Greek Islands

NAXOS

Portara, Naxos island

Naxos is the largest of the Cyclades group of islands and one of the most important in the Aegean. It has been inhabited since the Neolithic era. The name Naxos comes from the founder of the island . It was called also Dionysia from the god Dionysos, as the island is fertile particularly favorable of the vine culture. 

The soil of Naxos also offers two famous natural resources : marble and emery. Two wonderful materials for craftsmen.  This white and brilliant marble , quarried even today, is the same which was used to carve the famous Cycladic statues and the Kouros (statues of young males). Ancient quarries have been found in many parts of the island.

The highest mountain of Naxos is Zas, from the name of Zeus and it is the highest of the Cyclades island (more than 1.000 meters)

The main town called also Hora is the port of the island and it is built over the ruins of the ancient town of Kallipolis. On the ancient Acropolis now stands the Venetian Castle fortified with twelve towers. Today only one is preserved . The medieval town was built in 1207 by Sanoudos, nephew of the Doge of Venice. Entering the harbor on the left is a small rocky peninsula which was dedicated to Dionysos. On the top stands a gigantic marble gate (5,95 m. in height and 5,65 m. in width). The Gate called also Portara was the entrance of the temple of Apollo and was built in 540 - 530 B.C. during the reign of the tyrant Lygdamis. During the Venetian rule many of its marble architectural remains were used to built the Castle.

 According to the legend there where is the Gate (Portara), Theseus , the great hero, abandoned princess Ariadne on his way back from Crete after having killed the Minotaur. When the god of the wine, Dionysos, saw the sleeping Ariadne fell in love with her and made her his wife while Zeus made her immortal.

Near  Portara is also the archaeological site of Grota. Actually the Greek Orthodox Cathedral stands on the ruins of the settlement of 1.600 B.C. 

Very interesting is the Archaeological Museum which contains findings of the excavations.

The Villages

But Naxos is not only Hora. There are about 40 picturesque villages that one can visit. Those villages keep the spirit of the island alive as they preserved the legends, the history and the traditions. 

There are more than 500 churches and 50 of them date back to the Byzantine era. Very important is the church of Virgin Mary Drosiani where are the oldest paintings (frescoes) in the Balkans.

Very interesting are the about 40 castles and towers from the Byzantine and Venetian periods scattered round the island.

South-East across the green fertile plain of Livadion are the marble quarries of Flerio where an unfinished colossal Kouros statue of the 7th cent. B.C lies on the ground. Another unfinished Kouros one can see at Melanes.

The Kouros of Apollonas, Naxos

At Sangri, about 10 Km from Hora is the ancient Aulona where one can visit a lovely marble temple built for the deities of the fertility of the earth Demeter and Persephone. Its aim was to ensure the fertility of the island. The cult of this sanctuary started in the 8th cent. B.C.

One of the loveliest villages is Apeiranthos , 32 km from Hora. The village is built at the foot of Mount Fanari between two valleys rich in vineyards. The Zevgoli Tower from the 17th cent. stands at the entrance of the village. Outstanding that the streets are paved with white marble and so they call it the "marble village". There are picturesque tavernas where one can taste traditional finger-food and the famous Naxian Graviera cheese. The typical aperitif is the local Kitro, which is made by distilling the fragrant leaves of the kitron-tree. 

About 6 km from Hora is the village Glimado with nice old houses and lovely tavernas. Between the village and the sea in Iria, are the ruins of the Sanctuary of Dionysos. The temple of the god was built in the 6th cent. B.C. The archaeological site is open to the public.

The best beaches are mainly spread in the southern part of the island and give the opportunity to practice water sports as diving, kitesurfing, windsurfing and sailing.

From Naxos one can enjoy wonderful day-cruises to other Cyclades islands as Santorini, Mykonos - Delos, Iraklia and Koufonissi and  Amorgos   

SAMOS

Samos, the island of goddess Hera, of the great philosophers Pythagoras "the father of Mathematics" and Epicurus and the famous astronomer Aristarchus, is one of the eastern most Greek islands of the Aegean Sea. It is separated from Turkey by the strait of Mykale about 2 kms wide.
A range of mountains runs through the island. The capital Vathy is situated on the Northern coast wich is rocky , while the South coast has fertile plains and beautifull beaches.
The island is thickly wooded and known for its fertility from the antiquity, famous especially for the sweet Samian wine.
Samos was inhabitated in the Neolithic Period by the Pelasgians who established the goddes Hera.
Under the Tyranny of Polycrates, the island became one of the principal cities of Ionia.
The tyrrant Polycrates (532 BC) was a statesman of genius and profligate brigant. During this period the great engineer Eupalinos built the famous tunnel to provide the town whith drinking water which came from Great Spring. Two crews began digging the tunnel on both sides of the mountain simultaneously and thanks to the mathematical calculations of Eupalinos, they met in the middle of the mountain with no deviation...

