The island of Naxos is located in the Aegean Sea and belongs to Greece. This is part of the Cyclades archipelago, which includes about two hundred more islands, and Naxos is the largest. Marble and sandpaper are actively mined here, and tourists are attracted by numerous beaches and picturesque nature. The capital, Chora, descends like an amphitheater to the coast; the ancient city is more like a museum under the sky.
Interesting fact! In the 19th century, Lord Byron visited Naxos in Greece, and later the poet did not skimp on epithets when describing Naxos.
General information
Nature itself has not spared beauty, creating an island in the Aegean Sea. In comparison with the neighboring almost lifeless islets, Naxos stands out for a variety of landscapes-mountains, beaches, olive and citrus groves, vineyards and blooming gardens, ancient ruins and ancient castles complete the picture. There are many legends associated with the island in Greece, according to one Zeus lived here. The highest point of the island, Mount Zeus (1000 m), is named after the god, and the whole of Naxos is perfectly visible from here.
The island of Naxos in Greece is included in the list of non-tourist, but favorite places for Greeks, lovers of a calm, measured holiday prefer to come here, however, every year Naxos becomes more and more popular. There is an airport here, and on the territory of the island you can only travel by bus or rent a car.
Interesting fact! In the period from 1770 to 1774. Naxos belonged to the Russian Empire and was presented to Count Orlov, here was his residence.
The area of the largest island of the archipelago is 428m2, the coastline is 148 km, the population is about 19 thousand people. The capital of the island is Chora, or Naxos. This is a multi-tiered settlement, at the foot there are beaches and a port, above-Burgo, a residential part with a maze of streets, temples, white houses. Ancestral emblems of Venetian families are often found on the walls of houses. Walking through the streets of Naxos, you will inevitably find yourself at the Venetian castle of Castro, so all the roads in the city lead here.
What is interesting about the island?:
- it is a rare case when the island of the archipelago is rich in fertile soil;
- olives known throughout Greece are grown here;
- convenient location for visiting other Greek islands.
Reasons to go to the island:
- beautiful nature and beautiful beaches;
- large selection of hotels, hotels, villas, apartments;
- medieval castles, fortresses and other attractions;
- popular water sports include windsurfing and diving.
Interesting fact! The beach and coast of Agios Prokopios is one of the ten most beautiful beaches in Europe.
Attractions
The centuries-old history of the island is filled with various heroic and tragic facts, it is not surprising that many attractions have been preserved here – palaces, temples, exhibition centers, ancient statues, museums.
Old Town of Naxos
The legend of the labyrinth of the Minotaur deservedly appeared in the myths of Ancient Greece, and this is confirmed by the winding, narrow streets of the Old Town on the island of Naxos. If you want to go to its highest point – the Venetian fortress of the 17th century, it is unlikely to succeed the first time, on the way you will find a lot of interesting discoveries and you will probably have to change the route abruptly several times, return to the nearest fork, since many streets end in a dead end. Each house here lives its own life, keeps its own history. By the way, walking in the old part of Naxos is pleasant even in the midday heat – the stone walls give a long-awaited heat, and some are hidden in the shade of dense vegetation. Pay attention to the handmade work of local masters-jewelers – the products are original and never repeated. Here you will find jewelry of unique design, so do not rush to buy costume jewelry in popular tourist stores.
The old part of Naxos is small, there are no luxurious palace facades, the architecture is simple, discreet and this attracts. The Old Town is quiet and peaceful. It is safe to live here, you can walk until late at night, the streets are clean.
The architecture is dominated by the traditional Greek Cycladic style-a combination of white and blue shades. However, I want to add fuchsia color to this mix, because many houses on the island are decorated with flowerpots with flowering plants. During the walk, be sure to visit shops, art design studios, which are more like small museums.
Useful to know! If you are interested in a more modern part of the city, head to Platia Evripeu, where there are many cafes, taverns, car rental, even an Internet cafe.
Fortress of Naxos
The Castro Fortress on the island was built in the 13th century and today it is the main attraction. The construction was carried out by the Venetians, it is located on the top of a hill, at an altitude of 30 m, in the historical center.
The island of Naxos in Greece was conquered by the Venetians after the Fourth Crusade, their leader ordered to build a fortress instead of the destroyed acropolis. Upon completion of its construction, the fortress became the main cultural, religious, and administrative center of the island.
Interesting fact! Fragments of old structures were used for construction, for example, there are blocks of the temple of Apollo.
Initially, the fortress had the shape of a regular pentagon with seven towers, today only a few have survived. It was possible to get to the territory of the structure through three entrances, inside in addition to residential buildings there were temples, mansions of rich residents. Special attention is drawn to the mansion, formerly owned by the Domus Della Rocco Barosi family, today it houses the Venetian Museum.
Practical information:
- cultural and entertainment events are often held on the territory of the fortress;
- on the territory of the attraction there is an Archaeological Museum (previously there was a school here), the Glezos or Krispos Tower, a Catholic church;
- Domus Della Rocca Barozzi Castle offers a wonderful view of the city, and guests can enjoy wine from local cellars during a guided tour of the mansion.
Archaeological Museum
The museum consists of several halls, the exhibits are presented on a geographical basis-where the excavations were carried out. A very interesting hall with ceramics, in the courtyard there is a mosaic floor, as well as the remains of columns. Also among the exhibits are pottery, sculptures, ancient Cycladic figurines. When you go up to the museum’s terrace, you will see a beautiful view of the city. At the museum’s exposition, you can trace the history of the city and island in Greece.
Useful to know! At the ticket office, you can get a brochure in Russian, which describes in detail the history of the museum, the features of the exhibition.
