Temple of Demeter

Explore the wonders of Naxos island on this guided bus. Visit the valley of Gyroula and the marble quarries of Apollonas. Stop at the villages of Chalki, Apiranthos, and Damalas along the way. Start with a pickup from a variety of locations on Naxos and first travel to the green valley of Gyroula. You will visit the marble temple of the Goddess Demeter, one of the most important ancient monuments on the island. The next stop will be the tiny village of Damalas. Learn everything about the old procedures of olive oil production at a restored olive press museum. Afterward, visit a traditional workshop of a third-generation potter and know the secrets of his art dating back to ancient Greece. Continue to Chalki, an ancient commercial center and a place of beautiful Venetian architecture. You will have approximately 50’ free time to explore by yourselves. Don’t miss the oldest distillery of the island – Vallindras distillery - located right in the middle of the village, the sophisticated ceramic art galleries and the cozy shops with souvenirs and local products. Next, make a long stop (approx. 1,5 hours) at the famous village of Apiranthos located at the foot of Fanari mountain. Admire the beautiful views of Venetian Towers, marbled alleys, cozy tavernas, verandas, and traditional shops. Here, you will have free time for lunch – it is highly recommended to taste the local recipes of “rosto” and “kalogiros”. Driving past Koronos village and the famous emery mines, you will reach Apollonas. Get free time at the picturesque fishing village to go for a quick dip and enjoy a coffee or desert by the seaside. End your tour with a visit to the infamous “Kouros”, an unfinished marble Statue of 11 meters, lying in the same spot for more than 2500 years! Drive along the west coast, one of the most beautiful routes on the island with an amazing view of the ocean, and be returned to your pickup point.

Meet your guide at Naxos Bus Transfer Office, right outside Naxos Port and drive directly to your first stop, Demeter’s Temple. Admire the impressive restored sanctuary, take amazing pictures and visit the small on site museum. Next stop will be Chalki village, the old capital and commercial center of Naxos. Get free time (approx. 40’) to explore its colorful alleys, shop unique souvenirs, visit the distillery of “Vallindras” or just enjoy a coffee at one of its cozy cafes. In the all year-round lively village of Filoti, you will visit the main church and explore the interesting collection of the folklore museum, exhibited in an old traditional house. A short, yet overwhelming visit that allows you a sneak-peak in the local life of the villagers, understand their strong bonds with the church and experience their genuine hospitality by tasting two of their local products: cheese and raki. Continue driving through old olive groves and reach Panagia Drosiani, a church of unique architectural style devoted to Virgin Mary- considered among the oldest in the Balkans! Here you will make a short stop to take pictures and if the church is open, also pay a quick visit to admire its unique frescoes. Outside Kinidaros village you will make a short stop by the road to photoshoot the contemporary marble quarries before you reach Flerio valley. Walk through its lush gardens and meet the Kouros Statue, one of the most striking examples of Naxian marble art. *On Tuesdays and on the 1st of May the Temple of Demeter is closed and instead you will visit a traditional pottery workshop in Damalas Village.

The first stop is Demeter temple, a spectacular recently restored ancient temple from 530 BC. Apart from the impressive monument, you'll have the chance to visit the archeological museum located in the same area, and to check out some findings from the site. Continue the tour to Damalas, a cute little village in the heart of Tragea Valley where you'll enjoy a demonstration at the only remaining traditional pottery workshop and the traditional restored olive press. Then drive to Chalkio, a neoclassical village where you can walk in picturesque alleys, visit the traditional citron distillery/museum, and have an espresso while taking in the classy atmosphere. Head then to the famous village of Naxos, Apiranthos, the “marble village," and stroll down marble cobbled streets and take loads of photos. Drive towards the north part of Naxos island to end up on the northeast edge in Apollonas, a small typical Cycladic village. Have a swim or just relax at one of the cafes by the sea. On the way back, stop by the impressive Kouros, a colossal unfinished statue from the 6th century BC, before returning to Chora, taking in gorgeous views along the way. On Mondays/Wednesdays/Thursdays/Fridays & Sundays lunch break is done at Apiranthos so there s 90' stop at Apiranthos and 45' break at Apollonas while on Saturdays it s the opposite as lunch break is done at Apollonas (90' break) and 45' break at Apiranthos.

Join a magnificent tour and cross the island’s inland, its northern part, and the west. Visit the restored Demeter’s temple in Sangri from circa 530 B.C. and the museum with local findings. Continue to the oldest Citron distillery of the Naxos, dating back to 1896, in Halki. There, take the chance to taste the local Citron drink. A visit to Apeiranthos will give you the chance to see the famous marble village and shop in local traditional shops. Next, as the bus heads north to Apollonas, your tour allows you to see the remnants of the old emery mines and their machinery. Discover the huge 10.5–meter tall Kouros Statue, often considered to be a personification of God Dionysus.

Dimitras Temple We start our Tour from Dimitras Temple in Sangri village. The temple is located 1.5 km south of Ano Sangri and was built around 430 BC. It is one of the first Ionic Temples and was built entirely by marbles from Naxos. Pottery Workshop(Damalas) Our next stop is the famous pottery workshop of Mr.Manolis Libertas in Damalas. Chalki Village We continue in Chalki where we will visit the Citrus Distillery Vallindras and then talk a walk around the picturesque and traditional village of Chalki. Kaloxylos Right next to Chalki village is Kaloxylos a really small but beautiful village. We will visit the old olive press museum that has just been renovated and we have an olive oil tasty. Apeiranthos Village The final stop for our tour will be Apeiranthos Village. Afterwards we will talk a walk in the marble alleys of the village.

