Nafpaktos

Also, Nafpaktos is among Greece's most stunning coastline towns. It is a beautiful town with a rich history that is visible in the Venetian structures there, such the harbor and the castle. It is a significant tourist hub due to its beautiful beaches and neighboring cities.

On the northern coast of the Corinthian Gulf, the sizable seaside community of Nafpaktos has a long beach, a grand Venetian fortress, and a guarded harbor. Due to its proximity to the western entrance to the gulf, it served as a significant Athenian naval station during the Peloponnesian War. Lepanto was the name given to it by the Venetians who seized power. It was conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1499, and in 1577, the Holy League, led by Venice and Spain, defeated the Ottoman navy there in the Battle of Lepanto. With more than 400 ships participating, it was the largest and final naval engagement of rowing ships. The conflict put an end to Ottoman expansion into Western Europe.

In some ways, the battle was just as significant as the Battle of Salamis, which put an end to Persian expansion, in that it signaled the end of Ottoman advance into Western Europe. Despite being routed at sea, the Turks maintained their hold on Nafpaktos until the Greek Revolution of 1821. The author of Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes, lost use of one arm in the conflict. El manco de Lepanto is how the Hispanic community refers to him (the one-armed man of Lepanto). In the port, there is a statue of Cervantes.

• Location: West Greece