The city of Naxos is built on the site of the ancient Gallipolis. The medieval castle hill whose highest points were leveled with the Frankish settlement, formed the ancient acropolis. The city was built on the northern slope of the hill towards the beach of Grotta. A large part of it is today covered by the sea, as the level of the Aegean has risen compared to ancient times. Remains of ancient buildings can be seen at the bottom of the sea.

The center and market of the city was located on the site where the Orthodox Cathedral is built today. Under the square of the Metropolis (archaeological site of Grotas) the excavations revealed remains of the ancient city of Naxos (1600 - 1100 BC) which was one of the most important in the Aegean. The space has been properly designed and is open to the public.

An old manuscript states that on the island in the harbor, where the church of Myrtidiotissa is built, there was a temple of Poseidon.

Editor: Fotini Anastasopoulou