Naxos island top attractions, Cyclades - exotic Greece | Νάξος, η Βασίλισσα των Κυκλάδων
Long beaches and mediaeval towers, lush valleys and high mountains... and delicious local produce
Welcome to the largest island in the Cyclades, Naxos. So fertile, it’s self-sufficient. Here you’ll find plenty of history, ruins from every era, a kaleidoscope of landscapes, friendly locals and wonderful food in the most beautiful part of the Aegean.
Entering the harbour, you’re greeted by the ancient Portara – the massive marble gateway identical to the logo of the National Geographic – and the sight of the mediaeval castle above the town. Inland, you’ll find isolated mediaeval villages, untouched by time, like Tripodes, Filoti, Halki and Apeiranthos, that invite you to explore their beauty. You’ll find Mt. Zas (another name for Zeus), green valleys, abandoned monasteries, venerable churches, and lofty towers like Bazeos Tower. Built in the 17th century, the tower functioned as a monastery of the True Cross (Timios Stavros) for decades.
Today it hosts a wide array of cultural activities, such as the Naxos Festival. If you’re a sun worshipper, Naxos’s endless stretch of gorgeous sandy beaches will keep you blissfully happy during your holiday. And if you’re even remotely interested in antiquities and culture, you’ll make sure to see the two giant kouroi – statues of young men – lying down in the open.
What to do on Naxos
The Hora of Naxos
Traces of many past civilisations enrich the island’s main town. The most obvious is the gigantic Portara, all that remains of a massive temple to Apollo that was never completed. The legacy of the Venetians and Franks, nobles who took over Greek islands and mainland as spoils from the Fourth Crusade, is more layered. Walk through the narrow alleys in the oldest part of town and up to the fortress and you’ll think you’re back in the Middle Ages. Back on the waterfront, instead of a coffee, you might want to sample some kitro, a Naxos liqueur made from citrus fruit.
The giant kouroi
Naxos’s most impressive sculptures are in the open air. They are one of the most popular attractions on the island. Colossal, half-finished statues of young men – Archaic kouroi – they have been resting for eons in the same spot, one in a garden at Melanes, the other overlooking the coast at Apollona. Lying, as if waiting, for their creators to come finish the job.
Naxos is the largest of the Cyclades island group in the Aegean. It was the centre of archaic Cycladic culture. The island is famous as a source of emery, a rock rich in corundum, which until modern time was one of the best abrasives available. The largest town and capital of the island is Chora or Naxos City, with 6,533 inhabitants.
According to Greek mythology, the young Zeus was raised in a cave on Mt. Zas (Zas meaning Zeus).
Naxos is a popular tourist destination, with several ruins. It has a number of beaches, such as those at Agia Anna, Agios Prokopios, Alikos, Kastraki, Mikri Vigla, Plaka, and Agios Georgios, most of them near Chora. As other cycladic islands, Naxos is considered a windy place perfect for windsurfing, as well as kitesurfing. There are seven sports clubs in the island that offer both of these sports and other water activities.
Naxos is the most fertile island of the Cyclades. It has a good supply of water in a region where water is usually inadequate. Mount Zeus (1,004 metres or 3,294 feet) is the highest peak in the Cyclades, and tends to trap the clouds, permitting greater rainfall. This has made agriculture an important economic sector with various vegetable and fruit crops as well as cattle breeding, making Naxos the most self-sufficient island in the Cyclades. Naxos is well known within Greece for its cheese, potatoes and Kitron, a local lemon-citrus spirit.
Η Νάξος είναι το μεγαλύτερο νησί των Κυκλάδων. Η Νάξος όπως αναφέρει ο Ηρόδοτος, ξεπερνούσε σε πλούτο όλα τα νησιά και πολλά προϊόντα της ήταν γνωστά στην αρχαιότητα, όπως το μάρμαρο της Νάξου, η σμύριδα, το κρασί, τα αμύγδαλα, τα αιγοπρόβατα κ.α.
O Δίας, κατά τους αρχαίους Έλληνες, λέγεται ότι γεννήθηκε στην Κρήτη, αλλά μεγάλωσε στη Νάξο, και έτσι το ψηλότερο βουνό του νησιού πήρε το όνομά του (Ζευς ή, για τους ντόπιους, Ζας, 999 μέτρα). Στη Νάξο εγκατέλειψε, σύμφωνα με το μύθο, ο Θησέας την Αριάδνη, η οποία τον είχε βοηθήσει προηγουμένως στην Κρήτη να σκοτώσει το Μινώταυρο με τον όρο να την πάρει μαζί του, την οποία στη συνέχεια πήρε σύζυγό του ο θεός Διόνυσος.
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Luxury villa complex in Ampelas on Paros
A complex of four small villas built upon three levels offering 2 - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, living room, verandas that each have a sea view, a common shared children's playground and a shared swimming pool. Each villa can accommodate 5 - 7 people. Just a five minute walk away from the sea, suitable for couples with young children as the villas are very safe for children as every small detail has been taken care of. The villas are surrounded by a beautiful colourful well kept garden.
Description of villas
As you enter the main entrance to each villa, you find yourself on the first floor in the large living room, an arch way separates the living room to the fully equipped kitchen. If you go downstairs you find your self on the ground floor where there are two double bedrooms and a bathroom. Upstairs there is the main master bedroom with its own bathroom and private veranda offering a panoramic view.
Facilities
Shared swimming pool
Shared children's play ground
Private parking space
Cleaning services every two days
Well kept garden
Panoramic sea views
Children's safety gates on all staircases and doors
Outside furnished verandas
Deck chairs around the pool
Common used barbecue / traditional oven
Baby sitting services
Distances
Naoussa 3 kilometers
Sea 150 meters
Paroikia 10 kilometers
Airport 16 kilometers
Supermarket 500 meters
Restaurants - taverns 500 meters