Our tour starts by reaching the fertile plains of western Naxos, between reeds and neatly cultivated plots, where a temple fittingly dedicated to the goddess of agriculture, Demeter lies. We will visit Demeter’s sanctuary and “Giroulas museum”.

Driving to the north we arrive at Halki, a village situated in a fertile plateau, adorned with beautiful neoclassical mansions. 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. We stroll around and visit the distillery that first made the –today– iconic liqueur “Kitron”, Vallindas Distillery. We get to know everything about the production (tree, fruit distillation methods) and the consumption (taste tasting) of one of the three PDO liqueurs in the country.

In the heart of Kaloxylos near the church of the “Holy Trinity”, visitors have the opportunity to rediscover the past, enjoying collections of farming implements, household utensils, stamps, coins and school memorabilia, lovingly displayed in the folklore museum, founded by Florios Horianopoulos. In this elegant neoclassical building, we can discover the only rope making workshop of 1920 still existing on Naxos, as well as the village grocery emporium, dating back to 1935. Take a trip back in time and marvel the rare collections of a bygone age. It is a museum which’s excellence is recognized by UNESCO. Rest assured that this place will be worth visiting!

The next location we visit is the picturesque mountain village of Apiranthos. The marble-paved alleys, the majestic view, the distinct traditions and the rich culture are only a few of the charms that will make you fall in love with this jewel of a village. Amphitheatrically built at the slopes of Mount Fanari, it boasts magnificent views of the Naxian mountains. This is no ordinary village, it is uniquely expressed in its awareness of history from several angles. It is a village perfect for walking around and taking pictures.

Our last  stop driving through an asphalted, winding, downhill road from Apeiranthos is Moutsouna, the largest of all settlements on Naxos’s eastern coast. It is adjacent to the island’s only natural harbor with fish tavernas lined along the beach. The old emery works cable installations are still present, creating a throwback to the 50’s. The emery came via these installations to the sea to be loaded onto ships from the mines of Koronos up until the 1970’s.  Time to taste unique traditional food and “mezedes” with sea view.