The turkish Its - Kale, Varousi, as it was called during the Greek revolution, is the most ancient acropolis of Nafplio. Walls of all eras are saved on it. It is 85 meters high, 400 m wide and 900 m in length. The byzantine Nafplio was limited there, in the plateau of Akronafplia. In its west side survived the Greek element and the name Roman fortress.

The Venetians complemented the fortification in 1839. They builded in the east fortress a bastion, opposite from Palamidi and they opened a way through to Arvanitia. Underneath Akronafplia NW, they builded the fortress of Toros, with five cannons - " The five brothers".

Akronafplia was divided internally in three self-sufficient fortresses. They had such a structure so that its one could fire not only outside enemies but also against the inner fortresses in case one got captured. Till 1970 all the old buildings in Akronafplia were demolished. Their place have, today,taken luxurious hotel establishments (Hotel Xenia).