The "Portara" is arguably the most recognisable sight on the island of Naxos.
This large marble gate (the only remaining part of a temple dedicated to Apollo, and built in the 6th Century BC) stands on a small island (which is connected to the main island) by the ferry port in Naxos Town.
As you approach the island by ferry, it is likely to be the first thing that you recognise.
The island upon which the Portara sits is very rocky and it is quite a steep climb up to the top. Thankfully, steps up to the Portara have been built to accommodate the hordes of tourists that venture up to see it.
If you stand "behind" the Portara (ie closest to the sea and furthest from the town), the Portara acts like a photo frame framing the view of Naxos Town.
Agios Prokopios Naxos This long stretch of golden sand on Naxos' west coast stretches for miles and is popular with families, backpackers and naturists alike. But due to its size, there's more than enough room for everyone.
Starting at Agios Prokopios, the beach stretches south to Agia Anna and becomes Plaka beach further down the coast.
At Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna there are tavernas and shops lining the beach and tourist facilities available, while further afield the beach becomes more remote with fewer facilities.
The sea is clear and the beach shelves gently into the sea, making it ideal for kids.
NAXOS FESTIVALS 2012
Below you can find the list of Festivals that took place in Bazeos Tower, in Chalki Tower.
12th NAXOS FESTIVAL July-August 2012
In 2012, a crucial year for the country’s economic recovery, we muster up all our energy and zest to present an artistic and educational program that ideally accentuates the cultural identity of the island of Naxos.
The growth and expansion of the Festival’s activities as well as its outreach to artists from abroad aim to emphasize the need for extroversion and creative reaction against the fear of economic decline and social collapse.
Bazeos Tower 28/7-2/9/2012
Duration: 28 July to 2 September 2012
Daily: 10:00–17:00
Opening: Saturday, 28 July, at 20:30
De-Meter-Ge (Terra Mater) is the title of a multidimensional visual arts exploration of the archetypal depictions of Goddess Demeter, specially created for Bazeos Tower by artists Miltos Pantelias and Irini Gonou. The exhibition evolves in a narrative manner, engaging in a dialogue with the natural environment of the Temple of Demeter – one of the most significant archaeological sites on the island neighboring Bazeos Tower – while at the same time it is broadened and acoustically enriched by the musical compositions of Elias Pantelias.
Curator-Organizer: MarioVazaios
Monday 30/7 – 21:30 – Bazeos Tower Days of the Light – unplugged Natassa Bofiliou, an extraordinary singer of the new generation, promises a magical atmosphere of utter sensitivity and musicality. She will perform beloved songs from her albums “One Hundred Little Breaths”, “Until the End”, “Three Secrets” and “Double Tickets”, as well as brand new songs from her latest album, “Days of the Light”, in a specially compiled program, based on the genuine emotions stirred by her personal singing interpretations. Instrumentation – Piano: Themis Karamouratidis – Cello: Aris Zervas - Violin: Dimitris Kouzis. Program supervision: Gerassimos Evangelatos.
Thursday 2/8 – 21:30 – Temple of Dionysus, Yria Modern dance under the full moon. SELENE - La lune et ses mysteres
A dance solo choreographed and performed by Janet Amato.
Music: Monique de Vivie
Costume: Danielle Menassol ÏÍ
A project about setting ÏÍ the journey from unit to unity. Two beings searching for the poetry of unification. Performed by Sinequanon modern dance company.
Beings: Popi Sfika and Dimitris Sotiriou
Music: Christos Pappas
In collaboration with the 21st Ephorate of Classical Antiquities.
Co-produced with NOPPAPPPA.
Admission free
Saturday 4/8 – 21:30 – Bazeos Tower Piano recital of Harald Ossberger and Christos Marantos in compositions for piano four hands by: W. A. Mozart, Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt, Herbert Lauermann and Periklis Liakakis.
Co-produced with NOPPAPPPA.
Admission free.
Under the auspices of the Austrian Embassy in Athens.
Wednesday 8/8 – 21:30 – Bazeos Tower Rainbows, Moons and Bicycles (RmB) Elli Paspala, together with jazz virtuoso Takis Farazis on the piano, stir the public’s emotions in the rhythms of songs by Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, Van Morrison, but also Manos Hadjidakis, Stavros Xarhakos, Stamatis Kraounakis, Panayotis Kalantzopoulos and other favorite creators.
