Naxos Island Highlights
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port
Naxos, Greece
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activityLevel
Moderate Activity
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excursionType
All
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wheelchairAccessible
No
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startingAtPrice
$54
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minimumAge
Information Not Currently Available
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duration
Approximately 3 Hours
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mealsIncluded
Meals not included
Naxos is the largest and among the most beautiful and fertile of all the islands in the Cycladic group. It is famed for its traditional villages and the marble quarries used from ancient times to build statues. The ancient Greeks believed the island to be the birthplace of Dionysus, the god of wine, which is why it was so blessed with fertile ground and rich vineyards.
Nowadays the preferred drink is Kitron, made of a distillation of the leaves of the local citrus fruit. Visit a local distillery and try it for yourself as you learn how it is made. If you wish, you can purchase a bottle at the end of your visit.
Traveling through the fertile countryside, orchards, olive trees and vineyards you will visit Apeiranthos village, boasting marble cobblestone streets, Venetian towers and narrow alleys covered with arches. Small squares abound and windmills and watermills co-exist harmoniously with two-story houses. Note the marble balconies and façades.
You will visit two small museums, each depicting a different facet of the island. The Archaeological Museum has exhibits covering the numerous centuries of Naxos history, and the Folk Art Museum is a reconstruction of a typical Greek house from the early 20th century.
Take advantage of some free time in the village to explore further or to sit and enjoy a refreshment (at your own expense).
Returning to the ship you will pass through the Kinidaros area, famous for its marble quarries. Behind a local village you will see the remains of a huge Kouros statue displayed exactly where it was found. Historians believe that it broke while being made, and it was just left there by the artisan. At a staggering 21 feet tall, it is still a very impressive sight today.