Naxos Island in Greece the largest and most fertile island in Cyclades and one of the most attractive and beautiful in Greece. It combines golden sands with the mountain beauty and the island is just perfect for exploring.
The routes proposed are not to be done in a single day. For example the tour to Apollon via Filoti is long and you cannot see the most from all the villages in a single day. So the first day can be the route up to Moutsouna, and the second day up to the final destination, Apollon.
Route 1: Apollon via Galini
It is a very pretty route with nice scenery. Galini is a nice village in a fertile valley. From Galini, a road leads to the Monastery of Ypsilis, once converted into a castle / church. Beyond the villages Galini and Engares (8Km), on the left, a lovely valley runs down to a large, shingly beach foreshore with bamboo bestrewn, shrub growing back shore. The route advances past the Monastery of Faneromeni (14Km) on the left. Hillia Vryssi (16Km) - Here is a steep valley with a bay at the bottom and offshore an islet. A few small terraced vineyards adorn the slopes. A little further on the steep, rough track leads down to a lovely small cove. Abram Beach (20Km) - On the left is a small chapel overlooking the pebble beach, with sandy back shore.
Hillia Vryssi (16Km) - Here is a steep valley with a bay at the bottom and offshore an islet. A few small terraced vineyards adorn the slopes. A little further on the steep, rough track leads down to a lovely small cove.
Abram Beach (20Km) - On the left is a small chapel overlooking the pebble beach, with sandy back shore.
Route 2: Apollon via Filoti
The scenery commences after about 8Km from Naxos Town, close by the 8th century Agios Mamas Church. This is a down path to the left and was once the Cathedral of Naxos possessing some remarkable 7th century icons.
Sagri - Kato Sagri possesses the remains of a Venetian castle while Ano Sagri boasts the Monastery of Agios Eleftherios. The latter became Krifo Scholio -a secret school for Greek children during the Turkish occupation- and now houses a Folk Museum. There is also an archaeological site and beyond still on the main Halki road, the 16th century Monastery of Timios Stavros as well as the 15th century Church of Kaloritsa with a number of frescoes.
Halki (16Km) - is a pretty village at a high altitude, set down on great plain of olive trees. There are a number of fortified tower houses, including the remarkable Pirgos of Frangopoulou.
Tower Filoti is a beautiful village situated on the flank of Mountain Zas. At about 22 Km from Naxos Town the road advances to Danakos village, famous for the Byzantine sculptures at the Monastery of Fotodoti which is above the village to the north.
Apiranthos (27Km - picture on the left) is one of the prettiest villages in Naxos and supposed to have originally been settled by Cretans.
Detour - to Moutsouna (12Km - 39Km from Naxos Town). Is the coastal village of Apiranthos and was was the quarrying of emery. The stone was bucketed down in aerial-cable ways from the workings, ridding the surrounding mountainsides. Apart of that it is a quiet village with sandy beach, taverns, mini markets and accommodation. From Moutsouna, a detour on detour leads to Psili Ammos (47 Km from Naxos Town), a spread-out agricultural backyard and a long sand backed beach. A rough track leads to the lovely small cove and beach of Panormos.
Back on the main route again, Koronos (36Km) is the next village. It is a stepped village scrabbling up the mountain sides and renowned for its emery mines. A turning off to the right, 0.5Km prior to Koronos, proceeds east to the Church of Panagia Argokiliotissa which on Easter Friday, plays host to horders of worships.
Detour - to Lionas (44Km from Naxos Town). The scenery approaching the village is excellent and the beach at the bottom of the bay is made up of large pebbles.
Returning to Koronos, the main route proceeds to the village of Skado and Koronida (Komiaki) (43Km from Naxos Town). The village is built at the highest altitude (700m) and is renowned -as well as all surrounding villages- for its wine. The views are splendid and the surrounding countryside is particularly lush and lovely, the road being shaded by bowers of trees and cleft by mountain streams.
Route 3: Pyrgaki via Glinado
Approaching Glinado (6Km from Naxos Town) is the 17th century Monastery of Agioi Saranta possessing some fine post-Byzantine icons.A few Kilometers on is the nice Agios Arsenios (8Km from Naxos Town) village, an extensively cultivated land.
Detour - (Signpost on the left to Sagri) Sagri - Kato Sagri possesses the remains of a Venetian castle while Ano Sagri boasts the Monastery of Agios Eleftherios. The latter became Krifo Scholio -a secret school for Greek children during the Turkish occupation- and now houses a Folk Museum. There is also an archaeological site and beyond still on the main Halki road, the 16th century Monastery of Timios Stavros as well as the 15th century Church of Kaloritsa with a number of frescoes.
Prior to the village of Vivlos, (picture on the left) there are sign posts to the right towards Plaka Beach (Plaka beach can be easily accessed via Agia Anna). On the way to Vivlos, on the right, are the remains of a medieval tower and the Church of Agios Mattheos build on earlier Christian ruins. From Vivlos after some Kilometers is a signpost to Mikri Vigla.
Detour - to Mikri Vigla (19Km - from Naxos Town). A 4 Km (1 Km non-asphalt) road proceeds to a T-junction. The right part leads to a beautiful beach (Vigla) exposed to the North winds -in other words, ideal for wind surfing. Vigla is the natural continuation of Plaka and Orkos. The left road leads to a the beginning (Mikri Vigla) of a magnificent, huge, coarse sand sea shore that sweeps all the way past Kastraki as far Alyko. This fine white sand beach is fantastic, well protected from the north winds and for those who wish to spend their lunch time here, there is a taverna.
Back to the main road route, there is a signpost to Alyko and Kastraki (18Km) from Naxos Town. The road edges the coastline which is broken up by three coves.
Pyrgaki (20 Km from Naxos Town) has excellent beaches and on the left of the road there is a sign post to Ayiassos Bay (5 Km from Pyrgaki). The track is rough but the bay is nice made up of golden sand.