Our first stop is the sacred temple of Demeter. This magnificent temple has been made exclusively of the finest quality Naxos marble and dates back to the 6th century BC. Continue our roadtrip to Damalas village where you can appreciate the laidback nature and visit a pottery workshop fifth generation which keeps the Greek pottery tradition alive. Then ascend to the charming village of Halki. Walk through its charming streets and discover a mixture of neoclassical buildings and traditional Cycladic architecture. In the heart of the village, lies a small distillery called Vallindras which mainly functions as a museum with kitron products (yellow drink from a fruit a bit less bitter than lemon) available for purchase and tasting. You can admire traditional items, machinery, and tools used for the distillation process. Next stop is a picturesque small village, Kaloxilos where you have the chance to visit Ergostasio olive press of Markos Vallindras. View tools and taste their oil production. Unravel the one of Naxos’s most popular villages, Apiranthos where you have time for stroll around and café or snack. After that stop, we are heading up to a spot, Stavros Keramotis, where you have the opportunity to admire Naxos beauty from west and east. Last stop is the remarkable statue of a Kouros which is located outside the village of Melanes, in the countryside of Naxos.The statue lays on the ground and it is 6 meters long and dates back to the 7th century.

First stop is Dionysos temple at Yria sanctuary , The ruins that survive today show that the temple was built approximately in the 6th century BC following the Ionian architectural style. In the 1st century BC, the Romans reconstructed it. During the 5th century AD, after the religion of the Olympian gods had failed, the temple converted to a Christian church.Adjacent to the monument lies a small room with findings from the site.(entrance fee 3€ pp ). Next stop is Demeter s temple , a spectacular recently restored ancient temple of 530 BC. Apart from the impressive monument ,you ll have the chance to visit the archeological museum located in the same area ,giving you the chance to see findings from the site.(entrance fee 4€ pp in cash only) Afterwards we ll have a 35min break at Chalki village ,where you ll have the chance to try citron liquor at the citron distillery ,try local honey or more,have a coffee break . Then we ll visit Kaloxylos village so as to stop at the Ergostasio Naxos for a delicious Olive Oil & olive products tasting.Whoever s interested ,there s the option of Kaloxylos folklore museum where visitors have the opportunity to rediscover the past, enjoying rare collections of farming implements, household utensils, stamps, coins and school memorabilia, lovingly displayed in the folklore museum.In this elegant neoclassical buiding, visitors can discover the only rope making workshop still existing in the Cyclades as well as the village grocery emporium, dating back to 1935. Last but not least is the stop is Panagia Drossiani ,the oldest Byzantine Church in the Balcan Peninsula with really unique frescoes.

Unravel the one of Naxos’s oldest remaining olive mills which is recently renovated, the Eggares Olive Press. View actual tools and equipment that were used in the space at that time. Visit and learn about the traditional methods of olive oil production from a brief presentation. Next stop is the remarkable statue of a Kouros which is located outside the village of Melanes, in the countryside of Naxos.The statue lays on the ground and it is 6 meters long and dates back to the 7th century. Then ascend to the charming village of Halki. Walk through its charming streets and discover a mixture of neoclassical buildings and traditional Cycladic architecture. In the heart of the village, lies a small distillery called Vallindras which mainly functions as a museum with kitron products (yellow drink from a fruit a bit less bitter than lemon) available for purchase and tasting. You can admire traditional items, machinery, and tools used for the distillation process. Continue our short roadtrip to Damalas village where you can appreciate the laidback nature and visit a pottery workshop fifth generation which keeps the Greek pottery tradition alive. Our last stop is the sacred temple of Demeter. This magnificent temple has been made exclusively of the finest quality Naxos marble and dates back to the 6th century BC.

We will start with this magnificent temple of Dimitra! We will continue to the beautiful colorful Chalki where we will taste the famous liqueur of Naxos, the citrus! The next stop we will make is in the small but so picturesque and beautiful village of Kaloxylos where we will taste some of the most aromatic and tasty oils in Greece! Right next to Chalki village is Kaloxylos a really small but beautiful village. We will visit the old olive press museum that has just been renovated in which we will also sit for a coffee/refreshment and a traditional homemade pie.c.cjwkaakmla And our last stop will be in the mountain village with marble streets, Apiranthos! we stop for our lunch in a traditional tavern!

Discover the myths embracing famed monuments, as well as the rare beauty of rural Naxos, ancient earth whose secrets come to life in mythical moments through storytelling and sensational taste sampling. You’ll learn about the lives –and quarrels – of the Gods and Goddesses of Olympus, fearless heroes such as Theseus, Odysseus’ tales and more. Our tour begins with a visit to the sanctuary of Dionysus -ancient god of wine, surrounded with olive, fig trees, and vines. Here, your expert guide will share with you the love story of Dionysus and Ariadne, the ecstatic dances of the female followers of Dionysus’, the harvest celebrations and the wine banquets held on site.We continue our journey of discovery enjoying a panoramic drive through the countryside, passing rocky slopes, green hills and plains to reach Dimitra’s sanctuary overlooking the fertile plains of Sangri. We marvel at the marble temple of the goddess and learn about the mysteries held in her honor as well as Persephone’s myth of the changing seasons. Continuing our drive to to Tragea plain, the largest olive grove of the island with hundred years old olive trees- precious gift of Athena, goddess of wisdom… to reach the small unspoiled village of Kaloxylos. Here we conclude our tour with time dedicated to the god of Hospitality – Xenios Zeus, savoring the islands precious goods - olive oil, cheese, wine and honey – gifts of the ancient gods.