Chalkio
Chalkio is an old settlement in the middle of the island, close to Filoti. They also call it Halki or Tragea, after the name of the valley it is located in. The distance from Naxos Town is approximately 16 km or 20 minutes drive.
Chalkio used to be old capital of Naxos and this is visible from its outlook - not the Cyclades style in white-blue but in the typical for Venetian architecture buildings. The houses in the center remind more of Corfu and the other islands where Venetian influence can still be felt, than of a Cycladic village. The pedestrian area around the square is small but charming for a walk, with a few alleys where cafes and restaurants places their tables. There you will also find plenty of shops for handmade goods, a weaving workshop and a kitron distillery which offers free tours and degustation of the specific kitron liqueur made only on Naxos.
Other places of interest in the village are the Gratsia-Barozzi tower dating back to 17 century and the Byzantine church of Agios Georgios Diasoritis. More old churches can be visited in the Rachi neighborhood, 1 km away from the center of Chalkio.
Photos
highlights: the old capital of the island, village in Naxos, Cyclades Islands, Greece