Elli Paspala: vocals – Takis Farazis: piano
Friaday 10/8 – 21:00 – BazeosTower The woman of Patras by GiorgosChronas.
Bold, delusional, an explosive monologue, of a passionate pained woman who confesses her life and speaks openly and without fear of pain, violence, lust, love. A creature of exuberant singing, dancing, crying, laughing, angers, causes. An excellent performance that shocked audiences and critics excited.
Director: LenaKitsopoulou
Performed by HelenKokkidou (Karolos Koun Award for Performance)
Saturday 11/8 & Sunday 12/8 – 22:00 Notos Club, Palia Chora Kassandra Sergio Blanco’sKassandra unreels her Odyssey in red shiny boots. She recounts in broken English our own search for meaning and hope. War, power, winners and losers, sex, humor and sarcasm. Euripides and Bugs Bunny, Abba, Manchester United and Scarlett O’ Hara. The distances between myth and reality, actor and spectator, space and speech, fall apart.
A stand-up tragedy in simplified English!
Director: Despina Sarafidou – Evangelia Andritsanou
Performer: Despina Sarafidou
Costume supervisor: Loukia Minetou
Music supervisor: Vassilis Tsonoglou
Saturday 11/8 & Monday 13/8 – 20:00 –
Bazeos Tower
The Half-Cockerel
Puppet show for the Festival’s younger friends.
The story belongs to the category of folk amoralist fairy tales. The tale’s value does not lie in its moral but in the hope and certainty it transmits to children that even the smallest and humblest of people can indeed be successful in life.
Puppet handlers: Mirela Katsa, Mairivi Georgiadou, Filippos Fertis
Director, stage designer: Mairivi Georgiadou – Lighting, technical supervision: Ricardo Di Lauro - Music: Giorgos Pavlakos - Photographs: Tolis Mastrokalos
Friday 17/8 – 21:30 – Bazeos Tower Mediterranean Sound 2012
Ross Daly, Kelly Thoma and Vassilis Rakopoulos successfully bridge completely different musical elements and approaches. A few years ago, their collaboration produced an internationally acclaimed CD as well as several marvelous concerts in Greece and abroad. Joining them this summer is percussion virtuoso Aggelos Polyhroniou. Ross Daly - lyras / rabab Aggelos Polyhroniou - percussion instruments Kelly Thoma - Cretan lyra Vassilis Rakopoulos - classical guitar
Sunday 26/8 – 21:30 – Bazeos Tower Moving sounds Tara Bouman (clarinet, basset horn, bass clarinet) and Markus Stockhausen (trumpet, piccolo trumpet, flugelhorn) have been playing together in the duo MOVING SOUNDS since 2002. They play intuitive music, improvisations and compositions by both performers.
The duo prefers to perform in places that have special acoustics where the extraordinary sound of the brass and wind instruments unfolds best.
SEMINARS
International summer course:Intuitive music and more. A weekly cycle: August 26th to September 2nd.
With: Markus Stockhausen, Tara Bouman, Vassilis Rakopoulos
Participants concert on Sunday, September 2nd
Ursulines school – Chora Naxos http://users.sch.gr/fragiskou
Drama therapy seminar: - Commedia Dell’ Arte and the Dramatherapist (1&2/9)
With Anna Seymour, Drama Therapy Professor at Cambridge College.
Bazeos Tower – AEON Institute http://aeon-dramatherapy.gr
Á. Bazeos Tower, 17th century, in the inland of Naxos. 12th km of Chora Naxos -Agiassos road.
Â. Temple of Dionysus, at Yria, 3km from Hora. The archaeological site has been awarded the Europa Nostra prize for restoration and successful incorporation in the natural surroundings.
C. Notos Club, a historic venue, at the parallel backstreet of the Chora promenade.
Temple of Dionysus in Iria Only 3 km away from Chora, on the way to Ag. Arsenios village
Tickets for the Naxos Festival are available from:
•Bazeos Tower: 12th kilometer Chora Naxos-Agiassos road. Tel. 22850 31402
•Cafe Citron: Paralia of Chora. Tel. 22850 27055
•Distillery of Vallindras: Chalki. Tel. 22850 31220
Free admission to events of 2/8 & 4/8
Ticket prices for all other events: 15€ and 10€. General admission to the puppet show: 10 €.
