 
Although Tolo as a
village is a relatively new addition to the map by Greek standards,
its modern history starting in 1830, the area where it is situated
and its surroundings go back much further. The bay of Tolo was first
written about by Homer, as was Asini in the Iliad, named as one of
the cities whose fleet took part in the Trojan War. In the centuries
to come the bay of Tolo gave refuge to battle ships at various times
and then during the Byzantine period was revived as an auxiliary
port to Nafplio and became the place to come for a summer stroll.
During the Crusades Era and the break-up of the Byzantine Empire
(1204 AD), along with the rest of the Peloponnese, the area came
under Frankish rule until 1389 AD, when it was then taken over by the
Venetians, and in 1540 AD to the Ottomans . Following that and the
alliance between the Venetians, the Germans, and the Polish against
the Ottoman Empire, the chief of the allied forces, Vice-admiral Morozini was ordered to capture the capital of the Peloponnese,
Nafplio at that time, and the bay of Tolo was chosen as a place
suitable as a base of operations for his expedition as it was the
safest place in the region, while the shore was used for the army to
camp. After the success of his expedition and until 1718 AD, when
the area again was occupied by the Turkish, Tolo was used as a
secondary naval station for the Venetian fleet. A monument of this
time is the small church named Zohodos Pigi, built in 1688, and the
ruins of the fortress on the island of Daskaleio in the bay of Tolo.
Fortifications, ruins of houses and reservoirs can also be found on
Romvi island. During the Turkish occupation the people lived in
constant terror and we are reminded of this by “Daskaleio”
(teaching place) island and its “Kryfo Scholeio” (Secret School) where children of the time where taught in secret their
national language and history. With the revolution of the Greek
Nation in 1821, Nafplio became the first capital of
Greece and from here
the remaining Greek states under Turkish rule were aided.
Kapodistrias resolution in 1831 started an attempt to resettle
inhabitants who had been forced to leave their homes and Tolo as an
area of land was given to refugees from Crete who were trying to save
themselves and their island from the new conqueror, Egyptian Viceroy
Mohammed Ali who had been given the island by the Ottomans for his
services to them.
In 1834, by Royal
Decree, a city was founded at the Port of Tolo and named Minoa in
honour of the King of Crete, Minoa. After the liberation of Crete
the remaining refugees in the area formed the picturesque fishing
village which eventually became known as Tolo in 1916. From the
middle of the 20th century, with its natural beauty and
situation allowing easy access to the neighbouring archaeological
sites, Tolo saw the beginning of the tourist industry and evolved
into the popluar summer resort that it now is, offering hospitality
to tourists from all over the world.
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