Greece and the Greek Islands
Naxos Island Cyclades Greece
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GREECE - NAXOS ISLAND, CYCLADES - SIGHTSEEING

"LITTLE KOUROS" - Melanes

The little Kouros is located above a luxuriant garden named Kouros Paradise where the garden's owners have opened a nice little coffee place.

The popular name for the Kouros was Ellinas (the Greek) and has its origin in 7th century B.C. The statue is around 6,4m long and is missing his left foot and a part of his right leg. It was meant to show god Apollo and a proof of it is the visible long hair. During that period no man was allowed to grow long hair, except Apollo.

"CHIMAROS TOWER" - Kalandos bay

The circular marble tower of Chimarros, with its two adjacent little churches, is another characteristic monument of Naxos.

The old building is located half way south from Filoti to Kalandos Bay, standing to the height of 15m and enclosed by a square wall of measuring about 35m. Internally it is not very well preserved but a four floors construction can be assumed from the existing beam holes.

Unfortunately the archaeologists haven't been able to find the precise dating and role of this kind of towers yet. It's visible to a big part of the southeastern island and could have been either an observation tower or a refuge during the Hellenistic period. Whatever its function was, Pyrgos Chimarrou got a symbolic meaning and it is celebrated in local folk songs

"MOUNT ZAS CAVE" - Filoti

The best way to reach Mount Zas (=Zeus, Jupiter), the biggest mountain of Naxos (1004m) and the Cyclades, is a footpath close to the church of Agia Marina on the road to Danakos and it takes around two hours.

The cave is located at the southwestern side of the mountain and perhaps it was dedicated to god Zeus.

There have been found traces of human inhabitation from the Neolithic period, like objects, tools and golden plates.

According to tradition the islanders used the cave as a chapel during the Othoman occupation.