Naxos is the largest island of the Cyclades and a popular tourist destination, with several ruins.The largest town and capital of the island is Chora or Naxos City. The main villages are Filoti, Apiranthos, Chalki and Melanes.It has a number of beaches, such as those at Agia Anna, Agios Prokopios, Aliko, Kastraki, Mikri Vigla, Plaka, and Agios Georgios.
As other cycladic islands, Naxos is considered a windy place perfect for windsurfing, as well as kitesurfing.
Archaeological sites, byzantine churches, museums, towers, traditional villages, sandy beaches… the list never ends and all of them are waiting for you to discover them.
The Kouros of Flerio (570BC) is a 4.7-metre long statue of white Naxian marble, located in a village garden in Melanes. The figure is unfinished and had been roughly worked with chisels by ancient stonemasons. The statue is assumed to be a special order from a wealthy family and has been left unfinished, with experts suggesting that it was probably damaged during the creation process and thus was abandoned in the mountainous region.
The beach of Plaka extends for approximately 4 kilometres making it a very long beach. Only parts of it are organised so there are umbrellas and sun-beds along its considerable length. During high season it is quite busy but still quieter than Agios Prokopios or Saint George beach. There are a lot of taverns with excellent view and great local cuisine, most of them on the beach.
Halki (Chalki) village used to be the capital of the island as well as its main administrative and trade centre. Halki has a long history and the numerous neoclassical houses and buildings are testimony to the wealth and power the village once exerted in the surrounding area. Apart from the lovely old mansions and the picturesque churches, the village itself has colorful alleys that give visitors the sense that they have somehow gone back in time. Many well preserved houses, Venetian Towers and fine Byzantine churches can be found in the area.
