Walking in Paradise (Melanes – Potamia)
This is a long and widely varied route, crossing the water-plentiful central part of Naxos..
The trail starts by passing through the picturesque Kourounochori, situated on the hill slope across the valley, with the imposing Sommaripa/Fragopoulos tower house – one of the oldest on the island.The route meet on the narrow walkway connecting Kourounochori and Myli – which you reach after going past some imposing watermills at an idyllic location.The trail follows an elliptical course, below the installations of the ancient aqueduct, which can be visited, and ends at Flerio.There, by the water springs we visit the half-finished, giant, 6th century BC statues of Kouroi in the area of the quarries. From Flerio, the trail initially goes uphill on a wide footpath towards Potamia. Along the route you will see threshing floors and lime furnaces in good condition.
A marble paved pathway leads to Ano (“Upper”) Potamia, with the water-plentiful ancient fountain. Potamia’s three settlements (Upper, Middle and Lower), with their impressively preserved traditional architectural profile, adorn the valley which is dotted with watermills, historic chapels and tower houses, threshing floors and olive presses. After Ano Potamia the trail forks out, with one leg going slightly uphill to Messi (“Middle”) Potamia, crossing the settlement and rejoining the second leg alongside the stream at the shady Platanaki position,with a traditional, stone-built laundry facility.
At Lierado position, a downhill detour will take you to Kokkos tower, rising above the gully.Finally we reach Kato (“Lower”) Potamia and we return to town.
The walking tour is on request basis
It includes trasportation and escort