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Fun Facts About Naxos

Fun & Mythical Facts About Naxos You (Probably) Didn't Know!

Naxos is more than beautiful beaches and whitewashed villages. From mythical legends to ancient secrets, here are 10 fascinating facts about the island that will make you see it in a whole new light!

•Greece's Oldest Olive Tree is Here

Naxos is home to the oldest surviving olive tree in Greece, estimated to be over 5,000 years old!Located in the village of Kaloxylos, this ancient tree has stood since the Bronze Age, making it one of the oldest in Europe. Imagine the stories it could tell!

•Zeus Grew Up on Naxos

According to mythology, Zeus, the king of the gods, was hidden in a cave on Naxos as a baby to protect him from his father, Cronus. You can still visit Zas Cave, high on Mount Zas (the highest peak in the Cyclades), where Zeus is said to have gained his strength before overthrowing the Titans.

•The Island of a Heartbroken Princess

Naxos is where Ariadne, daughter of King Minos, was abandoned by Theseus after helping him escape the Minotaur's labyrinth. But was she doomed to heartbreak? No! The god Dionysus, protector of wine and joy, found her and made her his immortal wife. Maybe that's why Naxos’ wine is some of the finest in Greece!

•Naxos Marble Built the Ancient World

Did you know that many of Ancient Greece's most famous statues and temples were made from Naxian marble? Even parts of the Parthenon in Athens used marble from here! Today, you can still see abandoned kouros statues, half-finished and forgotten in the island's marble quarries.

•A Church with Hidden Secrets

One of Greece's oldest Byzantine churches, Panagia Drosiani, sits tucked away in Naxos’ mountains.Built in the bth century, it holds a secret frescoes that were hidden for centuries to protect them from invaders. These incredible paintings were only rediscovered recently, offering a glimpse into early Christian art.Over 40 Villages, Some With Their Own Dialect Unlike many Cycladic islands, Naxos isn't just about the coast  it has more than 40 traditional villages!Some, like Apiranthos, even have a unique dialect that is different from modern Greek, preserving ancient linguistic roots.

•The Mysterious Portara That Leads to Nowhere

One of Naxos’ most famous landmarks, the Portara, was meant to be the entrance to a grand temple dedicated to Apollo but it was never completed.Today, it stands alone, facing directly toward Delos,Apollo's sacred island. Some believe it holds cosmic energy, making it a portal to another realm.