The Ottomans conquered Nafpaktos in 1499 and named it Inebahti (Castle of Delight). Leafy plane trees and numerous springs turned the town into a small earthly paradise. But it was primarily a naval base and in October 1571 the Ottoman fleet sailed from here to fight the combined fleets of Venice and Spain. The bloody battle of Lepanto ended in the annihilation of the Ottoman fleet. Among the thousands of Christian soldiers who participated in the battle was a man called Miguel de Cervantes. Despite the loss of his left arm, he became one of the greatest novelist ever, thanks to “Don Quixote”. His statue is near the wall to the right of the harbour entrance (as one faces the sea).