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Naxos
NAXOS. (Area 448 sq. km. Distance from Piraeus
103 nautical miles). 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 same 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 throughout
every period of history, though it was at the peak of its glory
during the period of the Cycladic civilisation.
Click on the pictures to enlarge
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Naxos. Marble quarry.
Photo: Peter de Rijcker |
Apollo temple on Naxos.
Photo: Peter Paul de Rijcker
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Interesting
monuments from various periods are to be found all
over the town. They include fine Byzantine churches,
the castle itself (with its tower and battlements),
and traces of Mycenaean buildings in the spot known
as Grota. The Archaeological Museum of Naxos has
some notable exhibits. Naxos or Hora
stands on a naturally amphitheatrically 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 castle, he will be struck
by the beauty of the narrow winding lanes and the old stone
houses lining them. |
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Naxos.
Photo:
Bruno Hubrecht
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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 Agios Prokopios, Mikri Vigla, Kastraki,
Alikos, Pirgaki, Agiassos (on the west side), Apolonas,
Psili Anlos, 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.
How to get there: By ferry from Piraeus
and Rafina |
Naxos.
Photo: Peter de Rijcker |
Naxos.
Photo: Peter de Rijcker |
Naxos.
Photo: Peter de Rijcker. |
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Source: GNTO
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