Bourtzi, Venetian fortress in Nafplio harbor, Greece
Bourtzi is a Venetian fortress on a small rocky islet in Nafplio harbor. Its main body is a multi-sided tower of light tan masonry with a flat top, attached to a lower walled section with a small domed turret. A low perimeter wall extends to a small landing area, and a few dark green trees grow beside the tower.
The Venetians built the fortress after Mahmut Pasha's departure in 1473, equipping it with cannons. In 1502 they linked it by a chain to an artificial boulder mole at the Pent' Aderfion bastion, closing the harbour. After the Treaty of Karlowitz (1699) they added the sturdy tower and bastions seen today.
The fortress shifted roles through the centuries, serving as a military stronghold, refuge for officials, and later as a residence for the executioner. These changing uses show how the structure adapted to meet the needs of successive rulers and local populations.
Regular boat services depart from Nafplio port to reach the fortress on the islet. The crossing is short, making it easy to fit a visit into a morning or afternoon without disrupting other plans.
The fortress's name comes from the Ottoman Turkish word burc, meaning "tower"; the Venetians called it Kastelli or Passaz. In 1865, by order of King George I, it was disarmed and became the residence of Nafplio's executioner, where prisoners were executed by guillotine.
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