“So Sweet is this island, virtuous are the faces of people, piles are shaped by melons, peaches, figs and the sea is calm. I looked at the people - never have these people been frightened by earthquakes or by Turks, and their eyes did not burn out. Here freedom had extinguished the need for freedom, and life spread out as happy calm water. And if sometimes it was shaken, it never rose tempest. Safety was the first gift the island gave me while walking around Naxos." (N. Kazantzakis, "Report to El.Greko").
Naxos is the biggest and the greenest island in Cyclades with impressively high mountains, fertile valleys, lush green gorges, stunning seascapes, wonderful sandy beaches and traditional villages perched high on mountain tops, where the inhabitants still wear their traditional dress and live off the fruits of the land! Naxos is also an island of beautiful old churches, monasteries and Venetian castles coexisting harmoniously with Cycladic cubic houses.
Upon entering the port, the whitewashed Hora of Naxos and the islet of Palatia at its entrance form a most welcoming setting! On Palatia islet lies the impressive “Portára”, a marble gate of a 6th century BC temple of Apollo. According to mythology, the god Dionysus met Ariadni there, who had been abandoned by Theseus. Hora, the capital of Naxos, whose landmark is an imposing Venetian castle, is an old castle town with stone paved alleys where you can admire a unique blend of Cycladic architecture. Naxos used to be the seat of the Ducat of the Aegean: a great number of well-preserved towers can be seen on the island, bearing eloquent witness to the island’s glorious past.
Being the most fertile island of Cyclades, Naxos boasts a major agricultural production. The people of Naxos produce a lot of quality local goods, like olive oil, potatoes, spoon sweets, the island’s famous liqueur (called “Kitron”), wine and above all the renowned cheeses of Naxos (e.g. graviera). Naxos is an island worth to visit if you want to have an experience filled with aromas, flavors and beautiful beaches.
Photo by @kat_chor (Instagram)