Nafplio: The houses were saved, but the residents left

Kostas Karapavlos is standing in the middle of the hall. The 180-year-old wooden floor creaks with every step he takes. He shows us portraits and old family photos on the walls - his great-great-grandfather was Ioannis Kapodistrias, first head of state of independent Greece at the 1827 Third National Assembly at Troezen and served as the governor of Greece between 1828 and 1831; his great-grandfather was a minister; his grandfather a member of Parliament; his father a mayor. "Before I was elected a municipal councilor, the highest office I had reached was president of the parents' association. As you can see, the bourgeoisie is gradually declining," he tells Kathimerini. In addition to being Greek, Karapavlos also has British ancestors.

He lives in one of the oldest houses in Nafplio, full of old furniture and the "ghosts" of relatives. The house was repaired externally 25...