History
About the first residents of the island, we have only
known from the mythology tradition that wants Thraces
reached to bring eith them the adoration of god Dionyssis.
In the island were installed Kares and Cretes. Naxos was connected
with
Ariadni, the girl of king of Crete, Minoa, which helped Thisea
to exterminate the Minotayro and afterwards she followed him in his
return in Athens. In the Naxos where they approached, she was either
abandoned by Thisea or Dionysos saw her for his
woman.
In the island it is reported that grew also Dias in a cave of
taller mountain, that is named Zas.
In the antiquity the island was named Dia, Dionysias, Strogili and
Naxia. It is one of the most important centers of Cykladic
culture. For one interval was found in the sovereignty of Crete,
afterwards was passed in the Mykinaioys but its prosperity
wasn't interrupted. In 1000 bc in the island were installed
Iones settlers. The island's bigger growth is placed in the 7th and
6th century bc, during that the island had force and wealth, that
emanated from the big growth of manufacture, shipping and trade.
It was also Big
the
intellectual and artistic growth and the island was elected in one
of the most important centers of sculpture.
Big destructions knew Naxos at their Persic Wars, after
which it became member of Athenian Alliance, in order to devolve
afterwards to the Macedonians, the Ptolemaioys and the Romen.
In The Byzantine period, it belonged in the Aegean and
lived repeated desolations and destructions from the pirates, particularly
the Sarakinoys. Local were then forced for bigger safety to abandon
beach and to be installed in the interior of island, in regions you
could't see from the sea. In 1207 were occupied by the Mark Sanoydo,
who founded the almighty Duchy of Naxos, in which were included all
the
islands
of Cyclades, with capital Naxos. In the Country a powerful
castle was built and imposing residence. The sovereignty of Venetians
kept up to 1537 when the island pillage from Barbarosa.
In
1566 were sold in Iosif Nazi, and afterw his stop was taken
by their Turks. In 1770 was conquered by Russians for a four-year
period.
In the Revolution of 1821, Naxiotes took part active in its
entirety and were released with the other Cyclades.
Chora
The country of Naxos, was built amphitheatric in sides of hill
in the north-western side of island, appears immediately from the
sea.
Is stretched out by the harbor up to the castle of Sanoudou
and impresses the visitor with the narrow steep roads,
galleries, the arcades and old stone houses. From the boat,
two different monuments welcome the visitor of island: ekklisoula
of Panagia Myrtidiotissas on islet in the entry of harbor,
and “Portara”, the entry of temple of Apollo. The city
has 4.442 residents.
Some sightseeings are
Portara. When we reach in Naxos we get impressed by “[Portara]”,
the entry of endless Archaic temple of Apollo, that it began
to be built in the means of 6th century bc ny the tyrant of Naxos
Lygdamis, on the islet that the local call Palatia. The temple
did not finish
never, the islet however was connected with the tragic history of
Ariadnis, which where abandoned according to the mythological tradition
by Thiseas, and here she met Dionysos and he made her his wife,
or at a other variant, from here jumped Ariadni in the sea and
was
drowned.
In the North of harbor, in the locality Grota, are maintained relic of Mykinaic
Years and here were found, according to the conclusions of excavations,
the market of ancient city. Department of ancient settlement finds itself
today in the sea.
The castle. It is undeniably the more enchanting region of Country. Built in
the top of hill, offers astonishing view in sea, particularly the sunset, when
are erased the near volumes of Paros. Passing “Trani Porta” we
can admire the tower , that is maintained in their initial
place. Interest present also the houses of castle, many by which are dated
in the 14th and 15th century and have in their facades wall-up Venice
blazons.
In the castle there is a Venice church, the building of "School Of Nun",
the metropolis of Romeo-catholic and the residence of catholic bishop. Near
to them, it is the devastated palace of Mark Sanoudou, with the blazon
of his family wall-up
in the entry.
In the Chora there are a lot of appreciable churches (orthodoxe and catholic),
most of which are today closed. It is reported that in the Chora there are
45 churches. From them the oldest is Panagia Blacherniotissa, with woodcut
icon exceptional art and precious pictures, sport ween which two (Panagia
Blacherniotissa and Prophet Ilias) are work of Cretan painter Aggeloy,
that was student of El Greko.
Important pictures and exceptional tiled icon has also the Metropolis
(Zoodochos Pigi), built in the region of ancient market. The monolithic
columns from granite, that is found in the church, it is considered that they
have been transported by the temple of Apollo of Delos.
In the Chora, 3 km, is found the monastery of Saint Ioannis of Chrysostomoy.
It was first built in the 17th century. It was rebuilt in the 18th and it took
the form that it has today. The picture of Saint is dated in the 1818, while
older
are the pictures in the chapel of Saint Nikolaos. In the East of monastery,
on rock, is found the church of Theologaki.
Outside the Country is the Tap of Aga, the unique Turkish monument
of island.
In the street to Galanado, 6 km roughly from the Country, it exists the abandoned
today Tower of Belania, residence of the Venice sovereign of region.
Here is maintained also the twin church of Saint Ioannis, that used by orthodoxe
and catholics. In a side of exterior wall there is the very beautiful
blazon of family Belonia. The tower impresses with his imposing form and
offers panoramic view in the Country of Naxos.
