Naxian on the Beach

Naxos was the capital of the 13th-century Venetian conquests in the Cyclades, and the Kastro fortifications bear witness to its importance. Gothic gates, cobbled narrow streets, Roman Catholic cathedrals, mansions with heraldic coats of arms, an Ursuline school (now the Archaeological museum) – are all still lived in.

Reached easily by car in central Naxos, this partly reconstructed temple that dates back more than 2500 years was a stylistic milestone for many reasons – explained comprehensively through the English signage – but, most importantly, it was the first in Greece to be built wholly in marble.

The conspicuous ‘Gate to Nowhere’ should have led to the never-completed Temple of Apollo, but today it’s is the perfect place to watch the glorious Aegean sunsets. It was allegedly built on the spot where the cad Theseus abandoned faithful Ariadne who’d helped him kill the Minotaur.

This unassuming village, 16km from the capital, claims 13th-century frescos in the Panagia Protothronis church and a 17th-century Venetian Tower. But it’s the Valindras kitron distillery that everyone comes to visit: tour the factory, take part in tastings, and buy some bottles to take home.

The largest, richest and still undiscovered island of the Cyclades offers stunning sandy coastline and dramatic vistas over canyons and valleys.

Lively and sophisticated, Paros has become upmarket in recent years, with five-star hotels, high-end restaurants, and design shops popping up among the medieval villages, craft workshops, and wellness retreats.