The village of Apeiranthos is situated in the middle of island, on the eastern skirt of the Phanaria mountain range. In the photo above is the village seen from a hill in front. The well preserved traditional architecture attracts a lot of tourists. Although it is a very small place, it proudly hosts three small museums (natural history, archaeology and folklore).
In the photo right is the façade of Our Lady Aperathitissa Church.
This village had been called Aperathou until early 19th century, but a few years before the war of Independence (beginning 1821), a local intellectual forged a new name "Apeiranthos" so that it sounds ancient.
The village appears in the history for the first time in 1413 in a record written by Cristoforo Buondelmonte. Then it was already a important settlement.
As you see below, the village is paved with white marble so it is also called Marble Village. Donkey is still an important work force in construction as the streets are very narrow.
The village is known to the Greeks also as the birthplace of politician Petros Protopapadakis. In the photo right is his statue in the town of Naxos.
Reference
- K.A. Katsouros and S.A. Katsourou, Naxos: Today and Yesterday, Athens/ Michalis Toumbis Editions, 1987, pp. 81-86.
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