15 Tips About athens to naxos ferry From Industry Experts

Naxos, the biggest of the Cycladic islands, is a stunning piece of land in the middle of Aegean Sea loaded with history and worth to check out places. Beginning with island's capital with a range of museums and places of interest, you are moving to the inland with the Venetian castles and the lovely ecological sites, as the cedar forest at the south part of the island of Naxos. A stroll in the island will make you confess that Naxos is a land full of beautiful corners and stories from all centuries.

Naxos's capital points of historic interest

From your really entrance, at the harbor of the island of Naxos, a part of a temple, developed throughout the sixth century BC, dedicated to the god of light Apollo invites you to the island and its long history. Portara, as it called is a big and impressive stone issue that stands in the little island of Palatia and is the symbol of the island.

In the capital of the island of Naxos we also discover the Historical Museum with findings, from the excavations held throughout the island, originated from the fourth millennium BC to the sixth century. Museum is on the building of the old Naval School of the island; a neoclassical built at the 17th century and it is located in capital's castle. The castle was developed between 1204- 1537 by the Venetian inhabitants of the island. It has the development of medieval castle city and has a distinct environment.

Latest addition to the sightseeing of the capital is the historical site of Grottas in the square of the Metropolitan church where excavations revealed a Mycenaean city that was here during 1300 BC.

Sightseeing in the inland of Naxos Island

First stop at the village of Apeiranthos where three museums, archeological, geological and the folklore museum are waiting to witness the long and various parts of Naxos's history.

Look for the Temple of Dionysus at Livadi, 10 km south of the capital, which used to be the spiritual center of Naxos throughout the 6th century BC, and the Temple of Demeter at Sangri Town built with white marble came from the same century as the Temple of Dionysus.

Try to find the Kouros (male statue) in the valley of Flerio made in the 7th century BC with the massive height of 6.3 meters. A comparable statue of a Kouros has been found embodied in the entrance of an ancient quarry at the village called Appolonas with a height of 10,45 meters. The archeologists are not certain if the statue represents Apollo or Dionysus.

Hellenistic Duration and Byzantine Era

A great deal of monuments, such as castles and towers are seeing the reality that Naxos was habited throughout the later Hellenistic period and the Byzantine era. One of them is the Castle of Plaka beach, where the legend suggests that a rich queen with supernatural capabilities was living there. And there is the Castle of Cheimaros at the mountain of Za built between fourth and 3rd century BC. At last the Castle of Apaliros is developed on the top of an edgy mountain during the Byzantine era.

Churches and Monasteries

As in every Greek island churches and abbeys are all over. The abbey of Fotodoti Christou (Light Offering Christ), located outside the town of Danakos, is among the most impressive and representative monasteries of the island. Panagia Protothroni is a church developed in between the 9th and 10th century BC at the village of Chalki and has very fascinating wall paintings. Panagia Ipsilotera is another amazing church that was a fortress throughout the 16th century. The monastery and the castle of Agias, at the north of the island is another fascinating sample of a mix of a church and a castle that individuals of Naxos had actually built and used for hoping and security at the exact same time.

Castles and Towers

Venetian settlers of the island left a series of castles and towers spread out in the island of Naxos. Constructed with stones from the island in total consistency with the environment are developing gorgeous images. The most essential castles of Naxos are Bellonias, Gracia, Markopoliti, Fraggopoulou and Barotsi. Pick up photos and to feel the medieval history of the island.

Natural Marvels

Amongst the lots of archeological websites, churches and castles, Naxos has some ecological corners that are really fascinating. Among these is the cedar forest, at the south part of the island, at Pyrgaki location, which is the only cedar forest of the Aegean Sea. Sandy, little hills with bushes of cedars are producing a magical and distinct natural scenery that will keep in mind forever. Near the Cedar Forrest, Finikas Hotel offer unique lodging in its premises. Integrate the peace and quiet of the location, with the centers of Finikas Hotel and wonder to all the above splendid sightseeing propositions in an island loaded with naxos beaches history and appeal.

There are around thirty towers still enduring in Naxos, the majority of which were constructed by the Venetians after 1600 in order to strengthen the island versus pirate raids but also to enforce their rule onto the locals. There are also monastery-towers constructed by the locals in order to protect their rights versus the Venetians. Both types of tower have a defensive character. There are likewise some towers that were utilized by the Venetians as nation residences, which do not have a defensive character.

Each tower is surrounded by a wall that encloses the courtyard and the auxiliary buildings. Large storage areas were also required in order to keep the fruits of Naxos' rich, fertile earth and also for usage as stables.

There was frequently a wine-press in the auxiliary structures. As these towers were planned to house the Frankish conquerors one might anticipate that they would be integrated in a western design. The reality, nevertheless, that they were built by regional artisans resulted in a mix of Cycladic and western architecture, and this is specifically apparent in the design.

Typical functions of the Naxiot house - the large reception space and living-room on the upper floor, the storage locations and the auxiliary spaces on the lower floor - are all maintained in the towers, the difference being that they are spread over more floorings. The lower flooring, the 'katoi' is taken up completely by the auxiliary spaces, which are big in size, and storage-rooms for foods items. The harvests were saved in these, particularly throughout periods of dry spell and the long sieges. Communication between the katoi and the upper floor was by means of a hatch-door and a wooden or stone staircase from the outdoors whilst inside the tower there was a stone staircase which resulted in the balcony of the first floor, where the main entrance to the tower was.

It is also intriguing to note that in some towers the staircase did not go all the method approximately the entrance however stopped a fair range below. Gain access to was then continued through a wood platform or bridge which was raised whenever raiders threatened the security of the structure.

Western influence is mainly obvious in the design, which now followed the pre-determined strategy of an enclosed rectangle with in proportion lines of axis. The style of the entrance to the tower is now specifically formal and the western aspect is especially highlighted in features such as the ramparts from which boiling oil was poured. The geometric schema is made particularly pronounced by the absence of irregular extensions and the fagades were not whitewashed, something that would have provided a sense of lightness and pleasure. In general, all the towers have either the colour of the stone or the earth and bond harmonically with the natural environment. An experienced eye can trace a sense of balance along the width and the height. The only ornamental elements are the doors and windows.