Full moon today and Naxos is celebrating. From the villages located on the north Apiranthos up to Plaka Beach.
Beach Parties, Festivals and local music entertainment is taking place today on Naxos Island.
BEACH PARTY MIKRI VIGLA TODAY
DATE: AUGUST 3RD
LOCATION: MICRI VIGLA NAXOS ISLAND
ENTRANCE FREE
Saturday 11 August in Tripodes VIllage
at 9 a.m.
Enjoy traditinal sounds by local musicians
Beach Volley Naxos 2012
MILOSIA 2012
Location: PIRGAKI BEACH, TRAPEZAKI
Date: 4-5/0/2012
For participations call:
+30
6972 312216 & +30 6979 000468
Organized by "ZEUS" Cultural and Athletic Excibitions FILOTI NAXOS
Date: August 4th
Location : Galini Village Naxos Island
Agnadi Restaurant
Giorgos Zervakis, the singer from Crete is visiting Naxos to sing with his unique style of playing traditonal songs from Crete.
ANGELS STILL LIVE IN MEDITERANNEAN
DATE: AUGUST 3RD
LOCATION: At the school located near the port
Maria Anamaterou
Violin/Singing: Theologos Michelis
Guitar/Sazi: Giorgos Papas
Singing: Teo Lazarou - Tasos Poulios
Drusm: George Garavounis
Entrance: 9 euros
children free
Beach Party on Plaka Beach under the full moon. Since 30 years the beach party on Plaka Beach is organized with lots of dancing drinking under the full moon.
Location: Plaka beach - in front of Maragas Camping
Beach Party Plaka Naxos (Full Moon)
August 2nd
Yazoo Beach Bar Plaka Naxos
2nd August
Yazoo Beach Bar Plaka Naxos
2nd August
Grooving under the Full MOON
Dj set by Nikos Dimopoulos
(Groove Division / Visual Vibe Project
Date: Thursday 2nd august 2012
Location:Yazoo Beach bar - Plaka Beach Naxos
Full moon party is organized by "Fanaria" on Apiranthos, today August 2nd.
Apiranthos Naxos 2012 with FULL MOON
August 2nd 8:30 p.m
Archeological Museum
Violin, Laouto
Traditional Songs "Kotsakia
Moon in ancient times
Poems
Location: Panagia, Apiranthos Village Naxos Island
Date: August 2nd 8:30 p.m
This Saturday August 4th the Potatoe Festival 2012 will take place at the tourist region Agia Anna Beach , Naxos Island, just opposite of the Gas Station in Kapares area.
You may enjoy the traditional music and dancing and lovely cookings with potatoes. The entrance is free.
The Cultural organization of Tragaia invites you on August 5th at 21.00 in Chalki just under the small brdige in a Music Festival with "Puentes".
This lovely musical band "Puentes" will combine the music of 2 mediterranean music cultures.
Location: Chalki Naxos
Village entrance, under the little bridge
Time: 21.00
Entrance Fee: 10 euros
DEMETRIA 2012
29th July - 4th August
Sagri Naxos
MONDAY JULY 30TH 2012
7 p.m..: USEFUL TIPS: “Learning all you need to plant…” (SCHOOL)
8 p.m.. LECTURE: «The destruction of olive trees and grapes. How to save them» (Äçìïôéêü Ó÷ïëåßï)
9 p.m..: Lecture: «Traditional Local Products"
SATURDAY AUGUST 3RD 2012
7 p.m..: «How to make baskets»
9 p.m..: Tsampounotoumpaka (local music)
SCHEDULE DEMETRIA 2012 NAXOS
DAILY:
EXCHIBITION OF TRADITIONAL NAXOS PRODUCTS AND ARTWORK
Monday 30 JULY until FRIDAY AUGUST 4th: 7 p.m.. - 10 p.m..
PHOTO EXCHIBITION: «The other side of Naxos Island».
From 29th July - 4th August” 10:30 a.m. - 20:30 p.m.
PAINTING EXCHIBITION
From 29th July - 4th August” 7 p.m.. - 10 p.m.
EXCHIBITION OF TRADITIONAL NAXIAN OBJECTS.
From 29th July - 4th August” 7 p.m.. - 10 p.m..
