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**Naxos hotels: For a complete list of our hotels and apartments on Naxos choose the accommodation button. To narrow your search and combine the results with your planned budget continue with our search machine for Naxos hotels with the feature advanced search.
Welcome to Naxos!
Naxos is famous for its endless beaches and historical importance. Tourism is flourishing on Naxos an a good number of classy hotels and family apartments are run along the beaches. Ideally located hotels on Naxos for island hoppers gather in Chora and the beach Agios Georgios.
This is the island God Dionysus has blessed, the island where history meets myth. Dionysus, Semele, Theseus, Ariadne, nymphs and Nereids, tyrants, conquerors, pirates, knights, revolutionaries, landowners and farmers - all have contributed to this unique place. A fertile land, abundant in waters, a unique tradition, vibrating with ancient Cycladian history, glorious beaches and gorgeous villages, full with monuments forgotten by time - this is Naxos!
Naxos is the largest island of the Cyclades. Its name is derived from Naxos, king of Kareans, who conquered the island in antiquity. It is located almost at the very center of Cyclades and has a direct connection with Piraeus. Access to the island is easy. Naxos also has a direct connection with Paros, Ios, Thira, Amorgos, Koufonissi, Schinoussa, Heracleia, Mykonos and Samos.
Naxos has played an important role in the cultural and economic development of the Cyclades.
Naxos has many fertile valleys, as well as high mountains. It is about 430 square kilometers in area. The length of the coastline is 148 kilometers. Its tallest mountain is Zas. Its height is 1004m., and it is the tallest mountain of the Cyclades. Its geographic profile has many exciting contrasts. Fertile valleys meet fells, emerald-green gullies surrounded by huge rocks, dreamy, unending beaches with golden sand and white pebbles, scattered alpine villages, forgotten by time.
Tourist development is steady the last years. Until recently, Naxos' economy was dependent on farming and animal husbandry. Anyway, it has always been a self-sufficient island, in comparison with other islands of the Cyclades that were not so fertile. The island has many subterranean rivers that supply many springs and wells. The rich aquifer, in combination with the extremely fertile land that is cultivated systematically by the locals, assures the adequacy of agricultural produce. The most important products are the famous local variety of potato, the apricots, various vegetables, citrus fruits, especially citrons, oil and wine. Naxos' famous vineyards are blessed by Dionysus himself, and produce fine vintages. As it seems, the art of viniculture exists in Naxos since antiquity. Archilochus (7th century BC) likened the wine of Naxos, with the nectar of the Gods.
Naxos has excellent animal products. All Greeks adore the famous cheeses of Naxos, especially its piquant gruyere. The alpine villages maintain still the tradition of "choirosfagia" that includes a treat with delicious sausages and the unique smoked "Zamboni".
The island also has emery, granite, and marble quarries.
Emery is used for the scraping of marble. The marble of Naxos was famous in antiquity, and rivaled the marbles of Paros. It was used extensively in many buildings and statues in Delos and Delphi. The famous Lion statue of Delos is made from marble from Naxos, and was a dedication of the people of Naxos to God Apollo (7th century BC). Also, the people of Naxos had donated to Delphi the famous marble sphinx. The marbles of Naxos were used in Athens too, but the Athenians preferred the marbles of Penteli and Paros. There are still marble quarries in Naxos. The well-known white stone of Naxos is exported from there.
The people of Naxos are friendly and genial, diligent and nimble-witted, convivial and proud for their land, as are all people of Cyclades. They honor their traditions, and love their local music and dances that are accompanied by violin, side drums and bagpipes. Few islanders busied themselves with the sea. The women of Naxos are highly skilled in weaving. In the villages Apeiranthos and Moni, almost all houses have their "krevataria" (local name for the loom), where the women weave carpets, curtains, and table-cloths, with vivid, natural colors they make by themselves.
Nowadays, the contemporary way of life has put aside many old habits. Many things have changed. What does not change is the love the people bear for their land. |
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