Naxos is the biggest and the greenest island in the Cyclades. It has high mountains, fertile valleys, lush green gorges, stunning seascapes and traditional villages perched high on mountain tops. Naxos is also home to beautiful old churches, monasteries and Venetian castles coexisting harmoniously with the Cycladic architecture and the endless, pristine sandy beaches.

In the main town, Chora, lies Kastro, the old Venetian settlement. With its drawbridges, turrets and fortresses, it will transport you back into that era of Naxos’ dynamic history.

The temple of Apollo, at the island of Palatia is just at the side of the main seafront where you you will find, the iconic large door, Portara. The myth says that this was the spot were Ariadne waited for Theseus to return from his adventures. From there you watch spectacular, crimson skies as the sun sets over the horizon of the Aegean Sea.

Naxos used to be the seat of the Ducat of the Aegean. A great number of well preserved towers can be seen on the island, bearing eloquent witness to the island’s glorious past. Explore among others the Bazeos Tower in Sagri, the Crispi-Glezos Tower (Chora), the Belonia Tower at Galanado and Della Rocca- Barozzi Tower (Chora).

When the northern Meltemia winds blow in the summer months, spots such as Laguna, Agios Georgios, Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna and Plaka are havens for all watersports lovers alike – from novice to professional.

Naxos’ stunningly long, sandy beaches and turquoise seas are an obvious draw for those wishing to spend some time enjoying the sun. They are beaches for all the tastes and all the family; from the busy and cosmopolitan to the secluded ones away from the beaten track.

With such a varied landscape, Naxos offers a little more adventure than a standard, poolside island retreat. For travelers that like to explore the great outdoors, the plethora of mountainous hiking trails offer stunning views of white villages and their treasures.

Explore the villages of Apeiranthos, Filoti, Chalki (the old capital of Naxos), Potamia to get a feel of the authentic Naxian way of life. There are several signposted footpaths for the experienced walkers that take you along old rivers, Byzantine churches, fertile lands and imposing stone build houses.

And if you fancy some ancient history you can visit the many thousand year old  statues of kouros still in their original resting places at the villages of Apollonas, Melanes, and Potamia.

If after all that activity you have built up an appetite, Naxian food certainly hits the spot.

With its long-established agricultural economy, Naxos produces an abundance of local delights from its fertile lands, including its famous Naxian potatoes, green vegetables, sheep and goat meat, fish, olives and honey, all of which form the basis of traditional Naxian cuisine. The local cheeses, graviera, kefalotyri and xinomizithra, are renowned all over Greece. And do not forget to try the local liquor, Kitron, made from the leaves of the indigenous Kitro tree, that belongs to the Citrus family.

If after all that activity you have built up an appetite, Naxian food certainly hits the spot.

With its long-established agricultural economy, Naxos produces an abundance of local delights from its fertile lands, including its famous Naxian potatoes, green vegetables, sheep and goat meat, fish, olives and honey, all of which form the basis of traditional Naxian cuisine. The local cheeses, graviera, kefalotyri and xinomizithra, are renowned all over Greece. And do not forget to try the local liquor, Kitron, made from the leaves of the indigenous Kitro tree, that belongs to the Citrus family.

So, take your time exploring this Cycladic island treasure and you could soon feel yourself being enamoured with an island that has every shade of blue under the sun.