Naxos

Naxos is a Greek island—at 429 km² the largest of the Cyclades island group in the Aegean. It was the centre of archaic Cycladic culture.

The largest of the Cyclades, Naxos packs a lot of bang for its buck. Its main city of Hora is a web of steep cobbled alleys, filled with the hubbub of tourism and shopping. Yet you needn't travel far to find isolated beaches, atmospheric villages and ancient sites.

It was on Naxos that an ungrateful Theseus is said to have abandoned Ariadne after she helped him escape the Cretan labyrinth. She didn’t pine long, and was soon entwined with Dionysos, the god of wine and ecstasy and the island’s favourite deity. Naxian wine has long been considered a useful antidote to a broken heart.

Naxos was a cultural centre of classical Greece and of Byzantium, while Venetian and Frankish influences have left their mark. It is more fertile than most of the other Cyclades islands and produces olives, grapes, figs, citrus fruit, corn and potatoes.

Mt Zeus (1004m; also known as Mt Zas) is the Cyclades’ highest peak and is the central focus of the island’s interior where you will find such enchanting villages as Halki and Apiranthos.

The island also draws outdoor enthusiasts, with kiteboarding off the sandy southern beaches, and traditional footpaths to follow between villages, churches and other sights. Walking guides and maps are available from local bookshops.

At Naxos visitors can find spectacular beaches such as, Plaka beach with white sand, Agios Prokopios full of watersports and tourist facilities, Mikri Vigla beach, Orkos beach, Aliko beach, Maragas beach, Kastraki beach and many more exotic and relaxing beach spots.