A World to ExperienceNaxos is a world to experience. The largest of the Cycladic islands, this white-washed diamond-shaped isle on the Aegean is for the curious traveller. The Naxian landscape of fertile land, mountains, massifs and surrounding seas make it a destination filled with a plethora of places to see and activities to enjoy from the family friendly, wholesome and adventurous, to the traditional, contemporary and jet set.

Here we provide just a glimpse of what to see, do, experience.

The island’s landmark: Portara, literally, large door in Greek, is what remains of the ancient entrance to the Temple of Apollo, built in 530 B.C.

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Naxos Downtown:Classical, contemporary and a maze … ing!Naxos’s exciting capital, Chora, begins along its radiant waterfront promenade. Hidden behind it and waiting to be discovered, is the Old Town, a labyrinth of narrow streets that spiral their way to the protective fortress, the Kastro. This entire little island city is filled with designer shops, museums, galleries, restaurants and centuries of old-world charm and architectural influences that are a maze .. ing to discover.

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Naxos isn’t just a beach lover’s paradise. It has established itself as a surfer’s heaven with a growing

number of watersports enthusiasts heading each year to its northern and western shores for world-

class windsurfing and kitesurfing.Naxos also has a fascinating underwater seascape

for snorkeling and scuba diving explorations. Several companies provide equipment and lessons

for people wanting to engage in their favourite

Naxos holds a significant role in Greek mythology and the architecture related to worshipping the gods, especially because the island is a natural resource of marble and emery. Apollo. Demeter. Dionysus. Zeus. These and other mythical figures are ever-present in Naxos, their well-preserved temples and tales timelessly embedded in the island’s ancient history and present-day landscape. The result is a travel destination filled with fascinating sites, ancient ruins, artefacts, temples and sites of worship that reveal an historic timeline beginning as far back as the 4th millennium B.C. Unearth the historic grandeur of civilisations past with every step.

According to Greek myth, Zeus was brought up and given his source of power on the peak of the Naxian mountain, Za, the tallest of the Cyclades. Dionysus, the god of wine, is said to have been born on Naxos, blessing the land with rich vineyards and, later, falling in love and marrying princess Ariadne. Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, was worshipped for her role in keeping the land fertile and Apollo for his power of being the god of light and music.

Naxos and its gods

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Venture throughvalleys and villages

Nikos Kazantakis, author of Zorba the Greek

and other well-known works,spent time in Naxos,

attending the School of Commerce(housed in what is now

the Archaeological Museum). In his work Report to Greco, he makes special reference to his time on Naxos.

A visit to Naxos is not complete without exploring the island’s picturesque and well-populated mountain villages. All represent a world of their own with building styles, customs and culinary heritage. Walk through their small pathways and corridors and get a glimpse into traditional village life in real time. These villages are also the starting point for many hiking routes to the mountain tops or ravines with running water and lush vegetation. All boast significant sites, museums and monuments, interesting shopping and other places of interest. Go beyond Naxos’s spectacular seascape to explore the lovely landscape and vibrant villages that pop up along the way.

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Scattered throughout Naxos - nestled amongst lush flora and fauna and perched atop it’s mountains, overlooking the vast big blue of the Aegean - are hundreds of churches, chapels, cathedrals, monasteries and monuments. Take a spiritual trek, walk or bike trip to explore one of Greece’s largest collections of Byzantine churches, frescoes and unique-to-Naxos religious architectural styles.

Keeping the faith

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Check in to Naxos and check in to a beach lover’s paradise. Enjoy picture-perfect seashores and crystal-clear waters. Swim. Relax. Explore the sand dunes. Give in to a midday nap under a cedar tree as the sound of cicadas soothe. One of the many great things about Naxos is that its beach culture offers visitors quantity and quality. Some prefer hassle-free, easy access to its sandy shores, while others like to uncover their own special spot.

What’s your beach culture? Naxos has it all: dreamy sand beaches for kids and walks on the beach; hidden coves for romantics; secluded pebble beaches and rocky shores for nature lovers; fashionable hangouts with beach bars, cafes and restaurants; as well as a fascinating underwater seascape for snorkeling.

