At the centre of the island there are amazing places to visit, such as the village of Apiranthos, also known as the marble village.
Located at about 30 minutes from Chora, this village was built by the Cretans during the 10th century. As soon as you’ll reach its main road, a shiny white marble staircase will welcome you in all its grandeur and beauty! Let’s get lost in the alleys, enjoy the beauty of the buildings and the marble that makes them even more beautiful.
But the most interesting thing is that, in such a small, old mountain village there is space enough to house 6 museums, yes, you got it right: 6 small museums to visit.
Archaeological Museum: Cycladic figurines and vases, as well as the well known Korfi slabs, portraying scenes from everyday life.
Geological Museum: open since 1987, metals, minerals, marble objects, rocks from the Cyclades, fossils and the bones of the dwarf elephant that lived on the island in the late Pleistocene!
Natural History Museum: opened in 1996 it hosts an aquarium with a collection of shells and a section of mammal bones and fossils, as well as a small library. The goal of the museum is also that of researching and observing the island’s ecosystem.
Museum of figurative art: with works by local artists, paintings, sculptures and ceramics.
Museum of children’s culture: on display, creations from Naxos students.
Folklore Museum: to admire the typical Apiranthos house, with its fabrics, tools, furnishings.
In addition to the museums, we would also recommend you to visit some churches, such as that of Panagia Apirathotissas, considered one of the oldest on the island and enriched by beautiful icons, and those of Agios Ioannis Theologos, Panagia Theoskepasti and Agios Georgios.
As a last thing, visit the beautiful Zevgoli Tower, dating back to the 17th century, and built on a rock at the village entrance.
Please read our article about the Coastline of Naxos.
