Tour 2 - Naxos Town castle and churches

The impressive medieval castle of Naxos Town has protected it for decades against pirate invasions. Today, the castle includes lovely shops and taverns and hosts concerts and art events.

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 Zoödochou 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.

Another notable church in the Chora is that of St. Kyriaki, which was a monastery during the period of Turkish rule and operated as a secret school for the enslaved people of Naxos. On the central square of the Kastro is the Catholic Cathedral, richly decorated in the baroque style with a marble floor and some superb icons in which a mixture of western and eastern influences is apparent. Not far from the Catholic Cathedral stands the little church of Panagia Theoskepasti, containing some magnificent icons of the Cretan School.

In Naxos Town there are several "fountains" in town that have fresh water coming directly from the mountain. It is a very common picture to see locals using that water, instead of house tap water. A short walk from the Chora (approximately 3 miles to the east) takes the visitor to the 17th century monastery of Ag. Ioannis Chrysostomos, with its fortress-like appearance. The view from the monastery grounds is quite breathtaking.

Tour 1 - Naxos Town

the medieval castle and the churches of naxos town

Ruins of a huge ancient temple, traces of a Monian settlement and inumerous archaeological finds. 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 Naxos Town ...
naxos town, the port, portara, grotta

Tour 2 - Naxos Town castle and churches

military and religious naxos town

An impressive medieval castle, several old and more recent churches, traditional chapels, monasteries and fountains. The impressive medieval castle of Naxos Town has protected it for decades against pirate invasions. Today, the castle includes lovely shops and taverns and hosts concerts and art events ...
crispi - glezos tower, churches, catholic cathedral

Tour 3 - The countryside of Naxos

the scenic and lush countryside of naxos

High mountains that form lush valleys of olive groves and vineyards in between. The scenery in the countryside outside Naxos town is very beautiful; there are picturesque little villages scattered high up in the mountains or down in the valleys, with an abundant supply of water and lush vegetation ...
countryside, villages, secluded beaches, towers

Tour 4 - Central villages

the central villages of naxos

At the point where the road forks away to the southern part of the island lies Tripodes or Vivlos, with the windmills that are so characteristic of the Cyclades. The next village is Ano Sagri, situated on a hillside and commanding a splendid view ...
tripodes, sagri, filoti, apeiranthos

Tour 5 - Mountainous Naxos

from apeiranthos to the emery mines of moutsouna

Amongst the area's sights the Church of the Apeirathitissa Panagia, with its sculpted marble screen, and the Churches of Theoskepasti, Ag. Ioannis Theologos and the oldest of all, Ag. Paraskevi, located a little outside the village, are all worthy of mention ...
apeiranthos, zevgoli's tower, moutsouna, kouros of melanes

Tour 6 - Northern Naxos

exploring the northern side of naxos

The next place along the way is Kinidaros, a village with plentiful supply of water and renowned for its excellent singers, its feasts and festivals. To the south lies Moni, with the monastery from which it takes its name lying just outside the village ...
kinidaros, koronos, koronida, apollonas, kouros of apollonas

Tour 7 - Southern Naxos

the most magnificent beaches of naxos

From the nearby village of Gallini a road leads up to the Monastery of the Sublime Virgin, which is known as the Angelakopoulos Tower after the name of its last owner. One of the most notable buildings on the island, it lies not far from the sea in the valley of Engares. Originally, as the marble plaque at the entrance tells us ...
monasteries, lush valleys, amazing beaches