When touring the Cyclades, you can stay on the tourist route that follows the cruise ships along with big crowds that come with them, or take off to an island where the cruise ships don’t go.
We chose the latter option & went to Naxos. Unlike Santorini which gets over 3 million visitors each year, Naxos gets around 600,000 a year. Naxos is also a large island so it can easily handle visitors which enables you to relax far away from maddening crowds.
About a half mile from our hotel was charming Naxos Town which is perfect for strolling around in the old town for shopping & dining.
Near the town you can walk up a short hill called Palatia to see Naxos’ most famous landmark- The Portara.
The Portara is the only remnant from the never- finished Temple of Apollo which was started in 530 BC.
It is the door into the temple & was made from marble quarried on the island.
To see the island at our own pace we rented a car & drove to see the sights.
This temple dedicated to the Goddess of Agriculture Demeter dates from to the 6th Century BC. It was only rediscovered in 1949. Naxos was the first place marble was used in Greece & this temple is the first structure in history built entirely from marble.
Its location is easy to understand because it is situated in a very fertile valley where many crops were & still are grown.
In ancient times Naxos was known for its marble which is still quarried & used worldwide. Kouroi which are are very large human-like statues made from marble are found in several places on the island.
Apollonas is a lovely seaside village where the unfinished Kouros depicting Dionysos is located,
This Greek church named Panagia Drossiani dating from the 6th Century is not only the oldest church on Naxos; but also, in the Balkans.
Naxos is known for its special foods & drinks. Instead of Feta cheese being added to the traditional Greek Salad, here they use a softer version called Naxos Cheese.
We also enjoyed their delicious potatoes that are softer in texture, but many people come to Naxos for the wine.
But, if you need something a little stronger, Naxos has its own special liquor called Kitron.
We enjoyed visiting the Vallindras Distillery in Chalki. This distillery has been owned & operated by the Vallindras family for five generations since 1896.
We spent a few lovely hours in Apeiranthos. This extremely quaint, unique village is made from marble- walls, window frames, steps, & walkways are all marble. As a testament to marble’s durability, some structures date from the 12th Century
We came across a lovely store with very unique pottery, It looks like metal, but is actually clay with a mica glaze finish.
On Naxos’ southern end at Alyko Beach is a huge hotel complex that was started in the 1960s, abandoned in the 1970s during the military dictatorship, & never finished.
It became a draw for street artists from all over the world to tag. Some pieces are quite good whereas many others are not. The place is also covered in graffiti. It’s too bad the hotel didn’t work because it is located near very nice beaches. While there, I kept thinking the ruins would make a perfect location for a movie thriller.
Lovely sunset.
Taking the ferry to the next island.
The Wanderers 