Giardini Naxos – Archaeology, Bay and Greek History

Giardini Naxos is a place where early Greek history, archaeological discoveries and a bay protected by hills come together directly to form a diverse destination. If you would like to combine culture and the sea on your trip to Sicily, the town offers several clearly distinct points of interest: the Archaeological Museum, the ancient city area of Naxos, historic remains in the Schisò district and a bay that opens onto a warm, clear stretch of sea.

Archaeological Museum and the Beginnings of Naxos

The Archaeological Museum of Giardini Naxos is located in a Bourbon fort at the entrance to the Archaeological Park. This location alone connects the museum rooms with the archaeological site, without leaving the history of the place abstract. The collections consist largely of finds from more than fifty years of archaeological excavation campaigns at this site. As a result, you encounter here not only individual exhibits, but also the results of many years of research into this very site.

The museum's entrance rooms cover the prehistoric developmental phases of the site and the early period of the Greek colony. Naxos was the first Greek colony in Sicily and was founded in 734 BC by colonists from the Aegean island of Naxos. For families and other people travelling together, this provides an easily understandable introduction to the history: it begins with the site's early developmental phases and then leads into the period of Greek foundation. A tour of the ancient city area begins at the Archaeological Museum of Naxos.

The Ancient City Area and Its Distinctive Remains

The ancient city of Naxos followed a regular urban plan with streets crossing at right angles. This documented pattern makes the settlement structure visible as a subject in its own right. The focus is not only on individual ruins, but also on the system according to which the ancient city was laid out. This gives the tour a spatial dimension: you can explore the site's development through its urban structure.

Other notable remains include the Neoria. They were the ancient arsenal of Naxos and had slipways where boats were housed. This means that the site also points to the maritime side of the ancient settlement. The history of terracotta production is also particularly well documented in Naxos. Naxos is one of the sites on Sicily's east coast where the largest number of kilns for producing terracotta items has been documented. The evidence ranges from the Archaic period through the late Roman and Byzantine eras to the present day.

Bay, Traditions and the Schisò District

The Bay of Giardini Naxos is protected by hills and opens onto a warm, clear stretch of sea. This creates a landscape contrast to the town's archaeological themes. Depending on whether you focus on the museum and ancient city, maritime history or the bay, you can give your stay in Giardini Naxos a different emphasis.

The historic San Pancrazio festival provides a lively link between local history and tradition. On 6 August, it includes a procession on the sea. The Schisò district is also home to the bronze statue “Nike di Kalkis”. The sculptor Carmelo Mendola created it in 1965; it was installed there as a symbol of the twinning between Giardini Naxos and Chalkis in the Cyclades. Castello di Schisò is also located in Schisò: a medieval bastion that preserves the remains of civil and religious buildings from this period.

Accessibility and Choosing Where to Stay

There are two different reference points for getting there: Giardini Naxos can be reached quickly from Catania-Fontanarossa Airport and is also served by the Messina–Catania railway line. If you choose accommodation in Giardini Naxos, you can therefore take both transport connections and your preferred focus into account when planning the rest of your trip. The town offers a combination of archaeological history, maritime remains, festival tradition and a sheltered bay.

More Places to Consider in Sicily

If you would like to compare Giardini Naxos with other places, the same selection includes Rometta, Venetico, Fondachello, Villafranca Tirrena, Capo d'Orlando, Pianoconte and Faro Superiore.

For the higher-level travel overview: Messina.

More About the Destination

Relevant information for planning your trip:

Giardini Naxos: Planning a beach holiday near Taormina | Sizilien-Netz.