Sightseeing at Naxos Island

During your stay at the Summerland hotel at Kastraki of Naxos, don’t miss the opportunity to visit some of the numerous remarkable sights the island offers.

At the capital Hora (Chora), down at the harbour on a knoll stands the imposing “Portara” the “trade mark” of Naxos island. These are the remains of an unfinished archaic temple dedicated to Apollo. Other archaeological sites of the island (those of Dimitra & Apollo) are to be found at the settlement of Sagri and at Yria (where there are 4 excellent temples dating from the 9th and 8th centuries B.C.).

Chora (Hora) itself with its castle (Kastro - built in 1204 by Marco Sanoudo) is a fine example of Venetian and older Byzantine period monument masonry. Within its walls are the monasteries of the Cappuccino and Ursulites and the old Commercial school where the Archaeological museum is housed (exhibiting remarkable finds of the early ages of the Cycladic civilization, as well as Kouros statues and sculptures of newer periods). The Byzantine and folk museum is housed at a renovated tower and is worth a visit.

Apiranthos also has some interesting museums (the Archaeological museum, the Folk museum, the Geological museum and the museum of Natural history).

At the northern most end of Naxos Island, you can visit Apollo where you can see an ancient marble quarry and an example of a Kouros Statue in-citu (in place).

The whole of Naxos Island is dotted with Byzantine churches and chapels and their prime example is the Virgin of Drosiani, of of the oldest early Christian monuments of the Hellenic world.