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The area

Ágios Dimítris

The Holiday homes Azalás belong to the small settlement of Ágios Dimítris, which is situated two kilometers (1.2 miles) north of Moutsoúna. Our establishment lies where the coastal plane ends and the hills reach to the sea.
On the second picture on can see the chapel of Ágios Dimítrios and the Holiday homes Azalás to the right of the small island in the center of the picture.
The coastal plain between Moutsoúna and Ágios Dimítris is cultivated mainly with wheat and barley that is used as pasture for sheep. In spring the fields are covered with wildflowers. Along the foot of the hills grow old, abandoned olive groves. Many former fields are overgrown with phrygana, i.e. low shrub vegetation. Here and there old stone houses can be seen were shepherds and farmers lived until around the middle of the last century. The low hills to the north of the settlement are covered with maquis shrubland and small woods of kermes oak and wild olive.
To the north and to the south of Ágios Dimítris two ravines with dry river bed are cut deep into the hills.
Walking along the coast to the north one meets several idyllic coves and bays with marvellous rock formations.

Moutsoúna

The cosy harbour village of Moutsoúna lies in two kilometers distance from the settlement of Ágios Dimítris (10 minutes by car or about half an hour on foot). In summer several tavernas are open in Moutsoúna where one can sit directly at the sea. A small, well-stocked minimarket provides all the groceries you may need. During school season there is a bus to the next larger village (Apíranthos) and to Naxos-Town.

In the last century the famous Naxian emery was shipped from Moutsoúna. You can still see remnants of the former cable car station for the transport of the emery and the old port facilities with the big cranes on the quay.
In between Azalás and Moutsoúna lies Cape Stavrós – a wonderful destination for a hike. On the south side of the cape, close to Moutsoúna, one can visit the amazing, well protected beach of Chochlakás.

Apíranthos

The next larger settlement, the traditional village of Apíranthos, lies in the mountains at a height of about 550 meters in 10 kilometers (6 miles) distance from Moutsoúna. In Apíranthos you can visit four small museums and stroll through the narrow alleyways of old traditional houses studded with many beautiful taverns and shops with local products.
Several marked hiking trails start in Apíranthos:
  • to the peak of mount Fanári, 900 m high, with a picturesque chapel and a breathtaking view over the island
  • through fields and forests to the chapel of Ágia Kyriakí with important medieval wallpaintings; the path continues to the emery mines and to Azalás an Moutsoúna
  • to the Monastery Fotodótis and the village of Danakós on the slopes of mighty Zas — with 1,000 meters the highest mountain of the Cyclades
  • around Mount Fanári, a marvellous hiking tour of five hours

Naxos-Town (Chóra)

The capital of Naxos “Chóra” has a charming Venetian quarter with small alleyways with many tiny shops and cafés. You can visit two archaeological museums and, situated on a small peninsula next to the harbor, the ruins of a temple of Apollon with its most impressive temple gate, the Portára.

The island

The island of Naxos bewitches mainly by its great diversity. Every valley, every mountain, every village has its own character and its own appeal.

Let’s embark on a voyage of discovery!

The diverse landscape of the island, from ancient cultivated areas over lush rivers to forbidding mountain peaks, barren hillsides and lonely coasts, offers many possibilities for beautiful hikes and excursions.

Every day you can dive into a different world!

All over the island you can visit interesting monuments, witnesses of long past times. The oldest buildings of the island are small settlements and strongholds from the Early Bronze Age, the Cycladic epoch, known mostly for its famous marble idols. Other important ancient monuments are a Mycenaean domed tomb, ruins of a large temple of Dionysus, a partly restored temple of Demeter, unfinished monumental marble statues, and a round tower from the Hellenistic epoch. In addition, the island has an exceptionally large number of important Byzantine churches, many with old wallpaintings (among them one of the oldest churches of the Balkans, Panagía Drosianí near the village of Moní). Finally in many villages you will find a fortified tower from the times of the Venetian rule.

Naxos has a lot to offer – immerse yourself into the fascinating island of Dionysus!

see also:

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Here you find pictures and descriptions of hikes and tours near Azalás and elsewhere on Naxos:

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