Naxos

We picked the lovely Island of Naxos in the Cyclades to spend a week. As you approach Naxos by ferry you see the islands most famous landmark, a huge doorway of the Temple of Apollo.

Our hotel was at Agios Prokopis, 5 minutes walk to the beach. The beachfront was well equiped with cafe's, restaurants and all your shopping needs. A bus ran every 30 min(or so) to Naxos main town area(15-20min bus ride) and all the way down the coast. Our hotel had a big swimming pool which N spent hours in.

We hired a car for the day and travelled around the Island.
Baseous castle (near Ano Sagri) was built in 1671. It was the monastery of the Holy Cross until the beginning of the C19th.

A few minutes walk from Apollonas(town at the northern tip of the Island) is a C7th BC kouros (unfinished statue in situ in an ancient quarry)
Just past this castle at Agia we hit the dirt tracks down to a pebble beach that looked brilliant from the road way. We had the place to ourselves so we all had a skinny dip.

Marked on the Naxos map as Ipilis Tower is the castle of the Kokkos family from 1600(date on the internal chapel). Descendents now maintain the castle, one pictured.

Here are some of our beach shots
Kastraki
Ag.Anna
Ag. Prokopis at night

Octopus hanging out at the restaurants in Naxos harbour