Giardini Naxos

Giardini Naxos is one of the most interesting seaside cities of the Eastern coast of Sicily.

Giardini Naxos was a Greek colony and was founded in 734 BC by the Calcidesi d’Eubea coming from a big island located in the Aegean Sea. The city prospered in the first decades of the fifth century BC, but was completely destroyed in 403 BC by Dionisio I, the violent tyrant of Syracuse. Dionisio I reduced the population of the city to slavery and gave the territory to the Sicilian populations that inhabited the surrounding area, punishing the city for taking the Athenian side during the conflict between Athens and Syracuse.

The village of Giardini Naxos is one of the most interesting seaside cities of the Eastern coast of Sicily and tourism is its main economic activity in fact every year the town hosts lots of tourists especially from Germany and France. The seafront offers a series of free beaches and fully equipped lidos, and tasting typical local restaurants. The beaches has gravel and golden sandy bays with crystal clear blue waters.

The most important monuments of the village are the Mother Church S.M. Raccomandata; the Church of Maria SS. Immacolata; the Church of S. Pancrazio; the Church Santo Annibale Maria di Francia; the Church of San Pantaleone built with a Roman style; the Church of San Giovanni; the Castle Schisò is a medieval fortress; the Archaeological park includes impressive findings dating back to the 7^th and 6^th century BC; the Alcantara Gorges – also known as Larderia Gorges – are located in the Alcantara Valley. These wonderful gorges offers a stunning natural canyon, created by the earthquakes that hit this area through time. The earthquakes broke the basaltic lakes that occupied the area letting the river’s water insinuate inside the cracks.

People live here:

9.430

Attractions:

Sagra del Pesce, (22-23/08) food festival

Kids Film Festival

Nasso Antica, (20-22/04) vintage forniture event

How to get there:

By Car:

From Messina

Get on A20/E90. Follow A18/E45 to Giardini Naxos. Take exit Giardini Naxos from A18/E45. Take Via Vittorio Emanuele to Via Pancrazio de Pasquale in Giardini Naxos.

Accommodations:

Atahotel Naxos Beach Hotel 4*

http://www.atahotels.it/naxos

Hilton Giardini Naxos Hotel 4*

http://www.hiltonhotels.it/italia/hilton-giardini-naxos/

Hotel Sabbie d’Oro 4*

http://www.hotelsabbiedoro.it/

Hotel Diamond Naxos-Taormina 5*

http://hotelsdiamond.it/it

Hotel Sporting Baia 4*

http://www.hotelsportingbaia.com/

Hellenia Yachting Hotel 4*