Castles & Temples
Temple of Apollo - Portara
The most famous "door" (porta) of Cyclades, Portara, is one of the most important monument of Naxos that reveal the island's rich history and impress visitors with their greatness. Portara was the gate of the Temple of Apollo in the islet of Palatia. It was built during the third quarter of the 6th century B.C. The Temple's measurements are 54m x 28m. The gate is made of four monolithic architectural parts. During the early Christian times was turned into church, which was preserved at least until the Venetian occupation
The Castle of Naxos
Going up to the Castel of Chora, built by Marcos Sanudos in 1207, and wondering around the stone pave alleys of the medieval settlement you will fell like travelling in past times, a unique experience, Choose one of the two entrances of the Castle: Trani Porta in the north side, or Paraporti, facing west, in order to begin your tour. Every road whether ring or radiate, leads to the hill. Walk in the steep alleys, marvel at the Venetian mansion houses with the coats of arms- a typical ‘'union'' of insular architecture and western elements, discover the neiborhoods that hide stories and legents, visit churches, stare out over the monuments of Portara and fell some of the magic of that time that is preserved ‘'intact'' within the Castle. The square of the Cathilic Cathedral is a refefrence point, near which you can find the Ursulines school, the Jesuits monastery nad the mantion of the past Trade schood, where Nikos Kazantzakis studied. Today the school is housed in the archielogical museum of Naxos. Nearby you will see the Capella Casacca (Church of immaculate conception), which was a chapel of Sanudo as well as the Castle of Crispi, the only one preserve out of the twelve Castle that were build next to the Palace of Sanudo. Stop at the old mention house next to Trani Porta, Where the Venetian Museum is housed along with exhibition and music nights. When going down to Chora in the outskirts of The Castle, you will discover the old market with an arrow whitewashed alleys, the picturesque shops in the traditional small tavernas.
Temple of Dimitra in Gyroulas (Sangri)
The Temple of Dimitras in Gyroulas is one of the most significant buildings of the ancient Naxos and dates back to 520 - 530 B.C. The ancient sanctuary was made entirely of white Smarble and it was dedicated to the workship of goddess Dimitra, in the 6th century it was turned into a Christian Basilica Church. Today, the restoration of the temple has been completed nad there is also a museum exhibition.
Temple of Dionysus in Iria
The sanctuary of Dionysus is situated in the area of iria, only 3klm away from Chora. You will see there finds of the Temple of Dionysus that date from the 6th Century B.C. The foundation stones of the sanctuary as well as very few ruins of the temple's walls are being preserved. The find include marble pillars and a well of the 6th century B.C ( the only one with a marble layer) as well as a small exhibition room. Three more temple were found under the archiological sight, all of them were dedicated to Dionysus. What is more on the same place the statue of Dionysus was discovered, one of the most important finds of the sight that is hosted in the museum in Chora.
Three Kouroi
Near the village of Melanes (Flerio) there are two out of the three Kouroi you find in Naxos. The unfinished archaic Kouros, almost 6.5 m long, is lie down inside a garden for centuries in exactly the same place that the ancient craftsmen deserted it.
In the north part of the island, near the beautiful village of Apollonas there is a gigantic Kouros (10 metres in length), which is probably a personification of Dionysus. You will find it in the beginning of the village in a ancient quarry.
The third and less famous Kouros is found in a landscaped pathe towards Ano Potamia, near Flerio.
The Tower of Cheimarros
The tower of Cheimarros is a point of reference for Naxos, equivalent to the ‘'Portara'' (gate) of the antique Apollo temple on the islet Palatia. It is a monument with a symbolic meaning and an impressive presence which has passed in the legend.
The circular tower constitutes an exceptional sample of a well preserved defensive structure of the 4th century and predominates a secluded and today uninhabited landscape on the lowest hills of the Mount Zas, in the southern part of Naxos. The existing building stands to the impressive height of amount 15 m and has a double wall. The exterior wall is built by big local marble plinths., while the interiors built by stones of different size with connectors in between. The wall are connected at regular intervals by side- arc bricks, which stand out unrefined, exceeding the interior face. The gap between the two faces is filled up with a mixture of clay and boulder. The fine matching fine of the exterior stones without binder as well as the whole construction of the monument bear evidence to the high quality of the antique stone art.
The gate is located in the southern part of tower and there is only one window at a height of 10 m from the ground that means in the second floor. The narrow loopholes feature the defensive character of the monument.
In the interior of the tower, one can distinguish the ground floor and three further floors connected by a marble staircase which built in the wall. The top of the tower does not exist today- it is estimated that the original height of the tower was 18 m- while it is not proved yet, whether the roof was flat or conic. The tower is fenced with a square wall, which's side measures 35m and its height 2 m.
