Naxos Villages II

A back road goes from Halki to the 3 Potamia villages, through which flows a year-round stream, with rock pools, waterfalls, fruit orchards, and a stunning ruined pyrgos (The Kokkos Tower) right by the stream that one can walk around in (with caution, as parts of the floors have caved in). There are a couple of tavernas in Ano Potamia, the uppermost of the three Potamia villages. The back road from Halki to Ano Potamia passes through a rather strange area of rocky boulders, and a possible hike leads amid them and up past the ruined Pano Kastro (High Castle). One can also get to Potamia and the Tragea valley by following the road east from Hora and not turning off anywhere. The villages of Melanes, Kouronohori, and Myli are over the hills to the north of Potamia, a popular hike with lovely views, and have high views of green terraces, though there has been abundant modern construction in Melanes. If you’re there during olive-pressing season (late autumn), you can visit the ‘liotrivi’ (oil-press) there.

From Halki, which is a big bus hub, with routes either back to Hora or up into the mountainous region of Naxos, one can go on to Filoti and Apiranthos, and from there to Koronos and Apollonas, or turn left to Moni and on a parallel road to Kornonos, passing the amazing village of |Keramoti on the way, though it sits a good mile or two down many switchbacks from the main ridge road. Between Halki and Filoti is the rather hidden, small village of Kaloxilos (Good Wood), which has a church with a large white dome, and some very lovely old streets.