15 Miles of the Cutest Byzantine Churches of Naxos | Naxos

Naxos – Gravel Running

Ah, gravel roads—a runner’s delight. But sprinkle in some bougainvillea along those roads, and you’ve reached a whole new level of euphoria. Welcome to inland Naxos, the very soul of the island. For my long run, I swapped the breezy beachside views for the rich, aromatic heart of Naxos—a place redolent with the scents of cows, farms, and goats, winding through bamboo-thickened paths. And let me tell you, as you delve deeper into the island, Naxos reveals itself as a rugged, mountainous paradise, each turn offering a fresh slice of its untamed beauty.

Temple of Demeter (530 BC)

This is where the true charm of Naxos unveils itself. Imagine this: quaint villages with names like Aperanthos, which might just be the most picturesque village I’ve ever encountered, all built from gleaming white marble. Then there’s Halki and other hidden treasures, like the ancient Temple of Demeter, dating back to 530 BC.

Halki - where you find Kitron a citron liqueur made from the fruit and leaves of the citron tree.

One of the highlights of inland Naxos was the sheer abundance of olive trees. They’re everywhere. The only thing that rivals the olive trees in abundance—besides the white marble mountain mines—is the charming Byzantine churches. These tiny, blue-domed, whitewashed wonders dot the rolling hills, exuding a serene elegance that complements the island’s rugged beauty.

The Byzantine Churches of Naxos

Each church is a picture-perfect gem, its pristine white exterior gleaming under the Mediterranean sun. The smooth, weather-beaten stone walls contrast strikingly with the vivid blue domes, echoing the Aegean Sea and the endless sky. Simple yet graceful, these churches feature arched doorways and narrow stained-glass windows that cast a warm, inviting glow. And those modest bell towers? They chime softly, harmonizing with the island’s tranquil atmosphere. And come to think of it, this was the Church of the Long Run. Wouldn’t you want to keep running too? Until I realized at mile 11th that the humidity and the heat had caught up with me and my body had run out of electrolytes. It was a painful 4 more miles back to the hotel.