Tour of Naxos Island
Naxos is situated at the heart of the Aegean Sea and is the biggest and the most fertile island of the Cyclades group.
Naxos is a popular tourist destination and an island of big interest with historical monuments, churches, picturesque and traditional villages, and magic sandy beaches for all tastes.
The tourist infrastructure of the island is excellent: hotel units, apartments and rooms to let with all comforts, camping sites, restaurants and traditional taverns where you can enjoy tastes of Greek and international cuisine, coffee shops, bars and clubs with live music.
NAXOS (CHORA)
The capital and harbor of the island is NAXOS or Chora.
To the right and left of the harbor are two small islets: Myrtidiotissa, on which is the church of the Panagia Myrtidiotissa and Palatia, which is connected with Chora.
On the islet of Palatia rises an imposing gate, called Portara by the locals, which is all that remains of the Archaic, marble temple of Apollo.
Chora consists of a basic, fortified, medieval kernel.
The center of the fortified town is the main square, with the Catholic cathedral and the main tower – the tallest building and the strongest point of the defenses – of which only a low section now survives
Two of its three gates are also preserved.
The islanders, who were subjects of the Duke of Naxos, lived outside the castle, and the districts of Bourgo and Agora gradually evolved.
The Archaeological Museum of Naxos (tel. 22850 22725) houses an interesting collection with Cycladic figurines.
In the capital you will find numerous hotels, apartments and rooms to let providing all comforts, good food in restaurants and taverns offering a variety of cuisines such as Mexican, Thai, Italian, Greek, Indian and great nightlife. Clubs and bars stay open until the morning.
Naxos Beaches
Near the town is the fine organized beach of Saint George that attracts many visitors, followed by Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna, Plaka and Agios Arsenios.
Beyond them are the beaches of Kastraki, Aliko a small exotic and quiet beach, Pyrgaki a beautiful sandy beach and a perfect place for idyllic sunsets and, further to the south Agiasos, where the peaceful landscape looks far away the deep blue of the sea.
The quiet Glyfada beach is found between the beaches of Kastraki and Alyko.
Here you will find a few rooms to rent.
Saint George is perhaps the busiest beach of the island with many taverns and café bars on the sand.
Its main characteristic is the shallow sea water which makes it ideal for families with children.
Sun beds and umbrellas are available.
Tour of Naxos Island
Agios Prokopios
Agios Prokopios is located just 5 kilometers from the capital and is considered as one of the ten best beaches in Europe. It is protected from the winds because it is situated in the southwest part of the island and the characteristic of the beach is the thin sand. In the entrance of the beach you will see the chapel of Saint Prokopios. The color of the crystal waters goes from blue to turquoise.
Agia Anna
Agia Anna is one of the most famous beaches on Naxos and is the natural extension of Agios Prokopios.
It has fine sand and crystal clear waters and it is preferred by people who love camping. In the area you will find hotels, rooms to let and traditional fish taverns.
The extension of Agia Anna is Plaka beach, one of the most beautiful and long beaches of Naxos.
Tour of Naxos Island
Mikri Vigla beach, 16 kilometers from the capital is considered as a region of unique natural beauty.
Its most characteristic features are the amazing quality white sand and the clarity of the sea water.
There are quite a few accommodation units in the area but you will find and several taverns with excellent local cuisine.
Between Plaka and Mikri Vigla beaches lies the beach of Orkos, a 1.5 km long pebbly beach, ideal for wind surfing.
The plain of Tragea, which stretches between Sangri and Agiasos has been dubbed a “Little Mystras” on account of its notable Byzantine monuments.
Outside the village of Galanado, south-east of Chora, is the tower of Belonia and beyond this Tripodes or Vivlos, with its characteristic Cycladic windmills.
Sangri
Further south is SANGRI, which has a superb view, and beyond it the dominating castle of Tapalyrou, the strongest on the island.
In Sangri you will see the famous monastery of Agios Eleftherios that functioned also as a secret school during the years of the Ottoman domination.
Near the village is the most important archaeological site of the island, Gyroulas with the recently restored Temple of Demeter and a remarkable museum.
Damarionas – Chalki – Filoti
The villages of DAMARIONAS, CHALKI and FILOTI are almost in the middle of the island, with the beautiful settlement of APEIRANTHOS, which has a small archaeological collection with findings from excavations on the island dated from prehistoric times.
Apeiranthos or “marble village” as the locals call it impresses the visitors with its medieval architecture. A 7th c. “Kouros”, 6.40 meters long, was found lying in a garden near Flerio.
Chalki is a small village which distinguishes for the old mansions with the tiles, the classic balconies with beautiful rails, festoons in the roofs and paved with slabs courtyards.
Inside and around the village there are many ancient ruins, Byzantine churches full of frescoes and high Venetian towers.
Damarionas is a traditional village built in feet of mountain Rahi, 16 kilometers from the capital.
Filoti is the biggest village of Naxos and it is full of life and action.
It is built in an amphitheatrical way on the hills of mountain Za, in which mythology says that Zeus God grew up. The church of Panagia Filiotissa with its marble icon has special interest.
In the road from the Apeiranthos to Moutsouna, we have the opportunity to follow the path of «Aviation», air railroad, which transported emery from mining galleries, in the mountains, up the ladder loading in the port of Moutsouna with a beautiful beach and a majestic landscape. Here you will find lovely taverns by the beach, and few accommodation units.
Psili Ammos is located approximately 12km from the village of Moutsouna going southwards. It is a very quiet beach with crystal clear waters.
After this we come to KINIDAROS, a village with abundant water, famous for its lively festivals and celebrations.
The rich music and dance tradition of the village is maintained almost inalterable in the passage of time.
Tour of Naxos Island
Further north is Koronos and Koronida (or Komiaki), the highest village on the island.
The landscape is rough with rich vegetation of plane trees and oaks.
Just 8 kilometers from Koronos is located Lionas bay.
Eggares
In the northwest part of the island, 7 kilometers from the capital is located the village of EGGARES which combines plain, mountain and sea.
In the middle of village dominates the church of Virgin Mary Dormition and close beside the big stone square.
Other places of interest of the village are two renovated olive presses.
Apollonas
The road ends to APOLLONAS, a short distance from which is an ancient marble quarry.
A “Kouros” statue, 10 meters long, has been lying for centuries at the entrance to the quarry.
In Apollonas you can swim in the clean, sandy and pebbled beaches.
Here you can find apartments and rooms to let, cafes, traditional taverns and bars.
Near the village of Galini, is the monastery of the Panagia Ypsilotera, also known as the “Tower of Angelopoulos” which is like a fortress to protect its occupants from the pirates.
It was built in 1660.
From the village you can visit beach Amiti. It is a relatively big beach with white sand.
TRADITION – EVENTS
Naxos residents are famous for their feasts and their music tradition.
Lent is still celebrated on the island with local dances, especially in the mountain villages of Apeiranthos and Filoti.
The most popular Naxos events are the summer festival in Naxos Town and Dionysia Festival.
Local festivals are held during the summer in Agia Anna, Agios Prokopios, Apeiranthos, Koronos, Kinidaros and Filoti.
NAXOS LOCAL PRODUCTS
The products of Naxos have a particular qualitative and tasty flavor (potatoes, oranges, lemons, cheeses, thyme honey, meat etc).
Some of the most famous dishes you can taste on the island are provatses with pork, patoudo, traditional cheese pie, spagheti with lobster called astakomakaronada, saganaki (fried cheese) and of course fresh fish and seafood.
Don’t miss to buy citrus liqueur and traditional handmade ceramics.
Municipality of Naxos & Small Cyclades
