Page 475 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

THE GREEK ISLANDS  473

Náxos Town
Overlooking Náxos town’s
bustling harbor is the huge,
marble, 6th­century BC Portára
gateway, built as the entrance to
the unfinished Temple of Apollo.
To the south, Agios Geórgios is
the main tourist center. The old
town divides into the Kástro –
the 13th­century Venetian
fortifications – and the medieval
Boúrgos lower down. The fine
18th­century Orthodox
Terraces of whitewashed buildings in Firá, Santoríni cathedral, the Mitrópoli
Zoödóchou Pigís, stands in
Santoríni Around the Island Boúrgos, which also has a busy
* 15,500. k 5 km (3 miles) SE of Within easy reach of Firá, on the market area. In the Kástro, the
Firá. g Athiniós, 7.5 km (5 miles) headland of Mésa Vounó, the Archaeological Museum, in a
south of Firá. @ 50 m (160 ft) ruins of the Dorian town of former French Jesuit school, has
S of main square, Firá. Ancient Thíra are not to be one of the best collections of
missed. Most of the ruins date Cycladic marble figurines in the
Colonized by the Minoans in from the Ptolemies, who built Greek islands.
3000 BC, this volcanic island temples to the Egyptian gods
erupted in about 1630 BC, in the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. E Archaeological Museum
forming Santoríni’s distinct There are also Hellenistic and French Jesuit School. Tel 22850­22725.
crescent shape. A popular Roman remains. Below the Open 8:30am–3pm Tue–Sun.
tourist destination, it is a site are the popular beaches Closed main public hols. &
stunning island, as of Períssa and Kamári.
famous for its Another of the Cyclades’ Around the Island
ancient archaeological most inspiring archaeo­ South of Náxos town are
sites as for its logical sites, the Minoan many fine beaches, including
whitewashed villages, settlement of Akrotíri Agía Anna and Kastráki –
volcanic cliffs, and black was unearthed in 1967, the latter good for water sports
sand beaches. still preserved after some – and tranquil Pláka.
3,500 years of burial under Inland, the Tragaiá Valley is a
Firá volcanic ash. Some of the walkers’ paradise. It is dotted
Founded in the late frescoes discovered here with picturesque villages, such
18th century, Firá was are displayed in the as Chalkí, with its Venetian
destroyed by an A donkey ride in National Archaeological architecture. Nearby Ano Sagkrí,
earthquake in 1956 and Firá, Santoríni Museum in Athens (see a reconstructed Demeter
rebuilt with reinforced p452); others are in Firá’s temple, is the most interesting
concrete on top of the volcanic Museum of Prehistoric Thera. ancient monument on Náxos.
cliffs. Packed with hotels, bars,
and restaurants, its streets enjoy T Ancient Thira
magnificent views out to sea. 11 km (7 miles) SW of Firá. Tel 22860­
The tiny cruise­ship port of 23217. @ to Kamári. Open 8am–3pm
Skála Firón, 270 m (890 ft) Tue–Sun. Closed main public hols.
below, is connected to the
town by cable car or by mule
up 580 steps. Náxos
Among Firá’s most interesting * 12,500. k 2 km (1 mile) S of
sights are the Museum of Náxos town. g @ Harborfront,
Prehistoric Thera, housing Náxos town.
compelling finds from the
Ancient Akrotiri site, including The largest of the Cyclades,
vivid Minoan frescoes and a Náxos was a major center of
golden ibex figurine, and the the Cycladic civilization. The
Lignos Folklore Museum in Venetians, who arrived in the
Kondohóri suburb. 13th century, built many
fortifications that still stand on
E Museum of Prehistoric Thera the island today. The combin­
Mitropóleos St. Tel 22860­23217. ation of its history and superb
Open 8am–3pm daily (Nov–Mar: beaches make Náxos an ideal The Portára gateway that overlooks Náxos
Tue–Sun). Closed main public hols. & vacation destination. town’s harbor

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