---------YOUR TRAVEL
GUIDE IN GREECE AND THE GREEK ISLANDS---------
TOWNS /
VILLAGES
Naxos Town
Agios Arsenios
Apiranthos
Apollonas
Chalki
Eggares
Filoti
Galini
Galanado
Glinado
Kinidaros
Koronida
Koronos
Melanes
Mesi
Moni
Potamia
Sagri
Scado
Tripodes
NAXOS TOWN
Approaching the island by boat, the visitor will
see two small islands to the left and right of the harbor - one with the little church of
Myrtidiotissa, and the other called Palatia
which is linked to the chora. The imposing gate or "Portara" as it is known by
the local people, rises in splendid isolation above the town, the last relic of the
ancient marble temple dedicated to Apollo which the Naxian tyrant Ligdamis ordered to be
built in the god's honor in the 6th century B.C. For two and a half centuries now it has
stood looking out towards the sacred island of Delos. Archaeologists believe that the
building of the temple was never completed because work on it had to stop when war broke
out between Naxos and Samos, and thereafter it remained unfinished. Judging from the size
of the vast "Portara" and the
foundations which still survive today, it must have been a truly magnificent edifice.
NAXOS
(CHORA)
In the 5th or 6th centuries A.D., Christian
churches were built over the remains of the unfinished temple, a common practice at that
time. During Frankish rule parts of the temple were used by the Venetian conquerors to
build the Kastro in the Chora.
SIGHTSEEING
At dusk, as the sun slowly sinks like a ball of
fire into the sea and disappears, the "Portara" is bathed in a glorious twilight
glow. Sunset is a shear delight on this island; despite the proximity of the noisy harbor
and the crowded Chora there is a sense of tranquility which transports one back in time,
creating a delightful feeling of being far away from it all. In the distance the island of
Paros can be clearly discerned on the horizon.
At the northern end of Chora, at Grotta beach,
traces of a Minoan settlement have been found. The area took its name from the cave at
Aplomata (grotta being the Italian word for cave).
HISTORY
There are several churches that are well worth a
visit, amongst them the Metropolis, which was built between 1780 and 1787 on the site
formerly occupied by the little chapel of Zoodochou Pigis and dedicated to St. Nicodemus,
St. Athonitis and St. Nectarios. Pieces from ancient ruins were used in the reconstruction
of the church. Its columns hewn from solid pieces of granite are particularly impressive,
and the interior is elaborately decorated with marble, beautiful old icons and a priceless
New Testament which is said to have been donated to the church by Empress Catherine of
Russia.
MUSEUMS
Of particular interest to the visitor is the Naxos Archaeological Museum, housed in the old
School of Commerce building where Catholic monks gave instruction and for a time the great
Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis was a student. The building dates from the period of
Frankish rule.
Prominence is given among the exhibits to what
is known as the Cycladic Collection, containing marble vessels with incised spiral
patterns, earthenware pots with finely developed decoration and designs, tools made of
wood, stone and copper, representations engraved on marble slabs, funeral gifts and
Cycladic statuettes which are famous for their simplicity of expression.
The museum's Mycenean collection contains finds
from excavations at Grotta and the tombs at Aplomata and Kamini: ornate pots of differing
shapes for various uses, funeral gifts made of gold, cameos and assorted small ornaments.
Another room in the museum is given over to the display of objects from the Geometric,
Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods.
Particularly remarkable is the mosaic floor in
Aplomata which depicts a Nereid astride a bull, with deer, peacocks etc. at each corner.
According to research carried out by archaeologists, the mosaic was part of a house dating
from the 4th century B.C.
ENTERTAINMENT
In Chora there are many tavernas and
restaurants.. There are several bars and discotheques with all kinds of music. There is
also a summer cinema. There are many traditional festivals through the year, with music
and dances till morning. And during the summer exhibitions and festivals of any kind take
place.
EXCURSIONS - SPORTS
........................
TRANSPORTS
Many busses that go to almost all Naxos
villages. There are taxis and shops to hire a car and motorcycles.
USEFUL TELEPHONES
(AREA CODE: 0285)
Naxos Port Authority - 0285-22300
Piraeus Port Authority - 01-4226000
Rafina Port Authority - 0294-22300
Police Station - 0285-23280
Municipality - 0285-24799
Post Office - 0285-22211
KTEL Buses - 0285-22291
Taxis - 0285-22444
AGIOS ARSENIOS
An
inland village, just 7 kms far from Chora with a magnificent view over Naxos Town and the
southwest beaches of the island.
Built at the sides of two hills separated by a
river, at a distance of 7Km from Naxos Town, having an excellent view of Agios Prokopis,
the airport and the island of Paros.
TRANSPORTS
Busses that go to the village every day.
Easily accessible by car or motorbike. The road is asphalt.
USEFUL TELEPHONES (AREA CODE:
0285)
Municipality 41403
APIRANTHOS
At a distance of about 27 km from the town
(Chora) is built among two total green valleys, Apiranthos, which is one of the most
beautiful villages of Naxos and one of the few traditional cities of Cyclades at the same
time.
Among the sightseeing are the Venetian
Castle with its imposing site, the marble belfry of the church of Virgin Mary and the all
round view from end towards the village with the windmills at the tops of the opposite
hills.
SIGHTSEEING
The footpaths at the way-outs of the village
lead to distinguished Byzantine churches and especially, most of them dispose unique
sacred paintings like Agia Kiriaki, Agios Ioannis Theologos, Agios Pahoumios, etc.
The stone worked by the best
craftsmen adorns the paved roads and squares and it constitutes the basic material of
construction for the Apiranthos house.
CHALKI
A picturesque green village with tourist
traffic, built in one of the most beautiful valleys of the island called
"Tragea". It’s 17 kms far from Chora.
It
used to be the old capital of the island. You will find many old upper class houses and
towers.
SIGHTSEEING
Many Byzantine churches and
mansion houses. You will also encounter many towers on your way to Chalki.
MONI
A picturesque green village.
SIGHTSEEING
The churchof Panagia Drossiani: There
are various views stated concerning the name of the church. The correct one claims that
the name "Drossiani" comes from the location called "Drossia", where
the church was built. According to local traditions, it was named "Drossiani"
because "the icon perspired, and still does", every time the village has been in
danger; or because "it cooled the inhabitants, and still does, with its
miracles". People so relate the name "Drossiani" to the verbs /idrono/,
which means perspire and /drossizo/, which means cool, fresh up.
