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Naxos Villages - Agios Arsenios Village |
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Ag. Arsenios
On the plain land of Livadia, 7 km from the town, between the mountains of Galanado and the sea you with find the village of Agersani.
With its typical, traditional, white washed small houses, its old churches, medieval tower of
Ag. Nikolaos and the monastery of Ag. Giannis, it truly makes the area of Livadia outstanding.
The saying goes that the village took its name from the nearby small church of Ag. Arsenios.
There are also indications which say that the village was originally located in the area of Stelida.
Following invasions from pirates the inhabitants residing in the original village were forced to move to the current location which is safer as it is hidden and protected from sea invaders.
In actual fact, there are some traces of old remains of living quarters in Stelida and Yria which prove that the village initially could have been spread over these two areas. This was common with a lot of sea side settlements in our country during this era, that were dominated by corsairs in the Aegean Sea, and the poor people moved inland to a safer location.
According to the dictionary “Papyros”, the word “Ag. Arsenios”, (p. 169), is being described as follows; “Village of same name as the Community, of Province and island of Naxos as well as County of Cyclades with 959 inhabitants and 40 m of altitude.”
The older report which can be found in the document by “Doukas Krispous”,1435 – 1538, in the script of Notarius Pantaleontos Miniatis. The Village is also mentioned with the name “Agersani” in “Harta of Greece” written by Rigas (Feraios).
In the vital statistic records and in the Community registry files, the name of the village was referred to Agiarseni in 1889, Agiersani (1891-1940), Agersani from 1984 and until the end of the decade. From then until now the Village is called Ag. Arsenios.
The Village is separated into two big settlements by a river bed which derives from the mountains of Tripodes. The two settlements are connected by a bridge and are called “Upper” and “Lower” Village (Pano & Kato Horio). These two parts consist of a number of “neighbours”: Akakia , Eureti , Kouloukas , Alonaki , Sgompa , Pantotino Koulouridos , Louka , Kouli , Paliampelo , Arakopoula Pera Horio.
The “Paliampelo” appears to be the initial “neighbour” in the Village which consisted of similar and same size houses, situated very close to the medieval tower of Ag. Nikolaos with its beautiful pigeon lofts.
The Village was irrigated by communal and private wells (Euretis, Sgompas, Paliampelou, Mpardatzani, Nio ( Neo ) Pigadi, Pi(g)adaki).
Wells could also be found in the countryside such as the one in Agrilia with its granite watering hole, the one in Bilas with marble columns from Yria, in Kananeas, in Kordolemos where one of the three lamps from the beach of Ag. Nikolaos can be found, (previously the temple of Yria), in Ag. Anna, in Ag. Nikolaos by the beach and the well of Na.
At the location of Ellinika (a hill on the south side of the Village) there are ruins of an ancient fortress from the era of Homer. In the area of Petradia there is an ancient settlement.
The Village also has very charming chapels.
» For example the Byzantine Ag. Giorgis of Yria which is constructed by material taken from the ancient temple of Dionysos.
Another example is the Byzantine Ag. Yiannis Theologos in Saloukos area which is also constructed by materials taken from an archaeological site, the same applies to the chapel of Ag. Pantes close to Petradia where ancient columns are scattered around.
» The chapel Ag. Nikolaos ( Panagia Agerssaniotissa ) which is from the post Byzantine era with a wooden sculpture temple inside and invaluable icons (where one particular icon is unique and depicts the symbol of the family that owned the chapel, also known as tower and it is placed on the south side of the chapel). With this special collection of artifacts, it could be considered a museum.
» Panagia Arfani (its icons were created by Polikretis).
» Ag. Nikolaos of Gialos (beach)
» Ag. Prokopios
» Ag. Anna
» The monastery of Ag. Giannis (Timios Prodromos) with invaluable heirlooms.
» And finally the most recent are Ag. Efraim, Ag. Rafael, Kato Panagia.
» The church of Panagia in Taliani is no longer in use and left derelict, as archaeologists prohibited its reconstruction.
» The Parish church is Ag. Spyridonas, which is located in Kato Horio.
