“If Paradise were on earth, it would be here,” wrote the great Nikos Kazantzakis when he visited Naxos. Travelers from all over the world choose the majestic Naxos for its cultural profile, the wonderful beaches, the manorial villages, the traditional flavors, the activities, and the unique sunset in the emblematic Portara of the Aegean. Naxos or Axia, is the largest island of the Cyclades, right in the center of the Aegean, in the eastern Cyclades. It is administratively divided into two main municipalities – Municipality of the city of Naxos (Chora) and Municipality of Drymalia – and has a population of about 18,000 inhabitants.
The landscape of the island has many variations: Plains follow barren areas, marble mountains end in deep ravines, areas with vegetation host white villages, sandy beaches meet the sea, while a mountain range from north to south crosses the island. the mountains Zas (1004 m.) and Fanari (908 m.), the highest in the Cyclades.
It was the center of the archaic Cycladic culture and today it is proud of its picturesque villages such as Filoti and the mountainous Apeiranthos, the crystal clear waters of Agios Prokopis and Agia Anna, its local products (EAS Naxos is one of the strongest cooperatives of the country), all kinds of events (such as festivals and festivals). The route from Apeiranthos to Moutsouna beach through the old emery mines is of unsurpassed beauty, while dreamy images and unique landscapes accompany you on every excursion.
The natives are engaged in agricultural and livestock work as well as fishing. They even manage to be self-sufficient, as its fertile land produces citrus fruits, olives, fruits, vegetables, the famous Naxos potatoes and amazing wine. Livestock and beekeeping are also highly developed, offering excellent quality meat, milk, cheese and thyme honey. Many taverns and restaurants even source their raw materials directly from privately owned farms or orchards. Chora is built on a small hill, in the classic defensive way and exudes traditional and modern air, with its Cycladic white houses, but also bars, cafes, restaurants and shops.
It has all the characteristic Cycladic elements as well as many monuments of different chronological periods. The heart of the city beats in the Old Town, the castle city with the cobbled streets and the Venetian castle, while the houses with the Venetian coats of arms, the narrow streets with the roofs, the catholic churches and the fortifications, create a unique match of Cycladic and medieval origin. Inside the castle is the Archaeological Museum with rich finds from the Late Neolithic to the Early Christian Times, while the building that housed the Ursuline school from 1739 steals the show.
Naxos is a mosaic that includes everything – and can satisfy the visitor on a budget as much as the houvarda. We traveled it, we discovered it and we present you our options.