   

The principal excursions on the island are to Ancient Samos, to Heraion, to Pythagoreion , to Karlovassi to the waterfalls where the scenery is breathtaking and to the monasteries.
The site of Ancient Samos lies on the South coast of the island. The great Sanctuary of Hera "Heraion" is situated by the sea. According to mythology the goddess was born and grew up here. The same legend states that here also took place her sacred matrimony with Zeus, the father of the Olympian Gods.
The first temple of Hera was built in the 8th c. BC . The second was built in 570 by the two famous archtct- sculptors Rhoikos and Theodore. At that time the Heraion was at the height of its glory, decorated with wonderful offerings, excellent works of art from the Hellenic worldo but also from Syria, Egypt and Cyprus.The statue of Hera belongs to this era, a masterpiece of Samian art that today is in the Louvre.
After the destruction of this temple in 530 BC the enlightened Polycrates started the construction of  the last temple which according to Herodotus was the biggest building in the whole Hellenic world. The construction stopped after the death of Polycrates so the temple remained unfinished.
Today one can see its foundations and the only column that is preserved. In the sanctuary are ruins of a portico, the great Altar and three small temples from different periods. Many well preserved findings from the excavations of the Heraion are in the museum of Samos.
From the monasteries the most important are: The Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi founded in 1756 from where you have a magnificent view of the Strait of Mykale. In the plain of Vlamari is the Monastery of Ayia Zoni founded in 1695 and the Monastery of Vrontiani which is the oldest of the island founded in 1566.
Samos is a modern island with beautiful organized beaches as Tsamados, Votsalakia, Ghryssi Ammos (=golden sand) and Psili Ammos. It has cosmopolitan places as Vathy, Kokkari and Pythagoreion but also quiet and isolated places ideal for rest and relaxation as Marathokambos, Mykali and Kerveli.

GREEK ISLANDS

Greece has about 6.000 islands and islets scattered in the Aegean and the Ionian Seas, 227 of which are inhabited.

The largest Greek island is Crete, which is located at the southern edge of the Aegean Sea. Crete is divided into four prefectures: Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion and Lassithi.

The second largest island is Evia (Euboea), which is separated from the mainland by the 60 m wide Euripus Strait.

The rest of the islands are divided into the following groups:

1) The islands of Argosaronic, in the Saronic gulf near Athens: Angistri, Aegina, Hydra, Poros, Spetses, Salamina.

2) The Cyclades, a large group of islands located in the central part of the Aegean Sea. They are so called because they form a circle (="Kyklos", cycle). The most known of the Cyclades are Amorgos, Anafi,Andros, Antiparos, Delos, Ios, Kea, Kimolos, Kythnos, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Santorini, Serifos, Sikinos, Sifnos, Syros, Tinos, Folegandros as well as the "Minor Cyclades" (Donousa, Irakleia, Kofonissia and Schinoussa)

3) The Northeastern Aegean Islands: Agios Efstratios, Thassos, Ikaria, Lesbos, Limnos, Oinousses, Samos, Samothrace, Chios, Psara.

4) The Dodecanese = "twelve islands" , in the southeast between Crete and Turkey. They are a group of 12 big and 150 small islands, 26 of which are inhabited. The most known are Rhodes, Kos, Patmos, Astipalea, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kassos, Kastellorizo, Leros, Nissyros, Symi, Tylos, Agathonissi, Chalki, Farmakonissi, Lipsi, Pserimos.

5) The Sporades, a small group located between the mainland and the islands of the North Eastern Aegean: Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros.

6) The Ionian Islands, located to the west of the mainland in the Ionian Sea. They are 12 small and large islands. The seven larger are Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Ithaca, Paxi, Kythira and they are also called Eptanissa ="7 islands". Antipaxi, Erikousa, Mathraki, Othoni, Skorpios, Strofades and Meganissi are smaller islands in Ionian Sea.

Picturesque villages, wonderful beaches, sunny weather, breathtaking landscapes, archaeological treasures, delicious food, warm hospitality: these are some of the reasons that make the Greek Islands unique and worth visiting.