Aggidia
The village is built amphitheatrically on a hill and
it is 3km away from Naxos town with the church of Agios Charalampos standing out.
On the way from Naxos to Aggidia there is a monastery called
“Fraro” (14th century), the ancient aqueduct built by Lygdamis, a medieval
fountain and ruins of an old Christian church of Agios Stefanos.
Agios Thalelaios
The small village is located at the foot of the hill
of Agios Fokas and faces a valley with orchards. It took its name after Agios Thalelaios
the miracle-maker celebrated on May 20. The monastery of Agios Thalelaios along
with Fotodotis and Agia are considered the oldest ones on the island. In the settlement
there is an ancient aqueduct that used to bring water from the spring of Flerio
to Chora at the time of
tyrant Lygdamis and it has not been restored.
Agersani
It consists of Apano chorio, Kato chorio and Pera chorio.
It is worth visiting Agios Spyridonas, Agios Nikolaos (18th century), a church which
was also used as a watchtower at the times of pirate raids and the monastery of
Timios Prodromos with the chapel of Agios Vasileios. You may also visit the small
tower of Agios Nikolaos with the dovecote and the two windmills on the hill of
Stroumpoulas. At Elliniko, south of the settlement, there lie the ruins of an
ancient fortress and at Petradia, the traces of an ancient temple. In the past,
the residents of the village were occupied with the salt marshes, but today
large part of these areas has been reclaimed for the construction of Naxos
airport.
Akadimoi
A beautiful village built in an area with rich
vegetation. Here you may see the Byzantine temple “Esodia tis Theotokou”
(celebrated on November 21) and Agios Nikolaos, two watermills and an olive oil
mill. The first school of the area operated in this very village. The impressive tower of Markopolitis (current Papadaks) had also a suspension
bridge. That along with the tower of Kerami are the
only ones not built by the Venetians.

Apollonas
This
is a small and beautiful fishing village with a sandy beach, located 36km from
Chora of Naxos. It has a good tourist development and here you will find cafes,
bars, restaurants, hotels, rooms to let. Very close to the settlement, at
Kastraki, there stands one of the famous kouroi of Naxos.

Apeiranthos (t’ Aperathou)
This settlement is mentioned in 1413 by the
traveler Buondelmonti. It was once called Apeiranthos and even earlier
Apyranthos and Apeirathos.
It was developed around the two towers dating
probably back to the 17th century and belonged to Frank landowners. It retains
its traditional architecture and has some very interesting museums.
Its residents preserve the tradition, the celebrations
and the customs, thus the village remains a hearth of folk tradition and
creativity in the whole Aegean.
Vivlos-Tripodes
This village is located at the southwest end of
Naxos. Once you reach the village you instantly see Panagia Tripodiotissa that
used to be one of the richest male monasteries of the island. It is considered
to have been built in the 16th century and according to the local tradition,
Panagia herself indicated the site where she wanted the church to be built.
Other archaeological monuments are Paliopyrgos
of Plaka on the way to the beach of Plaka, a tower considered to be of the Mycenaean period, as well
as the chapel of Agios Matthaios and Stavropigi celebrated on September 14.
In Vivlos there are three windmills and a folklore
museum.
* For more information go to www.tripodesnaxou.gr
Vourvouria
It is located at the centre of the island. It is
not mentioned on maps, though visitors of the mountainous and central Naxos
will certainly pass by this settlement. Because of the uniform architecture of
the houses it is said that the entire village has been built by a single craftsman.
It is characterized by the stone houses with the “pountia” (big balconies),
“volta” (arches) and courtyards. The churches of Vourvouria are Agios Prokopios
(1809-1810), Agios Georgios (1762), Agia Paraskevi (1397) and Agios
Konstantinos (1311).
Galini
It is amphitheatrically built on the west side
of Eggares valley and remains lively all year long as there are several young people
residing in the village. It has a traditional café, tavern and hotel. An
extensive area in front of the village is covered by a valley with orchards and
crops which are protected from wind thanks to traditional reed windbreaks.
There is a road starting from Galini and ending
to Amitis beach. In about
a hundred meters away from the village you reach the church of Panagia
Attaleiotissa and in 500m on the left there is the tower of Ypsili or monastery
of Ypsilotera, which is open to visitors. This used to be a fortified
monastery, from which the katholikon, the impressive fortifications, towers,
murder holes etc. are still preserved. It belonged to Kokkos family (there is
an inscription “Iakovos Kokkos 1600”). The monastery was a revolution centre at
the time of Naxos people uprisings against the oppression of Latin nobles.
Galanado
This is a small amphitheatrically built village,
with an excellent view over the plain of Livadi, Stelida and Chora. It is said that it took
its name after the French word galant which means gentleman. There stands out the
parish church of Agiou Pnevmatos (Holy Spirit), which was built in 1780, and on
the south side of the settlement you see Tower of Belonia, which is private.
Glinado
This village offers a panoramic view. It has
hotels and taverns. Main occupation of the residents was, and still is,
agriculture, especially the cultivation of potato. As you walk you will see
Mprostini Panagia, the mill of Karegla at Tzintili, Pyrgos, the church of Agios
Nikodimos, the chapel of Tzannakou.
Another route goes through the abandoned
settlements of Louloudou and Tzitzamou to the church of Christ (1680).
* For more information you may turn to the Union
of Glinado.
Damalas
This is a small village at a distance of 14km away
from the town of Naxos.
It is built amphitheatrically at the foot of the
hill Lagos Vouni. You should visit the temple of Agia Irini (1800), the old
olive oil mill, which was restored with the initiative of the local Union and voluntary
work, as well as a traditional pottery workshop.

