Panagia Myrtidiotisa.
Friday was my last evening on Naxos this time. It is amazing to walk at the waterfront, a few minutes before sunset.
Waterfront and Panagia Myrtidiotissa
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Tag Archives: Naxos
Naxos Old Town
Black cat, Old town, Naxos
From Agia Anna I went directly to Mike’s Bikes & Cars to return my scooter. It was late afternoon, a great time to walk in the Old town/Castro to enjoy and take photos towards the light. As a cat lover, I do not mind to catch a cat on a few of my photos, like this one, an inhabitant of Naxos Old town!
Agia Anna
Agia Anna – daisies.
After lunch at Apolonas I thought it was time to go south again, and after a couple of hours driving I arrived to Agia Anna/Cape Agios Nikolaus. Unfortunately it was a little too windy to be comfortable to relax in the sun, but I stayed for a while.
Apolonas and the third kouros
Kouros above Apolonas.
My last day on Naxos I thought to myself: “Why not go to Apolonas for lunch!”. After a few hours I was standing above Apolonas and looking at the third an most large kouros that exist in the Naxos landscape. This is unfinished and abandon at the marble quarry as the other two.
Sunset at Portara – Apollo Temple
Sunset at Portara.
A little before sunset arrives in Chora it is popular to walk out to Portara and look at the sunset from there.
Old town and Castro
Castro, Chora
I worked on my tan for a hour or so and went back to Chora, for some walking in the Old Town and Castro.
Time for a swim at Agia Anna/Cape Agios Nikolaus
Tree Agia Anna
After walking in the landscape looking at two Kouros, I thought it was time for lunch in Kinidaros, the next village on the road. I had a toast and water in a coffee shop, with a nice view on the small square, and landscape towards south.
The weather was great so relax on a nice beach for an hour or so was my next goal for the day. After some driving I reached Agia Anna and Cape Agios Nikolaus, where a classic clothing optional cove can be found. Just above the beach the small chapel Agios Nikolaus looks down the the sun lovers. The image with the tree is 200 metres south of the cove, and indicate the beginning of the lovely Plaka beach at a length of 4 km!
People who love to visit nice beaches shall travel to Naxos, that’s for sure! As bonus you can do so much more on an interesting island as this!
Looking at two Kouros
Kouros of Potamia
In the landscape on Naxos Island there are three giant marble sculptures, which are incomplete statues of young men, probably intended to be on a temple roof. Length is from about 6 – 10 metres. They are to be found close to the marble quarry where the marble was mined. The statues dates from the 8th to 6th century B.C.
Friday I desided to visit two of the sculptures: Kouros of Melanes and Kouros of Potamia (in the picture). It’s a nice area to go by scooter, little traffic and a lovely green landscape! The first statue is laying in a fertile valley, an olive grove. It’s a very peaceful place. 10-15 years ago I remember that it was possible to have a coffee in the adjacent garden, Paradise Garden, during the main season. To find the second, Kouros of Potamia, you have to go uphill a few hundred metres. From there it is a nice view of the valley below.
Time for something older – Demeter Temple
Demeter Temple
There is a lovely place about 3 km south of the village Ano Sagri: Demeter Temple. I don’t know why, but I always feel so relaxed and satisfied when I visit this archaeological site. The atmosphere is calm and the landscape beautiful. The site dates back to 6th c. BC. I was hoping for more spring flowers like daisies and poppies around the temple, but I had to settle with the flowers in this photo!
Second church of the day – Panagia Drossiani
Panagia Drossiani
After my stop at Panagia Damiotissa I continued to the church which was my goal for driving towards Moni village: Panagia Drossiani, a Byzantine church dated back late 6, early 7th centuries. It is considered to be the predominant church of this kind. This time I was not able to enter the church, but about 10 years ago I was inside, looking at the interesting very old paintings. For more details about the church, see Church of Panagia Drosiani – Naxos.