Pyrgi is a medieval village on the island of Chios. It’s often called the Painted Village after the unique geometric designs, xystra, covering many buildings. This type of decoration is found nowhere else in the country. It may be of Italian origin, a cultural remnant of Genoese control of the island from the 14th to 16th centuries. Pyrgi is a fortified village, with narrow lanes and buildings connected to form impassable walls.
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Naxos is the largest of Greece’s Cyclades Islands. It’s an extremely fertile place, which is rare in a Greek island. Rugged mountains give way to green valleys in the interior. You can visit a different heavenly sandy beach every day for weeks! Restaurants serve the abundant locally sourced food – fresh produce, wine and cheese and olive oil and the famous Naxos potatoes.
Chora, Naxos, Greece
Portara, Naxos, Greece
Causeway, Naxos, Greece
Kastro, Chora, Naxos, Greece
CHORA
The main town is Chora, commonly called Naxos town, on the west coast. A string of sandy, white beaches stretches south from Chora.
The most iconic site in Chora is the Portara, an ancient portal that stands alone on the tiny island of Palatia like a doorway to an invisible realm. It’s a remnant of an unfinished temple of Apollo. A pedestrian causeway connects Naxos to Palatia and it’s a lovely spot from which to take in views of the whitewashed town across the water.
The Kastro is the Venetian castle that overlooks the town. Spend an afternoon lost in the narrow cobbled streets of the Medieval old town that wraps around the Kastro, full of charming old houses, shops and restaurants.
VILLAGES
Halki lies in the midst of ancient, but still very productive, olive groves in the center of the island. It was once the capital of Naxos and the main market town. An air of prestige still hangs over the place, with a wealth of lovely Neoclassical houses, Venetian towers and Byzantine churches. Don’t miss the impressive Panagia Church, the island’s oldest church and home to some nice frescos.
Moni
If you like old churches and frescos, you hit the jackpot on Naxos. Near the village of Moni, about 2.5km from Halki, you’ll find one of the oldest churches in Greece, Panagia Drosiani, with good frescos, some dating to the 7th century.
Panagia Drosiani, Naxos, Greece
Panagia Drosiani, Naxos, Greece
Sangri is about 12km southeast of Chora. This is another charming interior village but especially notable for windmills, an abundance of Byzantine churches and its close proximity to the Temple of Demeter, about 1.5km south of town. Also nearby is the 17th-century Monastery known as Bazeos Tower, about 2km to the east, which has been beautifully restored by the Bazeos family and now hosts cultural events throughout the summer.
Temple of Demeter, Naxos, Greece
Apeiranthos is about a 30 minute drive from Chora in the foothills of Mt. Zas (Zeus). It’s a sweet traditional village, known as the Marble Village because of the abundant use of marble in the streets and buildings. The lovely Panagia Apeiranthos, is one of the oldest churches on Naxos and houses some fine frescos. Wander aimlessly and enjoy the beautiful views, laid-back atmosphere and quirky local, Venetian-influenced architecture. Get a dose of culture at one (or all!) of the four small museums in Apeiranthos.
Apeiranthos, Naxos, Greece
MT. ZAS
At 1004m high, Mt. Zas is the highest peak in the Cyclades. According to legend, the god Zeus spent his childhood in a cave on this mountain hiding from his father Cronus, who intended to swallow him. Zas Cave can be reached by a 10 minute drive or a 30-40 minute hike from the village of Filoti. A roundtrip hike to the summit takes 3-5 hours. It’s not an easy hike and best tackled early in the day, before it’s too hot.
Cappadocia
Istanbul
Ephesus
Dalyan
Istanbul
This gorgeous tile work is inside the Topkapi Palace, the residence and governing hub of the Ottoman Empire from the middle 15th century until the Empire’s demise in the early 19th century. The palace sprawls along the waterfront of a peninsula in the heart of the city once known as Constantinople.1924, Topkapi Palace became a museum open to the public and is among the most visited sites in our mystery country.
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the National Museum of Oman, Muscat
The National Museum of Oman is a gleaming facility showcasing the culture and history of Oman. Some 5,000 artefacts, covering 2,000,000 years of human inhabitance are beautifully displayed in 14 airy galleries and labeled in Arabic and English (and Arabic Brail!) A clean, elegant design, both inside and out, spacious rooms and a soft palette create a very soothing atmosphere for a few hours submerged in the fullness of Oman. State-of-the-art Interactive displays, and video enhance the experience. It’s one of very few museums with “open storage,” which allows visitors access to items not currently on display. Conservation and restoration facilities are on-site, as well as a learning center open to kids of all ages.
The museum is centrally located in Muscat facing the Al-Alam Palace and adjacent to the Jalali and Mirani forts and the old city wall.
Kusadasi
Ephesus
Ephesus
Ephesus
Ephesus
The lovely blue dome and minaret pictured belong to the Al Lawati Mosque in Muscat, the capital city of our mystery country. The mosque is a landmark in the Mutrah district of the city along the waterfront promenade or corniche. The Hajar Mountains provide a dramatic backdrop.
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waiting room at the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital
Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital is the world’s largest falcon hospital and a world leader in falcon medicine. Since opening in 1999, it has treated over 55,000 falcons. The hospital also treats other kinds of birds, has expanded to include a clinic for pet cats and dogs and a shelter for strays and operates a trap-neuter-release program for feral cats and dogs. Continue reading
The Argentinian Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara was a hero of our mystery country’s revolution, which claimed victory on January 1, 1959. In this picture, Che watches over Revolution Square from the Ministry of the Interior in the capital city. Other government buildings are on or near the square. At 72,000 square meters, Revolution Square is one of the world’s largest city squares. Most of the city’s major public events take place here. Also memorialized in the square are Jose Marti, a leader of the fight for independence from Spain in the 19th century, and Camilo Cienfuegos, a leader of the revolution in the 1950s.
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