Villa Darius Greece

Sitting at the end of a gorgeous terrace of three villas, the fabulous Villa Darius offers five beautiful bedrooms, minimalist, stylish living space and wonderful outdoor space with a pool. It sits next door to our two-bedroom Villa Aithan which you could also consider booking to bring the grandparents along. Villa Darius enjoys a superb location, just a tiny walk from the beach in the Kastraki area of Naxos. You will wake every morning to sensational sunrises and later can watch the sky changing to vivid orange and pink colours. The stunning sandy beaches of Mikri Vigla, Kastraki and Parthena are just moments away and the lively Naxos Town is only 17 kilometres away.  Villa Darius has recently been completely renovated and boasts a wonderful blend of beautiful whitewashed Cycladic styling and modern amenities. The villa comes with lots of built-in furniture, all whitewashed curves that look super cool. There are built-in sofas, built-in beds, open wardrobes with shelves and hanging space for your holiday wardrobe and built-in bathrooms. This minimalist look is bright and beautiful. Along with the built-in bed bases come luxury mattresses, crisp cotton and beautiful soft furnishings to complete this pretty picture.  The island of Naxos is blessed with endless glorious sandy beaches, stunning green valleys, medieval towers, abandoned monasteries, characterful mountain villages and lush market gardens. You will discover amazing landscapes, fields full of sheep and goats, beautiful wildflowers, wonderful restaurants, plenty of historic buildings, wineries, villages untouched by time and friendly locals. With its giant Portara and colossal sculptures, Naxos is like an open-air museum, enjoying a very rich history. You will be treated to delicious cuisine including prized cheeses, Zamboni, cured pork, zovla which is braised goats meat with macaroni, the island’s famous walnut cake Melachrino and Kitron, a wonderful liqueur that is taken with pudding and cheese. The fertile Tragea Valley, in the heart of Naxos, is home to twelve delightful villages and more than thirty of the most important Byzantine churches in the Aegean. Mount Zas, the highest in the Cyclades, is named after the ruler of Olympus and offers wonderful hiking trails and fabulous views. Villa Darius is built over two levels with the ground floor being home to an open-plan living space, a separate laundry room, and two bedrooms of which one enjoys an ensuite bathroom and a separate family bathroom. Upstairs, you will discover three stunning bedrooms including the master. Sleeping ten guests, the villa is ideal for a large family, perhaps even two families or a group of friends. The ground floor living space boasts an excellent, gleaming white contemporary kitchen with grey work surfaces and stainless steel appliances that will definitely please the chef in your group. It is absolutely immaculate. A lovely wooden dining table, trendy Eames-styled chairs and bench seating are part of the kitchen area, a beautiful and sociable space. Around the corner is your smart living area. Here you will find a delightful built-in corner sofa arrangement with a sumptuous bench and scatter cushions, all in calm neutral tones. There is a television sitting on a built-in media unit and a chic coffee table. Double doors open directly to the terrace and outdoor space. The ground floor bedrooms are both doubles with built-in beds and open wardrobe space. One has an ensuite bathroom, again with built-in elements and guests using the other bedroom have use of the family bathroom.  The stylish master bedroom enjoys another built-in double bed, plenty of wardrobe space and a fabulous balcony overlooking the sea. The balcony comes with a small table and chairs and a built-in couch, pillows and a pergola, a gorgeous spot at any time of the day if you fancy escaping with your holiday book for a quiet read. It is also perfect for your morning cup of coffee and watching the glorious sunsets. The second bedroom, another wonderful double, enjoys access to the terrace adjacent to the master, again with superb, panoramic views. The final bedroom enjoys two single built-in beds, ideal for the children in your group. There is another family bathroom for guests with a walk-in shower.  The lower terrace is beautiful with a gorgeous shaded alfresco dining area and built-in sofa, a kitchenette with an outdoor bar fridge and a barbecue area where your barbecue masters can have a lot of fun. The pool is wonderful, perfect for a cooling dip and some family fun. An outdoor shower is also provided. The pool is surrounded by sun loungers. You can leave the villa through the gate at the end of the garden and be on the beach, mesmerised by the panoramic scenery in moments. The views from Villa Darius are absolutely wonderful. Villa Darius occupies a wonderful spot in the Kastraki area of Naxos looking out to sea, just south of Mikri Vigla. You can leave the garden, take a short stroll and be on the beach in moments. The area is beautiful, calm and peaceful, sprinkled with traditional Cycladic white villas. Within minutes you can be lazing on the beaches of Kastraki, Parthena, Mikri Vigla, Plaka and Orkos. The fabulous Kastraki Beach boasts fine white glimmering sand, crystal clear water and a wonderful array of tavernas with spectacular waterfront settings. The beach is secluded and peaceful.  