The culminating point of Holy Week in Nafpaktos is undoubtedly the evening of Good Friday when the town’s Epitaphioi, or funerary processions of the bier of Christ, converge in front of the settlement’s Venetian Port. There, hundreds of torches along the walls are lit, illuminating the entire port. A large burning cross adds to this spectacle, which is viewed by hundreds of people who gather to watch.
On the next day – Holy Saturday – most local residents attend the evening service that celebrates Christ’s resurrection and exchange the traditional Easter greeting of “Christos Anesti” (“Christ is Risen”). This service is held, among other places, at the Metropolitan Church of Aghios Dimitrios; the Church of Aghia Paraskevi; and at the Church of Metamorphoseos tou Sotiros (Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior), just 6km outside of Nafpaktos and a favored choice as it offers worshipers a unique view of both the town and the Rio-Antirrio Bridge.
© Intime News
What to see
Nafpaktos is an ideal base for short outings and nature walks. The seaside town of Galaxidi is only an hour away by car along the northern coastline of the Gulf of Corinth. Alternatively, visitors can choose to enjoy the beauties of springtime in the villages of Oreini Nafpaktia: Ano Chora, with its many guesthouses and tavernas; Platano, with its large square; and Elatou, located at an elevation of 1,000 meters.
With many exceptional forest trails, the region offers unique hiking experiences, including the trek from Elatou to Kato Chora, a total length of 6.2 kilometers, and the Deer Path, close to Ano Chora, that runs for 9 kilometers.