Each year, certain beaches on Naxos receive Blue Flag certification, an exclusive eco-label awarded to beaches that meet strict criteria including water quality and safety.

Sea Naxos

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Naxos by taste Visit Naxos and whet your palate with the island’s many tastes and dining venues, traditional or contemporary, organic and gourmet. As one of Greece’s largest islands, Naxos is a unique gastronomic destination. Blessed with a fertile land of rich vegetation, it boasts a vibrant industry of agriculture and rich culinary heritage with a vast array of indigenous-to-the region ingredients, must-try products and delicious plates that please the palate. Naxos is especially known for its cheese and dairy products, potatoes (considered to be amongst Greece’s best), meat, fresh fish, olive oil, honey, fresh fruits and vegetables. Special to Naxos is the liqueur made from the leaves of the citron fruit, boutique local wines and ouzo. A visit to a traditional olive making press, cheese factory and citron distillery is a must for the foodie traveller.

Must-taste: delectable desserts made with sweet preserves;

traditional recipes, authentic or with a modern twist; the locally-

produced liqueur, citron.

Choose your cheese: Sweet, salty, spicy, soft or hard?

Naxos boasts a vibrant cheese making industry and produces

several varieties made from goat, sheep and cow’s milk. Try

the Mizithra, the aged Arseniko, Xinotyri, Kefalotyri and

the renowned Naxos Gruyère known as Graviera.

Ask to try the local wine: As the home of Dionysus, Naxos and the Naxians have a long wine

heritage, with several making their own wine.

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Ride the wave. Follow a hiking trail. Lower the anchor. Peek into an underwater shipwreck. Take up horseback riding. Naxos is an ideal place to start or engage in your favorite sport or sports and is on the fast track of becoming Cycladic “sports central” with its variety of activities available that get the adrenaline pumping. The island has already established itself as a leading destination for water sports with wind and kite surfers riding the Naxian wave. Today, this fast developing sports culture applies to hiking and biking with a dense network of trails thanks to its mountainous terrain. Adventure seekers are sure to appreciate the various recreational activities beyond sailing, swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving. Important to note is that several of the tours and trails incorporate significant sightseeing for a true Naxos experience.

Sporting it on Naxos

Family freedom and fun!Naxos, and Greece in general, is a family-friendly vacation choice as children are always welcome to be part of the holiday fun. Ideal for kids are the island’s many stretches of safe, sandy beaches and crystal clear waters that make for perfect sandcastle making conditions. Naxos’s ancient monuments and castles serve as the perfect backdrop to get the kids inspired. School children and adults, too, are always amazed to learn about the mythical legends and see ancient temples and columns they have read about in storybooks up close. And that’s not all. In the summer, Naxos’s cultural and activities calendar features swimming and sailing lessons for kids as well as various arts workshops, exhibitions and theatrical performances. Take the kids to Naxos for a fun-filled family experience of sun, myths and sandcastles!

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Year round, Naxos’s cultural calendar is filled with a roster of contemporary events and traditional festivals and holidays, from the elaborate Carnival and holy Orthodox Easter celebrations, to its extensive summer arts festival. There is always something to mark your calendar to prepare for and attend: from concerts by leading artists and recitals of classical music, to theatrical performances and art exhibitions. These events make use of a variety of picturesque and impressive indoor and outdoor venues from ancient temples, Venetian towers and century-old tree-shaded village squares to contemporary theatres and modern galleries. Additional events such as traditional wine making, mountain expeditions and athletic games are organised by local communities. Not to be missed are the religious festivities, each holding true to age-old island customs and traditions.

Naxos nonstop

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Naxos inspires love and makes for an exceptional wedding and honeymoon destination. The island’s renowned mythical love story of Ariadne and Dionysus provides a perfect backdrop for getting married on the island as do the extraordinary venues: from a civil ceremony atop the tiny island, Palatia, under the ancient landmark, Portara, to a religious wedding at a small church with a barefoot on the beach party reception to follow.