Mikri Vigla was named after the observatory at the top of the cape that was used to watch out between Naxos and Paros to protect the island and for following ships on the ancient trading route from Crete to Athens. According to the myth, the southern bay was a hideout for legendary pirates. The beach is a gift for watersports enthusiasts with its superb kite surfing school and perfect wind conditions. Plaka Beach is also another popular beach for watersports fans. The picturesque Aliko Beach is backed by a cedar forest which has been declared a protected natural area. Further north, the family-friendly Agios Prokopios is delightful with watersports, refreshments and gorgeous fine sands. The tiny chapel dedicated to Saint Prokopios stands on the western side of the beach. Close by, you will find Agios Anna, a quieter version of Agios Prokopios and pink-coloured salt lakes with many birds and other wildlife. Agios St George is on the edge of Naxos Town with its warm shallow water. On the east of the island, the small quaint harbour of Moutsouna is a great place to eat fresh fish and the coastal ride leads to Panormos Bay, a pristine, tranquil spot. There are lots of hidden beaches and the Rina sea cave.  The island of Naxos enjoys glorious, panoramic scenery, stunning views, endless sandy beaches, a lively main town, gorgeous mountain villages, a rich history and a superb dining scene where you will be served delicious local produce. It is said that Naxos is where Dionysus (the God of Wine) met and married Ariadne. The first Dionysus Festival was held on the island which later became famous for its exquisite marble. Naxos’ beautiful marble,  emery mines, fertile land, geographic location in the Aegean Sea, pottery and cuisine are some of the reasons for its stature in the Cycladic islands and its popularity. Naxos enjoys a fabulous reputation for its delicious cuisine. You will fall in love with the island’s local delicacies. The island is very fertile and almost self-sufficient. You will enjoy delicious vegetables, cheeses, meats, fish and alcoholic drinks. Some favourites are pig rosto, pork stuffed with garlic and braised in wine, pork fricassee flavoured with the leaves of sea lavender and tasty cheeses including Graviera of Naxos, Arseniko and Xynotyro. The local dishes can be divided into three groups, the fish and seafood dishes of the coastal areas, the vegetable and beef dishes popular on the plains and usually made with homemade butter and the goat and lamb delicacies of the mountains, always cooked with plenty of local olive oil. There are excellent vineyards in the north of the island which you should visit for a tour and tasting. The island’s special drink, Kitron, is wonderful, made from the fruit and leaves of the citron tree. Visitors can enjoy cooking workshops like Vioma and visit and tour wineries such as the Saint Anna winery in the small village of Kato Potamia. Naxos Town is only 17km from the villa. It is guarded by its Venetian castle and boasts narrow, winding, cobbled streets, dazzling white architecture, ancient churches, antique shops, buzzy bars and wonderful restaurants. Marko Sanoudo II, the Venetian emperor invaded and conquered Naxos in 1207 and built the castle. It was the seat of power for the Cyclades islands for three hundred years. During the summer months, music festivals are held in the setting of the Kastro and painters and sculptors also hold exhibitions in the castle. Naxos’ Archaeological Museum is housed in the old Jesuit School of Commerce with a wonderful collection of old Cycladic art, white marble monuments and local ceramics. The great writer Nikos Kazantzakis attended the school and it is where he wrote ‘Zorba the Greek’. The car-free old town is known as Kastro, located within the castle’s old Venetian walls and enjoying steep narrow lanes decorated with tumbling colourful bougainvillaea, numerous churches and elegant Venetian mansions. The lanes from Kastro lead downhill to Bourgos which is where the Greeks lived during the years of Venetian occupation. The new town is situated next to the main port and with many of the town’s restaurants, bars and cafes. As soon as you enter the port of Naxos, you notice the ancient monument of Portara which means ‘Big door’ in Greek. The Portara is a centuries-old marble doorway built in 522BC as the entrance gateway to the unfinished Roman Temple dedicated to Apollo. It stands on a small islet and is an incredible Instagram-worthy spot at sunset when the sky turns to orange and gold. Not only are Naxos’ beaches and main town wonderful, the mountains, valleys and charming mountain villages including Tripodes, Filoti, Halki and Apeiranthos will make you want to return. The picturesque village of Halki is utterly charming with neoclassical architecture, tiny alleys, bougainvillaea, jasmine trees and charming shops. The marble village of Apiranthos should not be missed too. It is brilliantly well-preserved and is the highest village of the Cyclades. It is famous for its tavernas that serve delicious local meat dishes. Not to be forgotten are the island’s major sites of the Demeter Temple. Kouros of Melanes, Kouros of Apollonas, Panagia Drossiani Church, the Monastery of Fotodotis and Kalamitsia Monastery. The oldest of the island’s churches is Panayia Vlacherniotissa which boasts a beautiful carved alter screen. Panayia Myrtidiotissa stands on a tiny islet in the port of Naxos and Theologaki is a tiny chapel in a cave.  Visitors to Naxos also enjoy taking trips on luxurious catamarans to find the island’s secluded and hidden beaches or sail to some of the small Cyclades. The boat trip to the island of Koufonisia takes just under two hours, a lovely experience with wonderful fresh fish lunches in the tavernas and secluded naturist beaches if that is your thing.
At Excellence Luxury Villas we pride ourselves on going that little bit further for our guests. If there is anything you would like to arrange for your stay, please contact the Excellence Luxury Villas Concierge Team who will be happy to help. We can usually put you in touch with the right people arrange any of the following: 
– Cook – Maid service – Local day-trips or tours – Airport pick-up/drop-off – Welcome hamper – Pre-stocked fridge
This is by no means an exhaustive list, so please just contact Excellence Luxury Villas Concierge Team to help you arrange any of those little extras that can really make the difference.