Agios Arsenios village or Agersani as the locals know it overlooks the southwestern section of the island of Naxos. It is named after the chapel which still stands, that was built there before the creation of the village which is built on the slopes of two hills separated by a river. To date, the village has about 1,000 inhabitants, most of whom are potato farmers which the surrounding area is famous for. They are also very active in animal husbandry.
Agios Arsenios is a pretty village well worth visiting, with traditional houses and well-tended flower courtyards. It is connected to the central road network and situated on the peripheral road from Chora to Livadochoria and Pyrgaki. It is only 7km from Naxos Town with a regular public bus service that will get you there. It is one of the largest villages of western Naxos providing an excellent view of Agios Prokopios beach, the local airport and the busier island of Paros. It also offers quick access to some of the island’s attractive beaches, such as Agia Anna and the long, wide golden expanse of Plaka beach.
Sightseeing in the greater area, includes the two old windmills on Stroumboulas hill and a collection of beautiful small churches and chapels to be visited in the village, all with valuable Byzantine icons. Start your church and chapel tour from the church of Agios Arsenios and the church of Agios Spyridon, a large recently renovated structure. Next visit the small 18th-century church “tower” of Agios Nikolaos. The tower also served as a lookout when pirates ploughed the Aegean Sea and finally, you can wrap it up with the uninhabited monastery of Agios Ioannis Prodromos (better known to tourists as St. John the Baptist).
For sightseeing medieval and ancient ruins, there is the site at Elliniko, which is the hill on the southern edge of the village, featuring the ruins of a medieval fort. You can also go to Petradia, which is a neighborhood of Yria, where there are signs of an ancient temple. This is also where partially preserved pottery vessels were found.
