A Glimpse of the Past
Homer was the first to give details on the bay of Tolo and the ancient Asini. According to sources, Tolo of today was built near the ruins of the ancient city. You can find parts of the walls of the ancient Acropolis in the whole area.
Around 700 BC the region was almost completely deserted until the 3rd Century BC, and traces of re-colonization have been found. During the Byzantine Empire, people begin to benefit from using the port and to welcome new settlers. In 1204 AD, at the time of the Crusaders, the entire area is controlled by the Franks. Later in 1389 AD, the Venetians conquer Tolo, which they use as a second base for their naval station until 1540 AD, when it is handed over to the Ottomans.
In 1686, the Venetians begin their army under the command of Vice Admiral Morosini to lay siege to Nafplio, which was dominated by the Turks. Morosini chooses the gulf of Tolo as the best place to accept forces and form a base camp as it is the safest place in the area, and the beach perfectly suitable as a military camp for the army. After the successful campaign and until 1718, when the area falls again into the hands of the Turks, Tolo is used as a side base for the Venetian Fleet. During the Turkish occupation, the Daskalio (school) was secretly operating on the island in the Gulf in order to teach children their language and history. Later, land in Tolo was granted to the refugees coming from the island of Crete, trying to escape the purges of the new conqueror, the Egyptian Viceroy Mohammed Ali, who had been granted the island in return for rendering services to the Ottomans.
In 1834, by Royal Decree, a city was established at the port of Tolo and named Minoa in honor of the King of Crete, Minoa. After the liberation of Crete, the refugees who remained in the region stood by their great love for the sea and created a small and picturesque fishing village that was isolated. It was virtually untouched by the outside world and followed its own rhythms until 1916 when the community of Tolo was established. This is still so to this day, and today, Tolo has the largest fishing fleet throughout Argolidas.
During the Second World War, the German and Italian naval force was stationed in Tolo. The local residents suffered greatly. The fishermen were forced to hand over their entire catch to their conquerors and women to serve them. From the mid 20th century and on, Tolo changes and becomes an increasingly evolved summer resort. The natural surroundings, the beauty of the Gulf, the tranquility of the countryside and the nearby archaeological sites make Tolo a popular destination for tourists from all over the world.
According to tradition, the name of the region is derived from a Frankish Bishop, John Tolon. It is said that at around 1200 AD, the Bishop, who is buried on the mountain of Romvi, lived for years in the area. Based on another tradition, during the Venetian domination the region was named Port d Aulon, and over the years, it evolved to “Tolo”.
