The largest island in the Cyclades, Naxos, lies a good 30 kilometers south of Mykonos in the Aegean Sea. It is only separated from its western neighboring island of Paros by an approximately six-kilometre-wide strait. In the east, the shores are very steep, while the land towards the west merges into a large plain. A mountain ridge runs from north-northeast to south-southwest with Mount Zas (also known as Zeus or Oxia) roughly in the center. These are imposing, steep granite cliffs. The gorges are mostly strikingly green and the villages glow bright white in the sunlight. You should also look out for the ancient ruins on this island.
Naxos is inhabited by around 18,000 people. Many of them live in the port town of Naxos in the flat west of the island. This is where the ferries arrive and depart and where you can see the hustle and bustle of fishing boats and pleasure craft. Naxos is the seat or diocese of the Greek Orthodox bishop of Naxos-Paros.