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Naxos, the largest and most fertile of the Cycladic islands, lies almost at the centre of the Aegean.

The island is first heard of in the myths and then mentioned throughout every period of history, though it was at the peak of its glory during the period of the Cycladic civilisation.

Naxos or Hora stands on a naturally amphitheatrical site on a hillside on the north - west side of the island and is one of the most attractive towns in the Cyclades. As the visitor walks from the harbour high up to the Venetian castle, he will be struck by the beauty of the narrow winding lanes and the old stone houses lining them.

Interesting monuments from various periods are to be found all over the town. They include fine Byzantine churches, the castle itself and traces of Mycenean buildings in the spot known as Grota. The Archaeological Museum of Naxos has some notable exhibits. An interesting museum is to be found at Apirathos, a village where a numberof strange customs and habits have survived.

Among churches of interest are those of Our Lady 'Protothroni' at Tragea and Our Lady 'Filotitissa' in the villafe of Filoti.

There are good swimming beaches at Agios Prokopios, Mikri Vigla, Kastraki, Alikos, Pirgaki, Apollonas, Psili Amos, Panormos and Paxia Amos.

The superb beaches of Naxos, its attractive villages and its wealth of monuments draw thousands of visitors to the island each year.

The good tourist amenities in Hora make it easy to tour the charms of the island.

Archaeological excavations have shown that these small and beautiful islands, were inhabited in prehistoric times.

In Iraklia, where there is a cave (Ai-Yanis) with superb stalactites, traces of the Cycladic civilisation have been found.

At the pretty harbour of Messaria on Shinoussa, there are ruins of medieval fortifications.

Koufonissia has a fine sandy beach at Finikia, where the water is crystal-clear, and further beaches with coarse sand. The remains of buildings from the Hellenistic and Roman periods have come to light.

Keros has yielded the remains of settlements from the Early Cycladic period, together with archaeological finds of the same date which are concidered among the finest anywhere in the Cyclades.

Donoussa, too, with its incomparable beaches, has traces of prehistoric habitation.

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