naxos

	Naxos is the largest and most fertile of the Cycladic islands. Byzantine churches and medieval towers abound. Dales are married to vast beaches. Boulders rise up from the deep blue of the sea. Fertile valleys, springs with rushing water, picturesque villages, begin to give an idea of this special place. A distinctive feature of Naxos are the two huge ancient Kouroi & many byzantine churches. The island is first heard of in the myths and then mentioned throughout every period of history, though it was at the peak of its glory during the period of the Cycladic civilisation. The huge gate of an ancient temple, which we see on the hill in the left as we come in the harbor, is the trade mark of Naxos, the largest island of the Cyclades. The natives call the gate Portara.Actually this gate is the entrance to the temple of Apollos'. It's a beautiful island with a great variety of sceneries.
According to mythology, Bakhos, the God of Wine, was living in Naxos. Here Theseas, returning from Crete, abandoned Ariadne, which helped him kill the Minotaur. Ariadne married Bakhos there. The golden age of the island was the 7th and 6th century B.C. It was then when Naxos became dominant of most Cyclades. At that time Naxos developed its trade and arts, especially sculpture. Exhibits of the arts developed in Naxos can be seen in Delfi, the famous lions in Delos and elsewhere.

Naxos is the largest and most fertile of the Cycladic islands. Byzantine churches and medieval towers abound. Dales are married to vast beaches. Boulders rise up from the deep blue of the sea. Fertile valleys, springs with rushing water, picturesque villages, begin to give an idea of this special place. A distinctive feature of Naxos are the two huge ancient Kouroi & many byzantine churches. The island is first heard of in the myths and then mentioned throughout every period of history, though it was at the peak of its glory during the period of the Cycladic civilisation. The huge gate of an ancient temple, which we see on the hill in the left as we come in the harbor, is the trade mark of Naxos, the largest island of the Cyclades. The natives call the gate Portara.Actually this gate is the entrance to the temple of Apollos'.
It's a beautiful island with a great variety of sceneries.