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Naxos

From several different eras, there are many interesting monuments scattered all over the town. There are also some fine Byzantine churches, the Kastro with its tower and loopholes and the remains of a Mycenean settlement at Grota.

The monument that is clearly noticeable to the visitor from a distance as he approaches Naxos is the "emblem" of the island, the marble doorway of an archaic temple. It stands on a little island known as "Palati" (palace) just northwest of the harbour and is connected with the opposite shore in ancient times by a narrow strip of land, which is a causeway now.

Lygdamis started building the temple, entirely of marble, in the third quarter of the 6th century B.C. With the downfall of the tyranny, however, building generally came to a halt and the temple was left unfinished. The archaic temple was Ionic, 59 m long x 28 m wide and it was designed to have rows of 6x12 columns with double porticos at its end.
The island's Archaeological Museum contains some remarkable exhibits.

With so many traces of life in ancient times all over the island, Naxos offers many interesting sights to the visitor.

Not far from Apolone, one of the most beautiful seaside villages situated in the north of the island, is an ancient marble quarry, at the entrance to which lies a huge half-finished kouros dating from the 6th century B.C. A similar one is to be found at Melanes.

There is also an interesting Archaeological Museum at Apiratho, a village that still keeps its own special customs and traditions very much alive.

The Church of the Panagia Protothroni at Tragea and the Church of the Panagia Philotitissa in the village of Philoti are worthy of a visit.

Good beaches for swimming are to be found at Agios Prokopis, Mikri Vigla, Kastraki, Alykos, Agiassos (on the western side of the island), Apolonas, Psili Amos, Panormos and Pachia Amos.

The magnificent sandy beaches, picturesque villages and numerous monuments and sites attract a large number of visitors to Naxos every year, and the excellent tourist facilities available make it easy for the visitor to explore the island.
 

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