Filoxenia Studios

This is a very special place for special people. If you like charm, ambiance, quiet, a lovely view, a nearby beach, a good starting point for excursions and hikes, if you prefer village life over hectic tourist traps, this is the place for you. The landlord does his best to grant your every request (and he will shower you with goodies from his kitchen and garden as well). The apartments may not be up to the latest technical standards, but for the price, we were not complaining. The wifi worked quite well, too.

Having spent a number of Christmases and New Years in Athens, how about experience something different in the countryside on an island? Having known Vangelis for many years and spent time at his accommodation in Chora, we were in need of a retreat. You reach the Filoxenia after negotiating winding streets and putting your driving skills to the test. A car is definitely required. But it is worth the effort. Our room was big and great, centrally heated, and with a magnificent view of the valley and the mountains beyond. The interior decoration reveals the host's interest in Naxos history. Weather was not on our side but we had some breakfasts at the balcony and enjoyed the morning serenades of feathered friends. With warmer temperatures you can enjoy the garden and have a barbeque before sunset. Galini is a sleepy village at this time. There is a small coffee house, where friendly locals gather, but the opposite taverna had not yet opened. But in nearby Engares you find Stella's taverna with genuine Greek food. 2-4 dishes per day; well prepared and using products from their own farm. And Stella is a fantastic woman. You can do a lot of walking/driving in the surroundings. Be amazed by the varied production in the valley. Fruits, vegetables, sheep, chicken. So many small farms that supplement incomes by work in the capital. A nearby beach where you are probably fairly alone even in summer. Now, even a hardened Scandinavian like myself abstained from getting wet. Fresh is the word. Vangelis took us on a winding tour up the mountains to a small excavated church with a breathtaking view of the valley, surrounding mountains and the ocean. And there is always Chora some 6 km away if you are afraid of becoming a monk. Best of all, Galani makes you forget the noise, congestion, pollution and what not of major cities and reminds us where we all came from.

Naxos is a (thankfully) undiscovered gem of the Aegean. This wonderful home in the beautiful little village of Galini, an easy ride from Naxos port town, is a treat. The owner, Vangelis, puts his personal artistic touch on the interior and exterior (including samples of local food products). He is a sweet man who invited our 8-year-old son to pick apricots on his family farm nearby. Views of the gorgeous landscapes all around, including the marble quarries on top of a mountain.