We visitied Naxos for a couple of days while transiting through the Greek Islands from the community garden workshop in Izmir, Turkey via Venice to Torri, near Ventimiglia where we were leading an ecovillage design course. Island hopping is far better than flying (and cheaper!).

Naxos is the biggest and greenest of the archipelago. It is rugged and beautiful. The blue of the sky and the Aegean were breathtaking in the clear intense light. Outside the main town and coast resorts, life seems to continue as it has for millenia.

Naxos town is filled with winding alleyways of whitewashed houses that lead up to the 13th century castle walls. The central Tragea region is filled with Arcadian olive groves and scattered with Byzantine churches. Sunsets from Agia Anna beach are spectacular. The landscape is filled with ancient terraces, reaching up the mountains and touching the sea. Most are now largely barren - but reminders of how productive these islands must once have been. You can astill find local produce - wine, olives, olive oil, cheese, but the main industry to speak of now is tourism.