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Naxos was once called Dionysia, a nod to the Ancient Greek god said to reside here. In many real ways, it\u2019s the heart of the Aegean. Lush green groves, verdant vineyards, and hidden glens await here. Picture hilltop villages and ancient ruins, sipping local wines on the glittering waterfront while snacking on the best of fresh Greek cuisine, and soft crescent beaches melting into the warm turquoise sea.<\/p>\n

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Chora is the capital of the island, often called Naxos Town. If you\u2019re coming in via the ferry, one of the first sights you will see is the glittering marble gate Portara, which guards the tiny island of Palatia which connects to Chora\u2019s harbor via an enchanting cobbled isthmus. Behind it is the unfinished Temple of Apollo, standing guard since 522BCE.<\/p>\n

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In the town proper, you\u2019ll find cobbled alleys that snake between a charming mix of architecture. You\u2019ll find Cylcladic, Venetian, and Byzantine architecture dotting the town, a subtle nod to the way Chora has acted as a commercial hub dating back to the 8th century BCE. Choros itself has some fun nightlife for younger and older souls. If you\u2019re looking for great, authentic food experiences, skip the tourist traps of the coastline and head into the town. Kastro, in particular, offers some exceptional food experiences.<\/p>\n

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Step into the Past<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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The historic quarter of Kastro dates to the 13th century, with Krispi Tower and the Castle of Sanoudos offering a Byzantine Museum to explore. Watch out for open-air concerts in the courtyard of the Della Rocca family, too. This district houses the Archaeological Museum of Naxos. Even if you aren’t\u2019 one for museums usually, you\u2019ll want to head here. Roman glassware, Mycenaean vases, and spectacular marble figures all call for attention.<\/p>\n

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Experience a taste of medieval Greece in the Bourgos district, lined with bougainvillea and geraniums. Here you\u2019ll find charming chapels and an 18th-century cathedral.<\/p>\n

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Outside of Chora, the landscape is dotted with ancient Greek temples. Dionysus\u2019 temple lies in Ira, just south of Chora. Demeter had a temple surrounded by fertile farmland to the southeast, and has been partially reconstructed. It makes for a spectacular, and off the beaten track, take on the famous Cycladean sunset.<\/p>\n

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If you head due east, instead, you\u2019ll pass the remains of the marble quarries that once provided these lush temples with their materials. There\u2019s also Kouros Flerio and Kouros Malanes, two towering marble statues now lying close to one another, where they\u2019ve been for 2500 years. The unfinished Kouros Apollonas was abandoned at the quarry when a fault was discovered in the marble.<\/p>\n

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Hike the Villages<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Naxos is the perfect destination for hikers, or those looking for a scenic drive. There\u2019s a ton of great little villages to discover. Chalki offers Venetian towers and Byzantine churches, as well as a signature liquor from the local distillery. Kronos offers a classic blue-domed church and sensational vineyard views from the flat-topped houses. Komiaki purchase above all other villages, but the road to get there is nothing but hairpin bends and heart-stopping encounters. Apeiranthos gleams with marble and photographic opportunity, with older locals still using traditional dress and donkeys threading the streets.<\/p>\n

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Beautiful Beaches and Adrenaline-Pumping Water Sports<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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While the romantic lure of the past is strong on Naxos, it\u2019s not the only reason to visit. Blessed with delicious white-sand beaches, it\u2019s also something of a haven for hikers and kitesurfers. Agios Gorgios, the crescent-shaped beach a short walk from Chora\u2019s downtown, is also the most visited, ringed in bars and restaurants. We love Agios Prokopios instead, one of the most beautiful beaches we\u2019ve ever seen- think pink lagoons and rolling sand dunes. Agios Anna is narrow and sometimes crowded, but a great place to lounge.<\/p>\n

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Not one for crowds? Head to Plaka, 6 miles to the south of Chora. It\u2019s a nudist beach at the south end. Orkos, also south of Plaka, has fantastic summer conditions for kiteboarding and windsurfing. The golden sands of Mikri Vigla, 10 miles from Chora, offer a sense of solitude it\u2019s hard to find in the Cyclades, and you may well be the only soul there.<\/p>\n

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Getting to (and around) Naxos<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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As with most of the Cyclades, you can catch a ferry from Piraeus in Athens. Naxos is actually on the same ferry route as Santorini, so there\u2019s plenty of departures every day, with extras added in the peak season. They still fill fast, though, so we strongly suggest pre-booking. There\u2019s slow and fast ferry routes open to you. Honestly, we\u2019d go slow and enjoy the views, but it\u2019s really up to you! Naxos is also linked to the other islands in the Cyclades, so getting around is easy.<\/p>\n

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Once you\u2019re on the island, there\u2019s fantastic buses running from Chora to the other villages and towns, and you can rent both scooters and cars. Due to the limited parking available, we\u2019d suggest a scooter.<\/p>\n

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There\u2019s few places in the Cyclades as underrated as Naxos. Whether it\u2019s the lure of sun and surf, or a fascination with the rich and varied Greek history on display here, you\u2019re sure to find plenty to delight the heart, please the palate, and soothe the soul. Whatever you do, make sure Naxos gets a top spot on your next visit to the Greek Islands.<\/p>\n

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Naxos Greece |\u00a0 The Heart of the Cyclades Island\u00a0 Naxos is the largest- and most fertile- of the Cyclades Island chain, redolent in the very spirit that makes these islands so unique. Yet it\u2019s often missed off of visitors\u2019 lists. From archaeological treasures to white sand beaches, Naxos has an entire glittering coastline ready to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-988941","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-travel-guides"],"yoast_head":"\n