Naxos town

Norsk utgave (Norwegian edition)

Naxos town is the largest of all the towns on the island-group of the Cyclades. It's affected by this in the way that it functions as a center of shopping, with a great variety of all kinds of shops and services. All though the town is not as whitewashed as many of the other Cycladic towns, it definitely has it's charm. The most exciting part of town runs from the port up toward the old town at the top. On the other side of town (facing the inland) is where one can find most of the new facilities that bring an offer of modern lifestyle.

If I have been lucky with the scanning and with the adaption of your screen (minimum 800 x 600 pixel), you should be able to see 2 closely connected pictures showing Naxos town seen from the hight by the gate.

Because of the fact that Naxos is such a large island with a lot of inhabitants, Naxos has extensive communication with the surrounding world. There is only one airport, but it has regular flights to Athens. The harbour is large with a lot of traffic, and this makes the island easy to reach and a perfect junction, especially if one's aim is the little Cyclades, just to the south of Naxos.

The Old town, Kastró, is a 13th century Venetian fortress. It's situated at the very top of the hight on which Naxos town is built. Naturally, a solid town wall has been built, surrounding the fortress. From this wall outward, the town was constructed with streets in a labyrinth-like way. This method of building made it possible for the town to withstand the Turkish conquest in the year 1566. It's both difficult and exciting to wander the streets outside the town wall. This is because it's hard to find one's way around. Most of the streets are very narrow and there are many small passageways where you really have to bend down to get through. This is why it's exciting both for children and adults to see wether or not they can actually find their way through. At times, it can be very hard to know one's whereabouts. We don't know if we dare believe the story we have been told about tourists who have been forced to sleep outdoors because they have not been able to find their way back to the room they have rented somewhere in the most narrow streets.

Naxos fortress, Kastró, seen from the outside.

When walking the streets of the town, one can find that many of the buildings still have Venetian coats of arms above the front door. Here, as in most greek towns, many people stake their honour in having beautiful flowers and plants in front of and around their houses. This never ceases to fascinate us and more than once it is surprising how beautiful some people are able to make their surroundings. This combination of white houses and flowers, that are in great contrast to each other, is a sight that simply has to be seen.

One of the many charming town streets.

There are many taverns down by the harbour. This is also where you can find most of the services we, as tourists, appreciate , such as banks ( there are also cash-dispencers), travel agencies and also car-rental companies.

Here we are being offered Metaxa or Ouzo, by choice, as thanks for dining at her tavern down at the harbour in Naxos town.

 

Anne Grete and Jan ( yours truly) 1996.

 

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Thanks to Helle K. F. Olsen, Norway for her translation into English!
© Jan Bergtun, 13 April 2000	Updated, 07.04.2007
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