Naxos is the largest island in the Cyclades, famous for its rich history and beautiful architecture. According to mythology, Zeus, king of the Gods, grew up in Naxos, hidden away from the savagery of his father, Saturn, as well as his son Dionysus, the God of wine. Dionysus loved Naxos so much that he made it a fertile land, full of vines, producing wine of excellent taste and quality. Historically, Naxos was the most important cultural center of all the Cyclades during the ancient period, around 4.000-1.000 B.C. The Thracians were the first inhabitants of Naxos and it is believed that the island owes its name to the leader of the Thracians named Naxos. Then, the Macedonian Empire, the Ptolemy of Egypt, the Rhodes and, in 41 B.C., the Roman Empire passed through Naxos. Christianity appeared on the island in the 1st century A.D. The Venetians marked another important period in the history of Naxos, with the Ottoman occupation followed and finally, Naxos officially becoming part of the liberated New Greek State in 1831.
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From | To | Fare Type | Dates | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
FromAthens (ATH) | ToNaxos (JNX) | One-way / Economy | Depart 18 January, 2025 | From €46* Seen: 1 hour ago |
FromThessaloniki (SKG) | ToNaxos (JNX) | One-way / Economy | Depart 09 January, 2025 | From €98* Seen: 1 hour ago |
FromChania (CHQ) | ToNaxos (JNX) | One-way / Economy | Depart 06 February, 2025 | From €85* Seen: 2 days ago |
FromChios (JKH) | ToNaxos (JNX) | One-way / Economy | Depart 23 December, 2024 | From €123* Seen: 22 hrs ago |
*Fares displayed have been collected within the last 48hrs and may no longer be available at time of booking. Additional fees and charges for optional products and services may apply.
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Explore the city of Naxos
Airport
Naxos Airport (JNX)
Naxos, 843 00
Destination
In the center of the Cyclades, in the heart of the Aegean... That's where you'll land when you visit Naxos. The largest of the Cycladic islands and perhaps one of the most beautiful islands in the Aegean, Naxos is an earthly paradise waiting to be discovered.
Naxos breathes history! Its glorious ancient past and the strong influences of the Venetians and the Franks are responsible for the abundance of ancient sites. The most emblematic monument - and a trademark of Naxos - is Portara, the remaining gate of an ancient temple dedicated to the Greek God Apollo. Apart from its impressive monuments, Naxos has a beautiful natural landscape, as it is the greenest island of the Cyclades. Imposing mountains, lush valleys, beautiful beaches and picturesque villages will elevate the spirit of nature lovers!
Chora of Naxos, the main town of the island, is a wonderful blend of Venetian and traditional Cycladic architecture. Above the Cycladic whitewashed houses of Chora, dominates the imposing Venetian castle, which exudes a medieval charm. As for the beaches, they are considered one of the best in the Cyclades. The coastline of Naxos is surrounded by small bays, creating a series of beautiful sandy and non-crowded beaches with turquoise waters.
Overall, beaches, gastronomy, architecture and activities make Naxos an excellent example of an island that has preserved its natural beauty and traditional character, along with a positive tourist development over the years. It is no coincidence that most travelers visiting Naxos go back again.
Explore Naxos, this magical, unpretentious summer destination. Are you ready?
The history
Sightseeing
The Castle of Naxos
The Castle of Naxos Chora is actually the old Venetian town. Together with the Glezos Tower, it served as a protective shield in the impregnable Sanudo fortress in Naxos and was originally built under the supervision of Mark II Sanudo, who came along with the establishment of the Frankish rule in the Aegean in 1207. The Glezos Tower, widely referred to as Crispi, consists of four floors and is the only round-shaped castle of Naxos. The tower was handed over to the Archaeological Service by Mr. Petros Glezos, who believed that the tower would be well preserved by such a prestigious institution. The Glezos Tower was restored in the period 1968-1969 and, from 1995, work began on the construction of the museum.
Portara
Portara, or the Great Door, is essentially a massive marble door of the temple of Apollo, standing proudly as the jewel of Naxos. It is located near the port, on the island of Palatia which was once a hill. Around the year 530 BC, when Naxos was at the height of its glory, the then ruler Lygdamis wanted to build in Naxos the highest and most wonderful buildings in all of Greece. He ordered a huge temple to be built but when the war between Naxos and Samos broke out, constuction stopped abruptly. After that, Lygdamis was overthrown in 506 BC and the temple, which was supposed to be at least a hundred feet, was never completed. Today all that's left of the temple is Portara.
Local gastronomy
Graviera cheese
Naxos Gruyere, with the buttery taste, is one of the most popular cheeses in Greece. The Naxian Gruyere is a hard, yellow cheese, with a solid, elastic texture and characteristic scattered holes. Formed on cylindrical heads, usually 10 kg, It is a sweet cheese with a full, rich flavor and leaves lively aromas of butter and milk, as well as softer than walnuts and almonds. It has been designated as a product with a protected designation of origin (PDO) and is produced from cow's milk or a mixture of cow's and sheep's milk in a proportion of 80/20.
Citrus Liqueur
Citron Liqueur of Naxos is the first Greek liqueur made from leaves. Citrus leaves, which were in abundance in the past, were used to offer their delicate and unparalleled aroma to raki, a grapevine product. That's why the drink was originally called "kitrorako" (citrus + raki) . It is said that the production of Citrus liqueur began at least two centuries ago, with the records referring to its first export in 1928. Today, Naxos Citron is traditionally and exclusively produced in Greece, on the island of Naxos. The production of Naxos Citrus starts with the harvest of the leaves, at the peak of their aroma, from October to February, that is.
Naxos Melachrino (Traditional Nut pie)
Like any other Greek island, Naxos has its own traditional sweets. One of the most famous Naxian traditional sweets is melachrino. It is a kind of pecan pie made with the traditional citrus liqueur of the island. Melachrino is usually served with a ball of mastic ice cream, allowing you to taste a truly unique and absolutely Greek flavor in every bite! Melachrino was the traditional dessert at weddings and holidays, with the ladies making huge baking pans to treat all the guests and more. Also, this traditional pecan pie was not missing from the tables of Christmas, Easter and Apokries (holiday just before Easter Lent).
Useful information
Police: +30 22850 22100
Airport: +30 22850 23969
Bus: +30 22850 22291
Taxi: +30 22850 24331
Hospital: +30 22853 60500
Port: +30 22850 22300
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