Naxos, since ancient times, has a long history of industry and com-merce, affording it a sense of independence and business savvy. As a tourism destination, it provides corporate and special event organ-isers an established hospitality infrastructure. Important to consider are the island’s conference centres (at hotels and inside the Kastro district, for example); choice of accommodations (from charming family-style hotels to exclusive luxury and boutique-type hotels); services and amenities. A certain plus are the choices for parallel events, recreational and team building activities, such as archaeo-logical and gastronomic tours, workshops, trekking, biking and other seasonal fun things to do.

Tie the knotClose the deal

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The Small Cyclades:Four Sparkling Gems

Welcome to the Mediterranean’s best kept secret: The Small Cyclades, a group of four tiny islands - Iraklia, Schinoussa, Koufonissia, Donoussa - that encircle Naxos. Aegean gems, they offer the luxury of peace and quiet, pristine beaches and the option to get away from it all in a simple and pleasurable manner. With a long history that dates back to prehistoric times, each island keeps it exciting with local gastronomic specialties, fantastic myths, captivating legends and a telling history and landscape that are worth exploring.

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Release yourself to Iraklia and release yourself to the simple life with only hints of urban city life. Get away from it all by delving into the island’s interesting legends, myths and one of Europe’s naturally-protected habitats. The rocky terrain gives way to several glorious sand and fine pebble beaches, many accessible by foot and many more by passenger fishing boats. But don’t let the simple landscape fool you. The island is quite rich in history and offers interesting things to see and learn about, including visiting the cave and favorite hangout of the mythical Cyclops or witnessing the rare and endangered species and birds such as the Mediterranean monk seal and dolphins that frequent the island. The Cycladic’s largest cave, Agios Ioannis, is here too; a day trip of trekking will get you there.

Release yourself to Iraklia

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Ruggedly romantic, Schinoussa is an island of natural beauty with nature paths that lead to its many inlets that make for easy beach hopping. The island’s local specialties are considered one of the region’s best. In recent years, the island is becoming a hotspot for rock climbers and a top pick amongst those in the world of sailing and yachting; thanks to its naturally-protected marina.

Sail, taste, climb Schinoussa

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There is no doubt about it. Koufonissia - actually two islands, the inhabited Pano (upper) Koufonissi and uninhabited, Kato (lower) Koufonissi - has some of the Aegean’s best beaches. One of the tiniest of the Cycladic islands - just 3.5 km (2.2 miles) - Pano Koufonissi boasts a beach terrain that never disappoints. If white sandy beaches and crystal clear turquoise waters - everywhere you look - is your idea of heaven on earth, then head to Koufonissia and get ready to indulge! The beaches are sandy, in close proximity and most, easy to get to by walking, bicycling or taking a water taxi or passenger fishing boat. Once a secret gem of the Aegean, it has become a favorite amongst those who appreciate the exotic tropical-like beaches, seaside tavernas and boheme-style nightlife. In the distance are the uninhabited Kato Koufonissi and Keros. The former, accessible only by passenger fishing boat, offers additional beaches to explore, while the historically-significant Keros, site of continuous archaeological excavations, is off-limits to visitors.

Swimmingly sensuous

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Donoussa caters to visitors seeking a natural, organic vacation hideaway, with beaches untouched and small village settlements that offer a window into a world of the past. A new wave of young fans has brought a cool vibe to the island. In the summer months, bars with a chill-out motif work alongside traditional village tavernas that serve dishes using regional and local ingredients. Newly-created trails weave through the island’s nature paths and places of interest including beaches, churches, old mines, villages and old settlements. Special to the island are the ruins of a Geometric settlement; caves, more specifically the Fokospilia (seal cave) and Tihos cave (accessible by boat); and its magnificent views of the Aegean sea and islands in the distance.

Delight in Donoussa

Hop to It!Indulge in some island hopping. Take advantage of Naxos’s geographic location and discover a world of contrasts. A hub in the circle of islands that surround the sacred island of Delos (known as the Cycladic islands), Naxos is a gateway to many popular Cycladic destinations. It begins with the nearby Small Cyclades: Iraklia, Schinoussa, Koufonissia and Donoussa. Daily connections provide access to these and other top destinations such as Santorini, Mykonos, Paros, Syros, Amorgos and Ios. Hop to it!