The most famous "door" (porta) of Cyclades, Portara, is one of the most important monument of Naxos that reveal the island's rich history and impress visitors with their greatness. Portara was the gate of the Temple of Apollo in the islet of Palatia. It was built during the third quarter of the 6th century B.C. The Temple's measurements are 54m x 28m. The gate is made of four monolithic architectural parts. During the early Christian times was turned into church, which was preserved at least until the Venetian occupation
The Castle of Naxos
Going up to the Castel of Chora, built by Marcos Sanudos in 1207, and wondering around the stone pave alleys of the medieval settlement you will fell like travelling in past times, a unique experience, Choose one of the two entrances of the Castle: Trani Porta in the north side, or Paraporti, facing west, in order to begin your tour. Every road whether ring or radiate, leads to the hill. Walk in the steep alleys, marvel at the Venetian mansion houses with the coats of arms- a typical ‘'union'' of insular architecture and western elements, discover the neiborhoods that hide stories and legents, visit churches, stare out over the monuments of Portara and fell some of the magic of that time that is preserved ‘'intact'' within the Castle. The square of the Cathilic Cathedral is a refefrence point, near which you can find the Ursulines school, the Jesuits monastery nad the mantion of the past Trade schood, where Nikos Kazantzakis studied. Today the school is housed in the archielogical museum of Naxos. Nearby you will see the Capella Casacca (Church of immaculate conception), which was a chapel of Sanudo as well as the Castle of Crispi, the only one preserve out of the twelve Castle that were build next to the Palace of Sanudo. Stop at the old mention house next to Trani Porta, Where the Venetian Museum is housed along with exhibition and music nights. When going down to Chora in the outskirts of The Castle, you will discover the old market with an arrow whitewashed alleys, the picturesque shops in the traditional small tavernas.
Temple of Dimitra in Gyroulas (Sangri)
The Temple of Dimitras in Gyroulas is one of the most significant buildings of the ancient Naxos and dates back to 520 - 530 B.C. The ancient sanctuary was made entirely of white Smarble and it was dedicated to the workship of goddess Dimitra, in the 6th century it was turned into a Christian Basilica Church. Today, the restoration of the temple has been completed nad there is also a museum exhibition.
Temple of Dionysus in Iria
The sanctuary of Dionysus is situated in the area of iria, only 3klm away from Chora. You will see there finds of the Temple of Dionysus that date from the 6th Century B.C. The foundation stones of the sanctuary as well as very few ruins of the temple's walls are being preserved. The find include marble pillars and a well of the 6th century B.C ( the only one with a marble layer) as well as a small exhibition room. Three more temple were found under the archiological sight, all of them were dedicated to Dionysus. What is more on the same place the statue of Dionysus was discovered, one of the most important finds of the sight that is hosted in the museum in Chora.
Three Kouroi
Near the village of Melanes (Flerio) there are two out of the three Kouroi you find in Naxos. The unfinished archaic Kouros, almost 6.5 m long, is lie down inside a garden for centuries in exactly the same place that the ancient craftsmen deserted it.
In the north part of the island, near the beautiful village of Apollonas there is a gigantic Kouros (10 metres in length), which is probably a personification of Dionysus. You will find it in the beginning of the village in a ancient quarry.
The third and less famous Kouros is found in a landscaped pathe towards Ano Potamia, near Flerio.
The Tower of Cheimarros
The tower of Cheimarros is a point of reference for Naxos, equivalent to the ‘'Portara'' (gate) of the antique Apollo temple on the islet Palatia. It is a monument with a symbolic meaning and an impressive presence which has passed in the legend.
The circular tower constitutes an exceptional sample of a well preserved defensive structure of the 4th century and predominates a secluded and today uninhabited landscape on the lowest hills of the Mount Zas, in the southern part of Naxos. The existing building stands to the impressive height of amount 15 m and has a double wall. The exterior wall is built by big local marble plinths., while the interiors built by stones of different size with connectors in between. The wall are connected at regular intervals by side- arc bricks, which stand out unrefined, exceeding the interior face. The gap between the two faces is filled up with a mixture of clay and boulder. The fine matching fine of the exterior stones without binder as well as the whole construction of the monument bear evidence to the high quality of the antique stone art.
The gate is located in the southern part of tower and there is only one window at a height of 10 m from the ground that means in the second floor. The narrow loopholes feature the defensive character of the monument.
In the interior of the tower, one can distinguish the ground floor and three further floors connected by a marble staircase which built in the wall. The top of the tower does not exist today- it is estimated that the original height of the tower was 18 m- while it is not proved yet, whether the roof was flat or conic. The tower is fenced with a square wall, which's side measures 35m and its height 2 m.