Naxos is a Greek island, with an area of 429.79 sq.km. and is 103 n.m. from Piraeus. It is the largest island of the Cyclades, in the Aegean Sea. According to tradition, the first inhabitants of the island were the Thracians and the Pelasgians. Later came the Kares, led by Naxos, to whom the name of the island is attributed. It was the center of the archaic Cycladic culture. The island is known as a source of emery, a rock rich in corundum, which until modern times was one of the best abrasives available.

The largest city and capital of the island is Chora or Naxos, with 7,070 inhabitants (2011 census). The main villages are Filoti, Apiranthos, Bivlos (Tripodes), Agios Arsenios, Koronos and Glynado.

Place and environment

Naxos, the largest and most fertile island of the Cyclades, is located roughly in the center of the Cyclades, south of Mykonos and east of Paros. It has an area of 430 square meters. km. and the length of its coasts amounts to 148 km.

The relief of the island is shaped by Mount Zas or Drios, a low mountain range that crosses it from north to south, with the highest peak being Naxios Dias or Za (1,002 m.). This name is due to the mythological tradition which claims that Zeus was born and raised in Naxos.

The island is rich in springs and streams, which are the reason for its rich vegetation, the richest of all the islands of the Cyclades - hence the opinion of Herodotus that "the bliss of the islands offered". Its coasts are little fragmented, but with rich sandy beaches, suitable for swimming and relaxing.

Rich igneous rocks are also found near Egares and elsewhere. But apart from the marbles in the center and north-east near Koronos, there are also the famous deposits of emery or naxian earth. The only place in the world where emery is found in exploitable quantity is the island of Naxos and it is considered of high quality.

The climate of the island is Mediterranean, mild and dry, with cool summers and mild winters.

Η Νάξος, σήμερα ένα από τα πιο δημοφιλή φυλάκια της Ευρώπης, βρίσκεται στο σταυροδρόμι τριών ηπείρων και έχει καταληφθεί από κύματα εισβολέων από τους Ρωμαίους έως τη Βυζαντινή Αυτοκρατορία έως τους Ενετούς. Γ. Είναι ένα μέρος πλούσιο σε μυθολογία και θρύλους, που φιλοξενεί σημαντικές τοποθεσίες των αρχαίων ελληνικών πολιτισμών. Η Νάξος έχει μια ακμάζουσα τουριστική οικονομία, καθώς οι επισκέπτες συρρέουν για να απολαύσουν τον ήλιο της Μεσογείου, παραλίες με κρυστάλλινα νερά, απόκρημνο έδαφος ιδανικό για γραφικές πεζοπορίες και υπέροχα εστιατόρια και σκηνές νυχτερινής διασκέδασης.

Mythic Naxos

According to Greek mythology, the young Zeus was raised in a cave on Mt. Zas ("Zas" meaning "Zeus"). Homer mentions "Dia"; literally the sacred island "of the Goddess". Károly Kerényi explains:

This name, Dia, which means 'heavenly' or 'divine', was applied to several small craggy islands in our [Aegean] sea, all of them lying close to larger islands, such as Crete or Naxos. The name "Dia" was even transferred to the island of Naxos itself, since it was more widely supposed than any other to have been the nuptial isle of Dionysus.

One legend has it that in the Heroic Age before the Trojan War, Theseus abandoned Ariadne on this island after she helped him kill the Minotaur and escape from the Labyrinth. Dionysus (god of wine, festivities, and the primal energy of life) who was the protector of the island, met Ariadne and fell in love with her. But eventually Ariadne, unable to bear her separation from Theseus, either killed herself (according to the Athenians), or ascended to heaven (as the older versions had it). The Naxos portion of the Ariadne myth is also told in the Richard Strauss opera Ariadne auf Naxos.

The giant brothers Otus and Ephialtes figure in at least two Naxos myths: in one, Artemis bought the abandonment of a siege they laid against the gods, by offering to live on Naxos as Otus's lover; in another, the brothers had actually settled Naxos.

We would like to welcome you to one of the most beautiful islands of the aegean sea. It is a great honour to have you as guests and we will do our best in order to make your stay very pleasant.

The information that follows will help you make your plans during your stay at the island.In case you need further guidance please do not hesitate to contact us.

Πηγή: https://el.wikipedia.org