| LOCATION | COMMENTS | ||
| The Paralia | The promenade, lined with tavernas, bars, cafés and a few shops, stretching from the Port to Vegerra. |  |
The place to see and to be seen, especially on a Sunday evening when Greek families volta. Unfortunately, the old custom of giggling young girls, flirting with sly eyes with the boys seems now to be a thing of the past - the not so distant past. |
| Kouros | Apollonas |   |
The huge statue of a young man, probably representing Apollo, carved from the living rock intended to be taken to Delos. Probably cracked when an attempt was made to move it. Pausanias says that the Persians carried such a Kouros to raise as a trophy after the battle of Marathon which they, so mistakenly, thought was going to be a walkover, made of Parian marble. The Kouroi of Naxos are considered to be cardinally important in the early history of Greek sculpture*. |
| Aria Springs | Foot of Zas off the road from Filoti to Chimerou. | Nothing really special but peaceful with stupendous views down over the valley. Usually eagles and hawks floating below you. The chilled water from Zas should be tasted | |
| Birthplace of Zeus | Follow the footpath above the Aria Springs and scramble up the hillside. | One of his many birthplaces vying with the one on Crete. Large cave - recommended to go with a guide - see Ian | |
| St John (The Very High) | New road below Aperanthos | Our silly name for this tiny, white church perched high on a sheer peak. The villagers from round about all make the pilgrimage to it on 23rd August. | |
| Kouros | A garden in Melanes, Flerio. |  |
Similar to the one in Apollonas but more sophisticated. He has a face and long hair and very curved buttocks! What was he doing there and, if he was meant for Delos, how had they intended getting him down the hillside to the harbour? The garden you find it in, is full of flowers and fruit trees. Notice, particularly, the citrus trees from whose leaves citron is made. a fishpool and lots of kittens. As the owner of this land does not charge for visits to her Kouros, it is good manners to, at least, buy a soft drink from her. |
| Drossi Amos (Panagia Drossiani) | Moni |   |
Reputedly, the oldest Byzantium church in Greece. |
| The Portara | On the islet, Palatia, to the right of Chora |  |
Not
a ruin in the strict sense of the term but this massive portal was the
only part of the intended temple built by the Tyrant Lygdamis in the 6th
Century. he never finished this temple to Apollo, first running
out of money and then being deposed.
Rarely can you get any atmosphere up there because of all the others trying for the same. Try the early hours of the morning during a time of a full moon - if you can. |
| The Castro | The central hill of Naxos Town |   |
A castle built by Marcos Sanoudos from which he ruled the Duchy of Naxos in the 13th century. Only two of the original seven towers remain - Sanoudos and Glezos. The castle includes now a complex of medieval houses, joined by a maze of narrow streets and tunnels, one of the best preserved in Greece. In a courtyard at its apex can be found the Roman Catholic Cathedral as well as a fine museum. For a guided tour click. |
| Chimaros Tower | Follow road from Filoti running at the base of Zas. At time of writing, this is still an unmade road suitable only for walking or 4 wheel drive. |  |
4th Century BC, well-preserved tower |
| Temple of Demeter | Near Sangri |  |
Archaeological site in a beautiful, country situation - lots of large lizards. Worth a visit if you can find it. |
| Roman Catholic Church | Top square of the Castro |  |
Peaceful, pretty location. Part of a guided tour - click. |
| Bolonia Tower | Just passed Galanado on the Sangri Road |  |
A fully renovated Venetian tower in private ownership. In its garden is an unique little church. It is double domed with one half being RC and the other GO. The two congregations have co-existed peacefully for ages. Inside you can see stalactites forming from the limestone ceilings.. |
| Archaeological Museum | Top square of the Castro near RC cathedral | Contains fragments of Kouroi, Cycladic pottery and statuary, busts, Roman mosaics, jewelry, coins, etc. For a guided tour - click. | |
| Church of the Virgin Myrtidiotissa | In the harbour by the Paralia |  |
A tiny church on a tiny islet. Built to protect the harbour by sailors, it is visited only by boats. The islet is part of a knoll built by Marcos Sanoudos in 1207. |
| Church of St Anthony the Hermit | Little church near the harbour | Bestowed on the 15th Century by the Knights of Rhodes, founded earlier by Francesco Crispo wife of Giovanni II. | |
| St John Chrysostron | On the hill above town, about 15 mins walk. | A nunnery, now empty, the last nun having left in the 90s. Contains a 19th Century icon (miraculous). Well worth a visit for the views. Two little churches a hill-scramble away. | |
| Byzantium Museum | Through old door, first left, first steps to left |  |
Various stones and written information BUT, also, superb views. For a guided tour - click. |
| Old Door, Castro | Entrance to the Castro |  |
Original, very ancient wood. This door has such a feel about it that it must be magical. For a guided tour - click. |
| Park, port end of Paralia |   |
From a scruffy little patch this has grown over the years to be quite a leafy, pleasant area. The bloke is Petros Protopapakis, executed for treason on 28/9/1922. | |
| Venetian Museum | Through the old door, on right. | A restored Venetian residence - see TOURS. |