When Greece gained its independence from the Ottoman Empire, Nafplion became the new country's capital. It was, after all, the only major city left relatively intact. Many houses were built during the period of Venetian rule, but there was such an acute housing shortage that even these old buildings were soon taken. They are easy to identify since they almost invariably come with marble door frames. The Armansperg residence (named after its most famous resident) is a typical example of this transitional period. The lower floors belong to the second Venetian period (1688-1715) and are carefully constructed with dressed stone. However, the top floor was added in 1831 in a simple Neoclassical style. The balcony railings and the phoenix being reborn from the ashes at the corner are typical features of early Neoclassicism.