Damarionas
It has been characterized as a traditional
settlement and it is located in the centre of the island, at the foot of the
mountain Rachi on the edge of the basin Tragaia. It is 16km away from the town. Damarionas
is a village occupied with farming and livestock breeding and the residents are
very friendly. You may find this out yourselves if you visit the village on
August 6, at the feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus.
Walking on the paved streets you will see the seven
“stegasta”, the old wells, Patelo square and Potiro square with the huge plane
tree. Also admirable are the mansions Prompona, Vasilikoula and Mpalakaina.
There are cafes and taverns.
Danakos
It is built in the ravine between two mountains,
on the east side of Naxos. The waters of the spring give their dew, while
earlier they used to give water to the seven watermills in the region. The
residents, apart from farmers, were also millers and famous masons. In Danakos
square the celebration “Naxomageiremata” with traditional recipes and wine is organized
at the end of July. Near the village you can visit the monastery of Fotodotis Christ.

Eggares
Nikos Kazantzakis, who spent his holidays here, referred
to Eggares in the “Report to Greco” as an earthly paradise. It is 7km from
Naxos town and located in a lush valley at the foot of the mountain Korakia. In
the centre of Eggares there stands the church of Koimisis tis Theotokou
(Assumption of the Virgin Mary) and right next to the church is the big square.
Zoodochos Pigi
The settlement comprises the two villages
Chimarros and Tsikalario. At the entrance of Tsikalario there stands the small
church of Agios Stefanos (6th century). In ancient times, Tsikalario was the
workshop of the residents of the castle – hence the name. A necropolis of the 8th
century B.C. has been discovered here. The name of village Chimarros comes from
the river that flows in winter and spring next to the village. In the north there
is the chapel of Agios Pachomios, known also as Ai Pachys (=fat), because in the
lintel there was a marble ring, through which thin children passed in order to
get fatter.
In the west, at a distance of 80m, there is the
Byzantine and then Venetian Apano
Kastro, with ruins of Byzantine and Frankish churches, Cyclopean walls
and turrets.
Kaloxylos
It is located in the lush area of Tragaia in the centre of
Naxos.
At the entrance of the village there rises the
church of Agia Triada and in the wider region there are many chapels, Byzantine
and newer ones, with the most important being the chapels of Panagia
Damniotissa and Agios Ioannis Theologos. In the centre of the settlement there
is a restored olive oil mill open to visitors. It opened in 1882 and it was renovated
in 1928 with the installation of the diesel engine, which gave power not only to the mill but also to the entire region of Tragaia.
It was constructed by Vallindras family but it is now known as the “factory of
Giannakis Sakelliadis”.
Kerami
You will reach Kerami in about half the way from
Chalki to Filoti. It is a quite developed village with several new families. Among
the houses with the yards full of flowers there stands Kalavros tower, as its current
owner is named, which operates as a museum. There are two Byzantine churches, Agii
Apostoli and Agios Ioannis, while Agios Taxiarchis is at the entrance of the
settlement.
There are cafes and taverns.
Keramoti
It is located in the centre of Naxos, built in
rich vegetation. At the centre of the village there is the square and a little
further there is the traditional café. The church of Keramoti is dedicated to
Agios Ioannis Theologis and a folklore museum operates in the courtyard. Two
important rivers flow in the north and south of Keramoti, one on mount Koronos
and the other on Fanari. They are joined at the western end of the island, at
Dipotamata, and continue to flow creating waterfalls. You may take a path to get there.
In the past, the life in the village was closely
related to the abundance of water as indicated by the two abandoned watermills,
the washhouse and the bridge. It is famous for the wine and honey it produces.
Koronos is 30km away from Chora of Naxos. The largest
part of the settlement is built opposite a green ravine and neighborhoods are
connected by a bridge. It is one of the oldest and largest mountainous villages
of the island and its economy was based for many years on the mining of emery. Nowadays, residents
are occupied with livestock farming, agriculture and viticulture.
The traditional architecture of Koronos houses
and the nature around the village compose a picture that brings to mind other
areas of Greece, such as Pilio, and not a typical Cycladic landscape.
Kynidaros
The settlement is built at an altitude of 400m and
it is surrounded by dells of vineyards, olive trees, oaks, plane trees. For long
the main occupations of the residents were agriculture and livestock farming. Marble mining around the
mountains is today a main source of income.
Residents have inherent talent and love for singing,
music, dancing and feasts are part of their daily life.

