamidi and Evangelistria. To the north lies the Argolic plain, and to the west the Argolic Gulf and the mountains of Arcadia.
Pronia was the first organized refugee settlement created by Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias to accommodate Cretans and other refugees. Indeed, he himself “christened” this suburb, giving it the name “Pronia.”
The present-day appearance of Pronia, which constitutes the first organized refugee settlement in the country, does not differ greatly from that of Kapodistrias’ time. Undoubtedly, it forms a unified architectural ensemble, characterized by low-rise development and the distinctive nature of both its streets and its buildings.
Pronia is one of the most historic neighborhoods of Nafplio in Argolis, at the foothills of Palamidi.
Later on, many Bavarian military officers lived in Pronia with their families, followers of Otto when he arrived in Greece in 1833. The Bavarians were struck by a typhus epidemic, and many died. Their burial in the cemetery in front of the Church of All Saints was then called the “Bavarian graves.” At this site today stands the famous Lion of the Bavarians, a sculptural monument carved directly into the rock by the German sculptor Siegel, at the expense of King Ludwig, Otto’s father.
Pronia is one of the most historic neighborhoods of Nafplio in Argolis, at the foothills of Palamidi.
Later on, many Bavarian military officers lived in Pronia with their families, followers of Otto when he arrived in Greece in 1833. The Bavarians were struck by a typhus epidemic, and many died. Their burial in the cemetery in front of the Church of All Saints was then called the “Bavarian graves.” At this site today stands the famous Lion of the Bavarians, a sculptural monument carved directly into the rock by the German sculptor Siegel, at the expense of King Ludwig, Otto’s father.
Pronia was the residential area of Nafplio’s working class, since a large part of the workforce of the “KYKNOS” factory lived in the neighborhood until the factory’s closure.
During the 1990s, many long-time residents of Pronia moved to the workers’ housing complexes that were built at that time, while economic migrants settled in the houses that were left vacant.
Today, Pronia is expanding northward and eastward of Nafplio and is being “renovated,” with the old, small houses giving way to modern buildings, without altering the overall character of the settlement.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
During the 1990s, many long-time residents of Pronia moved to the workers’ housing complexes that were built at that time, while economic migrants settled in the houses that were left vacant.
Today, Pronia is expanding northward and eastward of Nafplio and is being “renovated,” with the old, small houses giving way to modern buildings, without altering the overall character of the settlement.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