Apeirathos
From the most beautiful villages of Cyclades, built in their foot
of mountain Lantern (883 m.), in almost naked landscape, 25,5 km
A from the Country. The village maintains almost intact his form,
that acquired mainly the period of Venice. Closely Marbled
cobled road, uphill roads, Enetic towers, arcades, old two-storied
stone houses, small squares and graphic cafes. They say that Apeirathos
was built from Cretans the 10th century ac.The local dialect,
the strict customs and the deliveries reminds the mountainous villages
of Crete. The residents maintain their peculiar manners and customs,
their own dialect, wear different costume from the other Naxos' people
and continue the big intellectual and artistic delivery, particularly
in the textile and craftsmanship. Apeirathos has 1.024 residents.
Some sightseeings are:
The towers of old souvereigns of island Somaripa and Sfortsa-Kastri,
that constitute also representative samples of fortification architecture
of years of Venice.
The village has a lot of appreciable churches. Some of them are
the church of Panagia of Aperalitissas, from the bigger temples of island,
with beautiful curved marble icon and old pictures.
In the East of village they are found two of the oldest churches of island,
Saint Kiriaki, that chronologically belongs in the 9th century, and Saint
Ioannis the Theologian that rescues interesting murals.
Murals of 14th century are also maintained in Saint Pachoymio. The church
of Panagia Fanariotissas -perched in the 1.000 m. in the mountain
Lantern it offers a astonishing view in the all island
Eggares
Are found 7,5 km South-East from the Country in greenary environment
with running waters, rills and a lot of trees and gardens. In
one of the mansions remained for long time Nikos Kazantzakis. Oi
Eggares have 219 residents.
Some sightseeings are
In the street Naxos-Eggaron, near Aplomata, are maintained relic
of Mycenean graves.
In the East was found ancient Dilio. On the hill the Abbey Chrysostomoy.
Near the Galini, the Byzantine monastery Ipsilou, built in fortified
tower.
he monasteries of Taxiarxon, Genisis, Panagia Faneromenis, “Thousand
Tap” and Saint Mama.
In Eggares the mansions of Theof. Lazarus and friendly Raftopoyloy,
in that is maintained and his blazon.
Melanes
Built in one of the white valleys of island, with running
waters that move old watermills, they abstain from the Country 6-8
km. They are constituted by the settlements Saint Apostles, Koyroynochori,
Saint Thalelaios and Milos.
Some sightseeings are
The tower of Venice of sovereign of Mark Sanoydoy, that
constituted also his aestival residence, the tower of Mayrogeni
and the tower of De Mari, feudal lord of region.
In the tower of Fraggopoyloy is maintained marmarini bank with commemorative
sign of visit in 1833 the king Othona. Deserve the churches of Saint Apostles,
Metamorphosis and the Byzantine church of Saint Georgioy, that rescues most
beautiful murals.
In Flerio, near the Kinidaro, exists one the still unfinished [koyros] from
7th century bc
Tragaia
Green region with olives and running waters, constituted
from the antiquity the most fertile region of Naxos. sport ween
the olives they pop up as white spots the small and big villages
of region: Chalki (with the settlements Akadimoi, Kaloxylos,
Kerami, Metochi , Moyritsia, Koytsocherados and Tsikalario),
Domarionas, Abbey and Filoti.
Some sightseeings are
The church of Panagia Protothronis (9th 10th century) with
important murals, the Saint Georgios Diasoritis (11th century)
with appreciable murals, Damniotissa (11th century) with well maintenance
murals, the church of Saint Apostles in their Akadimoys and natural
Mary Drosiani (6th century) near the Abbey with interesting murals.
In Chalki are maintained the Tower Gratsia, a genuine fortress, with tally
teichi, ironclad windows, mobile bridge and the blazons of feudal lords
of region that used him for residence.
In Akadimoys, the tower Markopoliti and near the village Down Rivers,
the church of Saint Mamanta, that was founded the 7th century, terminate in
9th and it functioned also up to 1207 as orthodoxe metropolitan temple therefore
it devolved in the catholics.
In Ano Rivers appear the impressive fortifications of Above Castle, that
was built in the place of ancient fortress the season of Venice.
Filoti
Built in side of mountain Zas, which is the tallest of Cyclades
(1.004 m.) is from the more beautiful villages of Naxos. His white
houses with the mable streets come contrary to the grey
color of mountain and the green of valley, giving in the village
aspect that it fascinates.
Some sightseeings are
The Venice tower of Barotsi, one of the sovereigns,
the blazon of which is maintained above the entry of tower. Near
the tower is maintained beautiful marble spring.
The church of Pangia Filotitissas with with white marble icon,
old pictures and impressive belfry - it is included in the more important churches
of Naxos.
From Filoti we can visit the monastery of Fotodoti Christ, in Danako
(7 km A), Panagia in Argia , Saint Georgios, in the Maratho, Panagia tou Gialou
and the cavern of Za in (600 m. height), dedicated in Via Milosio, with
seldom
stalagmite clusters. In a booth left from the entry
exists the church of Zoodochoy of Pigis. In the cavern were found considerably
prehistoric discoveries
Southernly from Filoti the street brings in the Tower of Torrent, a four floor
circular imposing fortress of Hellenistic Years, built in deserted region.
The tower is maintained in good condition and it was used particularly as intermediary
(fire) in the Medieval Years in order to inform the residents
of island for the arrival of pirates.