Kourounochori
It is at the middle of Chora-Kynidaros route and
houses have yards full of flowers. Of great importance in the island’s life was
and still is the spring of Flerio. You will see the Della Rocca tower (which was
successively resided by the families Dalle Carceri, Sommaripa, De Mari, Fragkopoulou)
and the Museum Collection of
Melanes including findings from the ancient aquaduct that carried water
from the springs of Flerio and Melanes
to the town of Naxos.
Built on the slopes of Mount Koronos at an
altitude of 650m, it is bordered by streams. River Tranos Ryakas starts from
Mavromara and reaches the sea in the bay of Apollo. At
the entrance of the village, at the cemetery, there is the Byzantine church of
Agios Georgios, while in the north side there has revealed a vaulted Mycenaean
tomb of the 15th century B.C.
Myloi
The three small villages of Myloi (Lower,
Central and Upper Myloi) are connected
by beautiful trails where you can see old mills and the old aqueduct. Lower Myloi
has one-storey houses and refers to earlier times. In Central Myloi there is a cluster
of two-storey houses, while vehicles are not allowed in order for the
settlement style to remain unaltered. Upper Lyloi has beautiful natural
landscapes and waterfalls.
Monoitsia (Rachi)
The village has been built among olive groves in
lush vegetation. You can see the Byzantine church of Agios Sideros, a basilica
without a dome, while there are also other Byzantine churches in the area, such
as Panagia Rachidiotissa, Agios Antonios, Ai Nikolas. Here Capuchin monks founded
the first school outside Chora,
just before the end of Latin rule in Naxos.
It has been built in a verdant ridge on Mount
Fanari. It is surrounded by olive trees, vineyards and orchards. Stone prevails
in the village’s houses and stone workers of Moni were renowned. It is worth
visiting “Platsa”, the small central square, two old mills and the ruins of a
Venetian castle in the eastern part of the settlement.
Mesi
This is a small village on the way to Apollonas. It is worth visiting
the site of Platanos, where there is a spring with digestive water and a large
plane tree, where celebrations are organized. There is also a restored
traditional olive oil mill. Just outside Mesi you reach Drakontospilio (Dragon
cave), where residents hid to escape from pirates.
Melanes
Melanes is one of the oldest settlements of
Naxos. In Flerio the first schools of sculpture operated and there stand the Kouros
of Melanes dating back to the 6th century B.C. and the sanctuary of ancient
springs. Another important monument is the countryside residence of the Jesuits. Here there is also the ancient aquaduct that brought water from the
springs of Flerio and Melanes to Chora of Naxos. There are old watermills and taverns.
It consists of four districts: Ano Potamia, Mesaia
Potamia, Kato Potamia and Lierado. People are involved with agriculture and
livestock farming and produce oil, citrus fruits and dairy products.
Potamia is found in the heart of a valley with a
very brisk atmosphere, where there are old watermills and churches and the
impressive Kokkos tower (which once belonged to the Barozzi family).

Sangri
Its name is a corruption of Saint Croix that is the French name of the neighboring
monastery of Timios Stavros (Holy Cross, today: Bazeos tower). In Kato Sangri, next to the church of
Evaggelismos (Annunciation), there are tower ruins. Ano Sangri has exquisite
architecture and you should take a walk in the whitewashed alleys. At the
entrance of the village, after the tall windmills, you will see the impressive
Agios Eleftherios, a tower-like church with old buildings that used to operate
as a school during the Turkish and the Venetian rule.
In the
plain stretching north and mainly south of Sangri there are scattered towers (Palaiologou,
Sommaripa, Della Rocca) and significant Byzantine chapels, such as Panagia Kaloritissa,
Panagia Arkouliotissa (or Arkoulou), Agios Artemios, Agios Georgios, Agios Nikolaos,
Agios Ioannis Theologos Adisarou and many more, where incredible frescoes are still
preserved. South of Ano Sangri, an asphalt road crosses the wheat fields and
after 4km it takes you to the archaeological site of Gyroula.
Skado
Skado belongs to the emery villages, meaning that
its residents have a “share” in the emery mines and work there. It is believed that it took its name after
the word “iskas – ados” that means fig, because it had lots of fig trees, or after
the word “skiero” (=shady) because of the shade of the trees. It has beautiful
two-storey houses in accordance with the local architecture. At the end of the village
you reach the church of Panagia (Virgin Mary), which according to tradition was
built during the Turkish rule.
Info
Skado hosts the folklore collection of Marigo Pittara.

Filoti
This is the largest village of Naxos, where many young
people live and work on livestock farming mainly and agriculture. The old village
expands in two neighborhoods, Rachidi and Klefaro. It is worthwhile to ascend the
narrow alleys and visit Agios Nikolaos, the imposing church of Panagia Filotitissa (18th century)
and reach the square of Pera Perivoli with the marble monumental fountain.
Chalki is located at the heart of Tragaia and it is surrounded
by many important Byzantine monuments implying the high importance of the area
as intellectual and administrative centre in the Byzantine era. It is an
elegant settlement with neoclassical houses in the centre of one of the most
fertile plains of Naxos.