3. The statue of George Anemogiannis

The statue of the man holding a torch aloft that stands on the west tower at the harbour mouth commemorates Giorgos Anemogiannis. He was born in 1798 in the island of Paxoi and as soon as the Greek War of Independence erupted in the spring of 1821, he joined the navy of the island of Spetses as a sailor. In early June 1821 the Greeks decided to burn the Ottoman ships in the harbour of Nafpaktos, at a time when they lacked experience in the method of constructing a fire ship. Its use was risky and success was far from guaranteed, requiring nerve and courage on the part of the fire ship crew. When Anemogiannis approached the harbour entrance, under fire by the Turks, he set the ship on fire and tried to swim to safety. He was caught by the Turks and burned alive. Next to his statue is a square watchtower that houses a navigation beacon.