 Naxos,
the largest and most fertile of the Cycladic islands,
lies almost at the centre of the Aegean.
Meadows running down to vast beaches,
cliffs sinking suddenly into the sea, rocky mountains
side-by-side with fertile valleys, abundant springs and
streams these are just some of the features of a natural
environment marked for its variety.
The coastline of Naxos is abrupt on the
south side and more sheltered to the west, with numerous
inlets and sandy beaches. The island is first heard of
in the myths and then mentioned through-out every period
of history, though it was at the peak of its glory
during the period of the Cycladic civilization.
Naxos or Hora stands on a naturally
amphitheatrical site on a hillside on the north-west
side of the island and is one of the most attractive
towns in the Cyclades. As the visitor walks from the
harbour high up to the Venetian casde, he will be struck
by the beauty of the narrow winding lanes and the old
stone houses lining them.
Interesting monuments from various
periods are to be found all over the town. They include
fme Byzantine churches, the castle itself (with its
tower and battlements), and traces of Mycenean buildings
in the spot known as Grota. The Archaeological Museum of
Naxos has some notable exhibits.
Given that traces of Greek antiquity are
to be seen everywhere, each part of the island has
something of interest. Near the pretty coastal village
of Apolonas, for instance – on the north side of the
island – is a half-finished outsize “kouros” (statue of
a youth), dating from the 6th century BC, still lying in
the marble quarry where it was abandoned. Another such
statue can be seen at Melanes.
An interesting archaeological museum is
to be found at Apirathos, a village where a number of
strange customs and habits have survived. Among churches
of interest are those of Our Lady “Protothroni” at
Tragea and Our Lady “Filotitissa” in the village of
Filoti.
There are good swimming beaches at Aghios
Prokopios, Mikri Vigla, Kastraki, Alikos, Pirgaki,
Aghiassos (on the west side), Apolonas, Psili Amos,
Panormos, Pahia Amos and elsewhere. The superb beaches
of Naxos, its attractive villages and its wealth of
monuments draw thousands of visitors to the island each
year. The good tourist amenities in Hora make it easy to
tour the charms of the island.
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