Location
At the South West part of Naxos Island lays the cape of Mikri Vigla. Sandy beaches, crystal clear sea waters and a cedar tree forest conclude the scenery of one of the most charming beaches in Greece. Mikri Vigla is located 17 Km from the harbor of Chora (Naxos town) and 19 Km from the airport if you choose the main road that goes through the mainland. There is also an alternative route 8 Km long from Naxos town, through the airport road, almost across the coastline of Naxos Island but only half route is on asphalt road at the moment.
Take a look at the map and plan a tour around the island !
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History
Naxos carries a great past through time since ancient Greece. The exquisite marbles, the emery mines, the fertile land, the geographic location in Aegean Sea and the invention of pottery and object shaping are only some of the reasons that made Naxos an island of great importance and the mother of Cycladic civilization, maybe the oldest civilization in Europe. Mikri Vigla had a great role as well, due to its geographic location and natural landscape. The area was named after the observatory (Mikri Vigla= small watchtower) at the top of the cape that was used to control the sea horizon between Naxos and Paros in order to protect the island from enemies and watch the ships of the Aegean Sea trading route from Crete to Thrace and Athens. Historical documents refer to an ancient village next to the cape that was producing pottery and ceramic products, dairy and farming of sheep and goats. The South bay of the cape was used as a natural harbor for the fishermen and bigger ships, due to the protection that offers from the wind. The myth says that in the Middle Age, for some time, the Southern Bay was the hideout and residence of some legendary pirates who were using the isle of Parthena on the North Bay to ambush the trading ships. About the isle of Parthena it is said to be, by some archaeologists, the ancient coast line due to the remains of marble walls underwater. The explosion of the volcano of Santorini and the earthquake redefined the landscape and geography of Mikri Vigla and Naxos Island. The previous century the whole valley of Mikri Vigla belonged to a local feudal Lord and some parts to the church. In the modern times the area is separated in hundreds little farms with country houses, residences, and a few hotels, restaurants and traditional hostels, studios and apartments.
Culture
Mikri Vigla is a cape that is continued in a fertile valley of high agricultural value for the locals and for the island of Naxos in general. Through time, the land was always used to produce different kinds of goods for the farmers. The last years the farmers have focus on the organic cultivation of potatoes, tomatoes and other vegetables that supply mostly the local market. Potatoes are one of the many goods that Naxos exports and that’s due to the excellent quality and taste of the islands’ production. Grapes also, have always been one of the local’s favorite plants. Almost every house in Mikri Vigla has a small wine yard next to the garden which reveals the love of the Naxian people for grapes and of course for wine that accompanies every occasion of their lives. Every September the locals collect the juicy fruit and produce their own homemade wine for the year ahead. On the South side of the cape lays the lake of Mikri Vigla right next to the sea. The lake was used for salt production until the last century giving life to the commercial world of Naxos. Along with the wine yards and the fields of potatoes are the farms with goats, sheep and cows that in the old days used to give a great production of dairy and meat to the habitants but now days only a few farmers are left in the area that continue the farming with the traditional methods. The main dairy units and meat stock farming belong to the mainland of Naxos that are also exported all over Greece.
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Mikri VIgla Webcam
View: Live Webcam of Naxos Mikri Vigla beach