Practical information:
- the museum is located in the city center, easy to reach by signs, the entrance is near the Venetian fortress;
- the ticket price is 2 euros, for students and pensioners there is a reduced price.
- opening hours are from November to March only on weekends from 8: 30 to 15: 30, from April to October from Wednesday to Sunday from 8: 00 to 15: 30.
The Venetian Museum
The museum is one of the main attractions of the city, located in the building of an old mansion that belonged to the Della Rocca family. The interior takes guests back to the time of Venetian rule on the island. The duration of the tour is 45 minutes, during which time tourists are offered to visit living rooms, a library, offices, and a dining room. The museum has an exclusive collection of furniture, paintings, dishes, household items, clothing.
Interesting fact! The building still belongs to the descendants of the Jella-Rocca family, so only part of the structure is open to tourists.
Every year, the museum hosts a classical music festival. Guests can enjoy a wine tasting session in the basement. In addition, there are works by local craftsmen.
Practical information:
- you can take photos and shoot videos in the museum;
- there is a souvenir shop where you can buy Venetian ceramics.
Beaches of the island of Naxos
Naxos is a great place for beach relaxation, with clear water, sandy and partly pebbly beaches, dunes and tall cedars. There are approximately two dozen beaches on the island, many located in lagoons and bays. On the island there is a place for every taste – for a quiet, quiet holiday with children, for diving and surfing, for sports, there is a beach with an established infrastructure, as well as wild places.
Agios Prokopios
The most beautiful beach of Naxos, as well as one of the most picturesque coasts in Europe. It is located 5.5 km from the capital, the length of the coastline is 2 km, the surface is sandy. There are almost no waves, it is comfortable to swim in a mask. Agios Prokopios has been awarded the Blue Flag several times.
Features:
- sharp entrance to the water, near the shore is already deep;
- because of the cold currents, the water is quite cool;
- in the northern part, you can meet nudists.
Part of the coast is adapted for a comfortable stay, and the northern part attracts unspoilt nature. Toilets are available only in cafes and bars. There is only one shower and no changing rooms. Buses run from the capital to Agios Prokopios.
Agia Anna
Located 7 km from the city of Naxos in Greece, families with children and young people can relax in this part of the island. Life here boils around the clock, compared to other beaches of Naxos, Agia Anna is crowded and noisy.
The beach is sandy, the harbor divides the coast into two parts. A special feature of this place is the mighty cedars that provide shade for vacationers. In the northern part there are waves, and the southern part is suitable for families with children.
There are regular buses from Agia Anna to other beaches, and sightseeing boats run from the pier. An asphalt surface leads directly to the shore, it is convenient to drive up by bike and car.
The coastline is landscaped, there are restaurants, cafes, sun beds, umbrellas. There are many hotels and apartments, boarding houses nearby.
St. George’s Beach
The length of the coastline is 1 km, the surface is sandy, the water is clean. This part of the island is marked with a Blue Flag. There are two recreation areas here:
- in the northern part-quiet, calm, the descent into the water is gentle, the depth is insignificant;
- in the southern part – there are waves and windy, here come novice windsurfers.
Useful to know! In the southern part, the bottom is rocky, there are large stones.
On the shore you can rent a sun lounger, umbrella, there is a sports center, catamaran rental, two windsurfing centers, many cafes, bars, souvenir shops.
Mikri Vigla Beach
Located 18 km from the capital of the island, this place is preferred by fans of extreme sports-kiters, windsurfers, also there is untouched nature, so fans of ecotourism like to spend time on Mikra Vigla Beach.
The length of the coastline is 1 km, on one side there is a rock and a cedar forest, on the other side the beach smoothly passes into another picturesque place-Plaka beach.
The sea is shallow, but you should take into account the presence of waves. For recreation with children and diving, the southern edge is suitable, while the northern part is dominated by waves, there are Centers where you can rent equipment for water sports – kitesurfing, windsurfing.
Useful to know! There are sea urchins near the shore, so you can use slippers for swimming.
Panormos
One of the most remote beaches is located 55 km from the city of Naxos. Here you can not only relax on the beach, but also visit the ruins of the ancient city of the Acropolis. The coast is small, almost deserted, there is no infrastructure, but this is compensated by clear water, fine sand and a calm atmosphere. There is a hotel nearby that sells snacks and drinks.
Apollonas
The beach with a sandy and pebble surface is located in the village of Apollonas, 35 km from the capital. The bus runs here only in the warm season. It offers a beautiful view of the Aegean Sea. There is no usual tourist infrastructure on the beach, there are several taverns, a mini-market, and a small parking lot. Swimming here is uncomfortable because of the constant waves.
Useful to know! Rest on Apollonas in Greece is combined with visiting attractions – the statue of Kouros, the Agia Tower.
Accommodation in Naxos
Despite the modest size of the island, there is a fairly large selection of hotels, villas, apartments. Russian-speaking staff is quite rare. Also, there are practically no five-star hotels on the island.
Cost of accommodation:
- cheap 1-star hotels-from 30 euros;
- 2-star hotels-from 45 euros;
- 3-star hotels-from 55 euros;
- 4-star hotels-from 90 euros.
Public transport links
The island in Greece can be reached by flight from Athens. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The island of Naxos is a major shipping hub in Greece. From here, ferries and catamarans regularly depart to other islands, as well as to the mainland. The cost of the trip is from 30 to 50 euros.
There is a bus service on the island, which is the only public transport on Naxos. The bus station is located on the embankment in the capital, not far from the port.
You can also rent a car or scooter on the island.
The island of Naxos is a little-known tourist destination in Greece. The more interesting it is to come here and get acquainted with the real, authentic culture of the country. You will find historical sights, comfortable picturesque beaches, natural beauty and local Greek flavor.
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