Tolo is a beautiful seaside village with about 2500 inhabitants. It is located a short distance south of Nafplio and in summer attracts many tourists. The image it presents is at the same time graphic, romantic and idyllic. Built almost on the beach, it has three beautiful islands in front of it. Koronisi, Romvi and Daskalio. Its permanent residents are mainly engaged in tourism and fishing. The place, which has an excellent tourist infrastructure, is distinguished for its natural beauty and the hospitality of its inhabitants, characteristics that attract visitors from around the world.
How to get there
You can reach Tolo by road, following the Athens-Tripoli national road, where you will find the relevant signage for Argos-Nafplio. Once you reach Nafplio, at the end of the road that leads you through the city, always follow the signs that point you to Tolo, which is about 11 km from the city. In addition, the KTEL Nafplio (27520.27323) has very regular daily services to Tolo.
Glances at the past
Homer is the first to cite evidence for the gulf of Tolo and ancient Asini. According to sources, today's Tolo was built near the ruins of the ancient city. Some parts of the ancient citadel wall are preserved in the area. Around 700 BC. the area is almost abandoned until the 3rd century BC. ai., when a new settlement of people is observed. During the Byzantine period, the area began to utilize its port and receive a new population. In 1204 AD, during the time of the Crusaders, the whole area was controlled by the Franks. Later in 1389 AD the Venetians conquered Tolo, which they used as a second naval station for their fleet until 1540 AD, when it was ceded to the Ottomans. In 1686, the Venetian group with Admiral Morosini begins with an army to besiege the Turkish-occupied Nafplio. As a suitable place to receive his forces and to be a base of his campaign, he chooses the bay of Tolo as the safest port in the area, while the beach could be used as an army camp. After the successful outcome of the campaign and until 1718 when the area fell again into the hands of the Turks, Tolo will be used as a substation of the Venetian Fleet. During the years of Ottoman rule, Daskaleio also operated, on the homonymous island of the gulf, where they tried to secretly teach the language and history to the children. Later in Tolo, land was granted to refugees from Crete who were trying to escape from the liquidation operations of the new conqueror, the Egyptian regent Mohammed Ali, to whom the island had been granted in exchange for services to the Ottomans. By Royal Decree in 1834, a city named Minos was founded in the port of Tolo in honor of the king of Crete, Minos. After the liberation of Crete, those refugees who remained in the area turned to their great love, the sea and created a small, picturesque, fishing village that lived in isolation, at its own pace and which in 1916 became the community of Tolo. A relationship that lasts to this day, as Tolo has the largest fishing fleet in Argolida. During World War II, an Admiralty of the German and Italian fleets was established in Tolo. The inhabitants suffered a lot. The men were forced to hand over their fish to the conquerors and the women and children to serve them. From the middle of the 20th century, against the background of the natural beauty of the bay, the tranquility of the landscape and the nearby archeological sites, Tolo changes and transforms into an ever-evolving tourist resort that hosts tourists from many parts of the world.
According to tradition, the name of the area is given to a Frankish Bishop John Tolos, around 1200 AD, who
lived for years in the area and who is buried at the top of the Rhombus mountain. According to another version, the period of Venetian rule
was named Port d Aulon (Port of Aulona). Over time it was renamed Tolon and today is now called Tolon.
Events
During the summer months, various cultural events are organized during which wonderful evenings with music and traditional dances from all over Greece take place and in which the locals take part and party together with the visitors of the area.
Also the revival of the custom of St. John of Cleidon, ie the "leap of fire", on June 24, the Carnival on the last Sunday of Carnival and various other events in the area, such as dance events by the traditional dance department of the area every June, Jet ski races every August and construction of sand structures are events worth attending.
A reference point every year is Good Friday, where the procession of the Epitaph takes place in the sea.
Local events
Every summer is the "feast of the full moon", with events under the full moon of August. In the fall, at the end of September, the "Trata" festival is organized. This is a big celebration, where puppets and wine are offered, followed by a party and dancing.
Local products
Tolo was and is a fishing village and that is why it is famous for its fresh fish, its fish soup and its delicious seafood.