While visiting the Village and surrounding areas it is highly recommended not to miss the areas of Katzilierides, the Tsigoures, the Paniolos, the Korakies, the hill of Gorgiri, the hill of Giamaroulis as they display an outstanding natural scenery. In some of the above areas you will find granite rocks where nature has engraved pictures of animals, birds etc.
In Katzilierides the quarry of granite is clearly visible and it is from here where the stone was taken to build the tower of Plaka or Pagona.
The wetland of Aliki and Xekolaria (lakes of Ag. Prokopios) are unique in the Aegean Sea. Flamingos, pelicans, ducks and swans come to rest during the mild winters when the weather here is calm.
Two old windmills are located on the hill of Stroumpoulas and two new ones in the village which are used as houses.
Initially the villagers were occupied with fishing and breeding of animals. Women were excellent at weaving.
Later they were producing salt from the lake of Aliki, which was transported by donkeys to store rooms of Elliniko Monopolio in Hora. In the southernmost section of the wetland of Aliki a fishery was created –Taliani – from which they fished snappers, eels and scallops.
Some time later the cultivation of potatoes became their main occupation. The flavour of the Naxian potatoes soon became and still is very popular all over Greece because of the potassium found in the land of Ag. Arsenios. Furthermore a business selling potato seedlings was established by the villagers and certified by the European Union. The seedlings are still collected and packaged in the factory of Trana Prevolia.
In the area of Afetzia, close to the church of Ag. Arsenios, started the production of Naxian Graviera cheese and which today is produced in the modern dairy of Union Agricultural Association of Naxos located nearby the monastery of Ag. Giannis. The above has also been certified by the European Union.
In Ag. Anna you will find the picturesque port which still today accommodates fishing and smaller tourist boats.
The Village has a modern equipped primary school, a kinder garden school, a library, a doctor’s office, Communal office, store rooms, offices of the Agriculture Association, a Farming Club, a community centre and a football pitch.
The football team of the Village managed to reach the third level of the football league in Greece.
Two cultural associations keep the habits & customs of the Village alive:
- The Association of Ag. Arsenios of Naxos which is based in Athens and with a local committee in the Village (established 1956)
- The current, local, Ecological Association of Ag. Arsenios, which is based in the Village.
Inhabitants of Ag. Arsenios, as they have always been progressive, they created trade unions for the salt workers and for the boatmen in Ag. Anna who loaded the potato seedling harvest onto commercial boats.
Today there is an Association for Fishermen of Ag. Anna, the Association of Parents & Guardians of the school, the Agricultural Association and now the newly established Tourist Business Association of Ag.Arsenios, Naxos which is aimed mainly towards tourism. Its creation was vital as 70% of the inhabitants of Ag. Arsenios are currently occupied with tourism.
The beach of Ag. Prokopios, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean Sea with the unique red coloured lakes located nearby the golden sand, tends to be the most popular beach in our country. Ag. Prokopios was the old port of Naxos where Turkish and pirate boats arrived.
Ag. Anna is one of the most popular summer resorts of Naxos and it is located on the west side of the island, south of Hora. It has a wonderful sandy beach with crystal water which is ideal for water sports and swimming, is well organized and offers all tourist amenities needed. The picturesque small harbour is its central point that accommodates fishing and tourist boats. It is also from here that organised cruises to neighbouring islands commence. Enjoy your food and drink here overlooking the island of Paros and the blue and endless Aegean Sea.
In the peaceful bay of Ag. Nikolaos and next to the forest of cedars, the local fishermen moor their fishing boats and of course the smell of fish soup is everywhere!
South of Ag. Anna and Ag. Prokopios you will find the sea side settlements of Maragas and Plaka, where you can relax on the long and vast beach with its white sand. You will find all tourist amenities here but if you prefer, there are also quiet and peaceful areas without sun beds and umbrellas. Along the beach there are tavernas, ouzeris and restaurants with local and international cuisines.
Modern small and large tourist establishments cover the whole seaside area of Ag. Arsenios, starting from Stelida of Ag. Prokopios via Agia Anna and finally to Maragas and Plaka, and they are 90% privately owned. The owners, that are inhabitants of Ag. Arsenios, work enthusiastically to satisfy and meet the need of their visitors.
The visitors of these areas will certainly return home with sweet memories and vivid images of an ever changing landscape and unique colours.
The beauty & charm of our area are awaiting you! |
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