Naxos

In the heart of Cyclades, in the heart of Aegean, Naxos has, always, followed the destiny of adventure of residents of Aegean. This destiny is interwoven with travel, exchanges, new techniques and pioneering ideas, but also with wars and conflicts over the hegemony of sea.

Everything is big – imposing – compared with the rest of Cyclades islands. The extent of the island is 435 sq. km and the length coasts 91 km.

The form is an ellipsoid and with a mountainous volume from North to South across the island. In the backbone of this ridge dominate Za Mountain (1004 m) and Fanari (908 m) the highest in Cyclades.

The landscape of the island has many rotations. Plains succeed barren areas, marble mountains lead in deep shadowed glens, areas with vegetation host all white villages and sandy beaches meet the sea. The coastline of the island is almost straight and not forming large natural harbors, which affected the occupations of residents from the ancient years. In the island from end to end beautiful and clean coasts are situated next to small solitary coves. The ground of island is blessed and provides self-sufficiency to life of this place.

The rich aquifer of Naxos offers drinking water to wells and streams of the island. The fertile land produces citrus fruits, olives, fruits, vegetables, potatoes Naxos specials and amazing wine. Livestock-farming and the apiculture are particularly developed and offer exceptional quality meats, milk, cheeses and thyme honey.

From geological aspect the subsoil presents great interest because of the  presence of emery, of marble and granite that are exploitable products. The rocks constitute solidly foundations of Naxos and make the island stable against earthquakes.

Naxos itself is a whole universe.

“Big Sweet has this island, virtuous are the faces of people, piles are shaped by melons, peaches, figs and the sea is calm. I looked at the people – never this people have been frightened by earthquakes or by turks, and their eyes did not burn out.

Here freedom had extinguished the need for freedom, and life spread out as happy, sleeping water. And if sometimes was discomposed, never rose tempest. Safety was the first gift of island that I felt as walking arround Naxos.”

(N. Kazantzaki – A report to El. Greko)