The Mini Tour One

1^st stop: Sagri (Gyroulas). Late Archaic Temple of Goddess Demeter (530 BC)

Let’s start our acquaintance to Naxos by entering a sacred and mystic place in a hidden plain at the area of Sagri, the Temple of Demeter, Goddess of Earth and fertility, mother of Persephone or Kore (archaic). As you walk upwards the laurel trees adorned paved stone to the Temple and blooming rosemary bushes rub on you, you become part of an ancient procession celebrating the gifts of Mother Earth.

 

2^nd stop: Tragea. Chalkion or Chalki village

Now we are at Chalki, the first capital of the island which is located in the heart of Naxos and is surrounded by olive tree groves and citrus fruit tree orchards. Walk around a village of fine neoclassic architecture buildings, and admire Byzantine churches and towers of the 6^th to 11^th century AD. Visit the “Kitron” Distillery, the oldest organized traditional distillery on the island and go shopping in the small shops where you can find all the local treasures of the land of Naxos, from local cheese and wine to home-made marmalades and liqueurs made from the fruit of the island.

3^rd stop: Apiranthos village. Authenticity over the centuries

As you enter the village of Apiranthos you are awed by the view, since the village is located at an altitude of 670m and proudly gazes at the Aegean Sea.

The first historical references of the “Aperathou” village, as the local people call it, date back to 1420 AD. You can see it, you can feel it and you can hear it as you stroll on the marble paved alleys and listen to the unique dialect of the locals. The village hosts 5 museums in which History, tradition, folklore and Geology intertwine as a proof of its authenticity. You will admire impressive architecture of stone built towers and originally imaginative craftsmanship of embroidery from the women of the village when you visit the Woven Products Cooperation exhibition. Reward yourselves with a coffee or refreshments in one of the picturesque “Kafenia” (coffee & sweets shops) and taste some local home-made sweets that will keep you going with the island’s exploration.

 

4^th stop: A snap stop at Stavros Keramotis

Let’s take some amazing photos at this surprising cross-road which overlooks the whole island and take a long, deep breath of fresh, crispy, salted air coming from the mountains and the sea.

Last stop: Flerio. The Sanctuary, the ancient marble quarry and the Kouroi.

As you slowly walk in the area of Flerio your senses and feelings overflow by the amazing canvas painted by Nature and History.

In this area, in late 5^th century BC people had formed a thriving community by carving the marble of the quarry into the forms of the Kouroi (singular: Kouros), imposing male statues weighing from 5 to 7 tones each, and in early 6^th century BC, the equivalent female statues of the same magnitude, the Kores (singular: Kore). These statues were made as offerings to the gods and goddesses of this brilliant era. In this same quarry the famous Colossus of the Naxians, a 9m high Kouros, was carved and shipped to the Sanctuary of Apollo in Delos Island.