About Naxos
Naxos, a 30Km x 20Km oval, is the largest of the Cyclades, and its population of 19000 swells appreciably in the summer when it becomes thronged with holidaymakers.
There’s much promising walking terrain, but so far we have treated Naxos in much less detail than Amorgos, and present just one walk, the arduous but rewarding climb of Mount Zas (Zeus), at 1001m, the highest peak of the Cyclades, and where Zeus is said to have been born.
On Naxos you will find:
- the bustling metropolitan main harbour town, often referred to as Naxia
- a fine Venetian Kastro, from which the Dukes of Naxos ruled most of the Aegean
- the unfinished Temple of Apollo, unmissable as you arrive at the port
- a massive 10.5m Kouros, an unfinished statue from the 7th century BC
- a comprehensive museum and cultural events
From the sea, the island presents a craggy profile, and a look at the map shows there’s much to discover, but for now, we’ll just refer you to the two mountain ranges of granite and gneiss.
To the northwest is Mavrovouni (Μανροβουνι), 999m, partly quarried for marble, with a number of mountain villages and an extensive disused emery mine, including an impressive aerial cable way, and a little interpretation for visitors.
To the south is Mount Zas (Ζας), 1001m, a proud, bare cone of limestone, looming over Filoti (Φιλοτι), another hill town. There’s a number of walks here of course, but the climb from Arion Spring, via the Zeus cave, has to be a five star experience with such a view from the summit, from which you see much of Naxos, Keros and the small Cyclades way below you, out to Amorgos, and other islands way, way beyond in several directions