SUNDAY JULY 29TH 2012
10:30 a.m.: GUIDE TO THE CHURCH MUSEUM IN SAGRI
11:00 a.m.: OPENING OF TRADITIONAL NAXOS PRODUCTS AND ARTWORK EXCHIBITION
9 p.m..: VIDEO SHOW "My ... Naxos"
Amateur videos from people who love Naxos Island
.
10:30 p.m..LIVE MUSIC with “ÐÁÉÄÅÓ ÁÓÌÁÔÙÍ”
TUESDAY JULY 31ST 2012
7 p.m..: «Learning the enviroment through games»
8 p.m..: Lecture on Agios Eleutherios Monastery on Naxos
9 p.m.: Guide to t Agios Eleutherios Monastery
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 1ST 2012
7 p.m..: «Cooking traditionally with local recipes, ingredients
9:30 p.m.. Lecture "Using the internet safely"
THURSDAY AUGUST 2ND 2012
10 a.m.: Walking tour from Agios Nicolaos to Giroula ( Demetras Temple"
7 p.m..: Old traditional games
FRIDAY AUGUST 3RD 2012
7 p.m.. : «Children producing story through painting»
8 p.m..:«Fairytales from old people
9 p.m..: Lecture " How to help children with learning difficulties
Sunday July 22nd 8 p.m.
Filoti Village
Tsampounotoumpaka in Filoti
4TH Meeting of the music artists of our island, playing bagpipes, and Toumpakia souvliari. (traditional local music instruments)
Come and enjoy forgotten sounds and taste traditional dairy products and wine. Your participation will give us great joy.
Organized by the Athletic Educational Association Filoti "The ZEUS"
Sinaxia, organizes ELAIA ARTS FESTIVAL from July 15th until August 4th in the village Kaloxilos.
The art festival ELAIA is organized fro the first time on Naxos Island . The exchibiltions and various demonstrations will be revealed gradually to the visitor while walking inside the village.
NAXOS FESTIVALS 2012
24/7 |21:00 FESTIVAL OPENING
24/7 – 4/8| 18:00 – 21:00| PAINTING EXCHIBITION,
ARTIST A. GIAMOURIS
24/7 – 4/8 |18:00 – 21:00| PHOTO EXCHIBITION
ARTIST D. GAVALAS
4/8 |21:00|MUSIC FESTIVAL PAVLOS PAVLIDIS & THE B-MOVIES
KINIDAROS DANCE FESTIVAL 2012
Free Dancing lessons will take place from the dancing and music teams that participate in KINIDAROS DANCE FESTIVAL 2012
Friday July 27th at 11:00:
Dancing lesson and theatrical games for children from "Saltator" team
Saturday July 28th at 12:00:
Traditional Naxian dancing lessons
Sunday July 29 th at 12:00: Drum Lessons
by Vasilis Vasilatos
For the first time this year, in cooperation with the dancilint team Saltator free modern dancing lessons at Motus Dance Studio in Naxos Town.
On July 28th & 29th at 17:00 three hour modern dancing lesson at Motus Dance Studios on Naxos Town.
For more info contact
Yiannis Karpontinis Tel:+30 6974 25 77 44
Naxos Festivals
During summer the Cultural Organization of the Municipality of Naxos organizes many
diverse events, the «Dionysia», offering visitors the chance to get to know the
different sides of life on the island. These events include concerts, painting,
photography and sculpture exhibitions, theater performances and many
more. The «Dionysia» culminate with a wine-feast. The Municipality
of Drymalia organises a series of events held in the mountain villages of Naxos.
The religious festivals are important events for the community;
a form of celebration has been handed down from generation to generation.
Festivals
These religious festivities are the continuations of ancient customs which
have thus survived to the present day. Once a year every village or
settlement celebrates its own patron saint’s day. After the church service,
the music begins and the celebrations involve feasting and dancing until
the early hours of the next day. In earlier times the festivals took place
in the open air, something which contributed to their special charm.
Nowadays the festivals often take place in the taverns which are
situated around the village square. Should you find yourselves at
a festival, you will almost certainly be swept along in the merriment
and find yourselves dancing. Don’t miss this rare opportunity!
