Giardini Naxos between ancient urban history and a sheltered bay

Ancient history in tangible form

Giardini Naxos combines a sheltered bay with a particularly tangible connection to ancient history. The Archaeological Museum of Giardini Naxos is housed in a Bourbon fort at the entrance to the Archaeological Park. This combination of fortification, archaeological site, and maritime setting gives your stay a clear character: you can explore the history of Naxos while also experiencing the coast as an important part of the town.

The museum's collections consist largely of finds from more than fifty years of archaeological excavation campaigns at this site. The entrance rooms cover the prehistoric development phases of the site and the early period of the Greek colony. A tour through the ancient urban area begins at the Archaeological Museum of Naxos.

City plan, arsenal, and terracotta

Naxos was the first Greek colony in Sicily and was founded in 734 BC by colonists from the Aegean island of Naxos. The ancient city followed a regular urban plan, with streets crossing at right angles. This urban layout makes the historic site interesting even for travelers who are interested not only in individual buildings but also in the form of an ancient settlement.

Notable remains include the Neoria, the ancient arsenal of Naxos with slipways where boats were housed. Terracotta production is also part of the site's long history: Naxos is one of the archaeological sites on Sicily's eastern coast where the largest number of kilns for producing terracotta objects has been documented. The evidence ranges from the Archaic period through the late Roman and Byzantine eras to the present day.

Coast and historical markers

The bay of Giardini Naxos is protected by hills and opens onto a warm, clear stretch of sea. This coastal character adds a landscape dimension to the archaeological themes without reducing the town to a purely beach holiday destination. Another marker of local history stands in the Schisò district: the bronze statue “Nike di Kalkis” was created in 1965 by the sculptor Carmelo Mendola and installed there as a symbol of the town twinning between Giardini Naxos and Chalkis in the Cyclades.

Castello di Schisò is a medieval bastion that preserves the remains of civic and religious buildings from this period. The historical festival of San Pancrazio is also part of the religious and community calendar: on August 6, it includes a procession on the sea. If you would like to combine local history, religious traditions, and coastal scenery, Giardini Naxos offers different ways to do so.

Getting there and choosing where to stay

You can also take travel arrangements into account when planning your trip. Giardini Naxos can be reached from Catania-Fontanarossa Airport in a short time; the town is also accessible via the Messina–Catania railway line. A hotel in Giardini Naxos suits an itinerary in which cultural and scenic interests stand side by side.

More destinations for your travel planning: Canneto, Fondachello, Falcone, Terme Vigliatore, Rinella, Mongiove, Monforte San Giorgio, Capri Leone

For the overarching travel overview: Messina.