In the centre of the sea roads of the Aegean Sea, there is a big island, with imposing mountainous volumes and fertile valleys, which is inhabited by charming people, with a tradition in music and dance. This is Naxos, an island full of beauties that will enchant its visitors.
With an extent of 448 sq. kilometres and 20.000 residents, Naxos is the biggest and most fertile island of the Cyclades. Long-lasting history, important monuments and intense tourist life, render it unique among the other Cycladic islands. No matter how many days your visit lasts in Naxos, there will always be hidden corners for you to discover, beaches that you will not have visited, towers and castles that you will not have managed to see and traditional settlements unvisited yet.
In the market of Hora the visitor will find all the local products, traditional art (garments, baskets, and ceramics), jewellery, and many restaurants to taste the rich local dishes. In the well known beaches of the south-western coast, with kilometres of golden sandy coasts, you will enjoy the sun and the sea. As long as for night entertainment, there are places for each age and preference in Hora.
Apart from the beaches and sights, Naxos is famous for its mountainous villages, diamonds of traditional architecture, local customs and authentic hospitality.
The impressive alternations of landscape in combination with the possibilities that the island offers for all kinds of activity, render Naxos an island that covers needs and wishes of every visitor.
Sights
Hora
Hora is the capital and harbour of the island, built in the place of the ancient city, in the middle of the western coast of the island. White Cycladic houses, old stone mansions, narrow streets and arches are the characteristics of the settlement that unfolds around the medieval castle of Sanoudos.
The medieval city included the wall – the exterior walls of regional houses, the palace of the Duke, the mansions of the noble located around the palace and twelve towers. It had three entries, and in the one of them (Trani Porta), the wooden door is still saved today.
Out of the medieval city the tower of Sanoudos, the mansion Delaroka-Barotsi, the building of the school of Oursoulines, the metropolis of the Catholics, and the commercial school of the Jesuits -where the Archaeological Museum is today accommodated with rich discoveries from the Neolithic period up to the early Christian years-are also preserved. The view from the castle is magical. Out of the castle two later settlements were developed. Bourgo is placed on the west, with the most affluent residents, and Nio to the south.
Portara
Portara is a characteristic trait of the island, an enormous marble gate, from the temple of Apollo, that began to be manufactured on the 6th century B.C. and was never completed. Today it is visible from far, it dominates on the island Palatia which is linked with the harbour with a narrow strait, and welcomes you to Naxos.
Apollonas-Kouros-Latomeia
Apollo, in the northern coasts of the island, is a beautiful fishing village with a long beach. Here, in antiquity there were marble quarries. In the entry of one of them, you will find the largest Kouros of the island, of 10,45 metres from the 6th century B.C. The statue is laid down and is half sculpted. One more kouros is found at Flerio.
Za Cave
In the middle of the street between Filoti and Danakos you will meet the church of Agia Marina, from where the path for the top of the famous mountain Za begins, the tallest mountain of the Cyclades (1004 m.). The view from here is fascinating, since it embraces Naxos and all its surrounding Cycladic islands. At the north-western slopes of the mountain you will find the cave of Za, with clusters of stalagmites.
Apano Kastro
From Tsikalario, in the centre of island, a path that leads to the ancient Apano Kastro begins.View from the top is astonishing.
Melanes
Melanes is yet another jewel of Naxos, built in a fertile region, with many running waters and old watermills. In the region around it, the rural tower of Mark Sanoudos is found as well as the towers of Mayrogenis, Fragkopoulos and De Mari who was the feudal lord of the region.
The spring of Agas
Among the sights of Hora the spring of Agas is a bit outside the settlement, a unique reminder of Turkish sovereignty in the island.
Museums
Archaeological museum of Naxos
The museum hosts important discoveries, mainly from excavations in Naxos and the surrounding islands, which are dated to late Neolithic Period up to the early Christian years. The Historical Archive of Naxos is accommodated in a separate part of the building.
Archaeological museum
In the square of the metropolitan temple of Naxos, functions a unique museum in Greece and one of the few in its type in the world. In the square and in the underground space one can see discoveries of excavations of the 1980s. A part of the walls of the city from the Mycenaean period is maintained in good condition. In its base you can distinguish small workshops of vessels manufacturing, benches with unprepared vessels etc. At the Geometric period the space changed use and became a place of rituals. There was thus created an earth tomb, that covered graves of important people of Naxos. Other parts of the ancient city were discovered in the place “Grota” in the north of the harbour, while a big part is found under the surface of the sea.
Apeirathos
The next stop is Apeirathos, the jewel of mountainous Naxos, built on the slopes of a mountain in an altitude of 600 metres. T’ Aperanthou- as the locals call it- impresses you from the very first moment. Venetian towers, beautiful old two-storied houses, marble streets with arches, picturesque squares with cafes and a poetic disposal of the local, create an atmosphere that we seldom meet in parts of so much tourism development.
Apeirathos distinguishes from other villages of Naxos in its local dialect and customs, since its residents came from the mountainous villages of Crete on the 17th century. Impressive is the tower of Zeygoli (17th cent.), built on a rock in the entry of the village.Three very interesting museums deserve your visit:the archaeological, the geological and the folklore. In the wider region there are appreciable Byzantine churches.
Sagri
Sagri, is built in a fertile plateau with picturesque windmills, and has a long history. In the village you can visit its Venetian towers and its Byzantine churches.
Beaches
All the south-western beaches of the island are easily accessible and busy.’Agios Georgios, Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna, are all organised with possibilities for various water sports. In Agia Anna and in the next sandy and enormous beach of Plaka you will find cedars, which offer their shade to the visitors.
On your way, you will find Mikri Vigla and Kastraki with their endless sandy beaches that are visited by surfers, while the street continues for Pyrgaki and Aliko with the sand dunes and a second area of cedars.
The beach of Agiassos is the last beach that we meet in south-west of the island. The Kalantou bay with the beach is found at the southern utmost of the island, at a place with no easy access, but that will surely compensate you with its natural beauty and landscape. From here you will continue for the beautiful beaches of Panormos and Psili Ammos, while in Moutsouna you will swim in Azala and Ligarida.
From Koronos the central street leads east to the beach of Liona and north to the picturesque Apollonas. The coastal street that connects Apollonas with Hora, hosts the beaches Amprami,’Agios Mammas, Hilia Vrisi and Pahia Ammos.
Source:http://www.cyclades-tour.gr
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