The most important festivals during the summer months are:
20th May: Festival of Agios Thalaleos, in Agios Thalaleos 30th June: Festival of Agii Apostoli, in Melanes 7th July: Festival of Agia Kyriaki, in Potamia 8th July: Festival of Agios Prokopios in Agios Prokopis 14th July: Festival of Agios Nikodimos in Hora and Glinado 17th July: Festival of Agia Marina in Agidia and Koronos 25th July: Festival of Agia Anna in Agia Anna 27th July: Festival of Agios Panteleimon in Agersani 6th August: Festival of Christ the Saviour in Glinado, Damarionas and Kourounochori 15th August: Festival of Panagia (Holy Virgin) all over the island and particulary in Filoti 23th August: Festival of the Holy Virgin’s novena in Tripodes 29th August: Festival of Agios Ioannis in Apiranthos, Apollonas and Agersani 8th September: Festival of Theoskepasti in Komiaki and Potamia
11th Naxos Festival
You may book your tickets from Bazaios Tower, 12ï klm Town Agiassos Tel +30. 22850 31402
Naxos Tourist Information,port. Tel. 22850 25480 Cafe Citron, naxos town
Tel. 22850 22227 Vallindras , Chalki. Tel. 22850 31220
Jazz music by the famous German Markus Stockhausen and Greek music players:
George Kaloudis, Vasilis Rakopoulos, Takis Farazis.
Monday 1/8 - at 21:30
Piano Recital - Alexandra Papastefanou
Enjoy music written by Mozart Schumann, Debussy Gulda, Kalogeras and Koukou.
Tuesday 2/8 - at 21:30
One night with the writter Alexandros Isaris. (music - books - video presentation)
Thursday 4/8 - at 21:30
Jazz duo
Anders Lonne Gronseth, saxophone- David Skinner, piano.
Enjoy the Norwegian music players in a combination of the European traditional
classical music with American Jazz.
Sunday 7 êáé Monday 8/8 - at 21:30
"Ôï ÐáñôÜëé "
A man who used to wear women clothes and to survive. A beautiful performance
by Theodoros Gregoriadis.
Festival of Athens production in cooperation with Naxos Festival and
DIPETHE KAVALAS Check out the latest news on Naxos
Thursday 11/8 - at 20:00
Ãéáôß öõóÜåé ï Üíåìïò;
Muppet Show with live music, songs based on a fairytale of Lefkada island.
Organized by FTOU KSELEYTHERIA team
Saturday 13/8 - at 21:30 –
Music Festival with full moon in Dionisos Temple - Iria
"CITY VOICES"
Mania Papadimitriou - Kostas Vombolos singing for real and virtual cities
Tuesday 16/8 - at 21:30
Maran Atha
Giasemi Kelaidoni performing based on the book written
by Thomas Psirras "Maran Atha"
Friday 19/8 - at 21:30
CamilleClaudel: "ôï êýìá ôçò ôñÝëáò"
All festivals will take place in Bazaios Tower, apart from the
music festival that will take place on Saturday 13/8 that will
take place in Dionisos Temple in Iria archaological site.
Ticket Cost for all festivals
20 € and 15 € (student). The muppet show that will take place on 11/8 will cost 10 €.
You may book your tickets from
Bazaios Tower, 12ï klm Town Agiassos Tel +30. 22850 31402
Naxos Tourist Information,port. Tel. 22850 25480
Cafe Citron, naxos town Tel. 22850 22227
Vallindras , Chalki. Tel. 22850 31220
As you may already know naxos is the birthplace of the god Dionysus.
From the very first Saturday of Carnival, the celebration begins with the
slaughter of pigs and other events.
At noon on the last Sunday in Apiranthos "koudounatoi" make their
appearence. They wear hooded cloaks and go around the village
making noise and the indecent expressions. Hold "stove" wood be
parallel with the Dionysian phallus.
Mixed with them the "old man", the "Old Woman" and "Bear."
On Halloween events "Koudounati" one can see the 'Marriage
of the Bride, "" Death ", the" Resurrection of the Dead "
Shrove Monday in communities Potamia, Kaloxiloso, Livadia,
etc. residents are dressed "Kordelati" or "Leventes" .
The second name, "Leventes" attributed to pirates.
They follow the robbers, the "Spararatoroi, who grab
the girls to put in force in the dancing and celebrations being held up to morning.
