Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
French Commercial School; opened by Jesuits in 1627 for Catholic and Orthodox
students alike, its pupils included, briefly, writer Nikos Kazantzakis (see p.449).
The Venetian Museum
Daily 10am-3pm & 7-10pm (to 11pm in July-Aug) • €3
A mansion next to the Traní Pórta, the
Venetian Museum
(Domus Della-Rocca-
Barozzi), is open to the public and offers the best views from the kástro, with concerts
(see box, p.412); the guided tour includes a tasting from the family's wine cellar.
6
The Archeological Museum
Tues-Sun 8.30am-2.30pm • €3
The French Commercial School building now houses an excellent
archeological
museum
, which includes an important collection of Early Cycladic figurines (note how
most of the throats were cut in some kind of ritual), Archaic and Classical sculpture,
pottery dating from Neolithic to Roman times, as well as obsidian knives and
spectacular gold rosettes. Sadly, labelling is mostly in Greek. On the terrace, a
Hellenistic period mosaic floor shows a Nereid (sea nymph) astride a bull surrounded
by deer and peacocks.
Mitropóleos Museum
Tues-Sun 8.30am-3pm • Free
In front of the Orthodox cathedral, the
Mitropóleos Museum
has walkways over a
recently excavated tumulus cemetery from the Mycenaean era - thirteenth to eleventh
century BC - with funerary remnants including a
hermax
, a pile of the stones that
were traditionally thrown behind on leaving a cemetery. In the general area, items
dating from the early Cycladic period (3200 BC) right through to late Roman (300
AD) have been found.
Town beaches
Grótta
, just to the northeast of the town, is the easiest beach to reach. It's not ideal for
swimming but snorkellers can see the remains of submerged Mycenaean buildings. The
other town beach,
Áyios Yeóryios
, is an improvement: a long sandy bay fringed by the
town's southern accommodation area, within ten minutes' walking distance from Platía
Evripéous.
ACCOMMODATION
NÁXOS
Apollon
Fontana
T
22850 22468,
W
apollonhotel
-naxos.gr.
Comfortable, modern doubles, all with
balconies, in a quiet spot near the Mitropóleos Museum
(see above) and convenient for t
he po
rt, the nightlife and
Grótta beach. Breakfast included.
€60
Despina's Rooms
Boúrgo
T
22850 22356.
Hidden (but
well signposted) beneath the castle; you'll need to climb
some distance to reach it. The rooms are small but clean
and airy, some with shared bathroom, and balconies with
sea view
s. Th
e owner organizes boat trips to the Lesser
Cyclades.
€35
Ì
Grotta
Grótta
T
22850 22215,
W
hotelgrotta.gr.
Welcoming hotel in a good location, with fabulous sunset
views. Offers comfortable rooms, an indoor jacuzzi, a
fantastic breakfast (included) with pies cooked fresh
dail
y,
free pickups plus free wi-fi and cable internet access.
€75
Naxos Camping
Áyios Yeóryios
W
naxos-camping.gr.
At the southern end of Áyios
Yeóryios - but close to the highway - this is the cheapest
option for those who want to combine the beach with
nightlife. They
al
so offer
woo
den cabins for two. June-
Sept. Camping
€7
, cabins
€30
Nissaki Beach
Áyios Yeóryios
T
22850 25710,
W
nissaki-beach.com.
One of the most luxurious options
on the island, oozing minimalist but comfortable Cycladic
elegance. If the palm trees around the pool area don't
tempt you, then the boundless views to t
he Ae
gean surely
will. Buffet breakfast included. April-Oct.
€240
Porto Naxos
Áyios Yeóryios
T
22850 25710,
W
porto
-naxos.gr.
If you have your own transport, this five-star
hotel with parking space, a swimming pool and a tennis
court by the Náxos circular road - but only 200m from the
beach -
is h
ighly recommended. Breakfast included.
April-Oct.
€90
T
22850 23500,
