MĂ©lanes lies at an altitude of 63 m, about 8 km southeast of Naxos Town, and is a semi-mountainous settlement. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing the village, with its paths and green valley, from the historical sites in the surrounding area.
Green Valley and Phrygana
The valley of MĂ©lanes is characterized by orchards and terraces. They are irrigated by the natural flow of water from the spring at Flerio. The gardens and terraces are therefore directly connected to the spring: water flows to the cultivated land without mechanical pumping.
Around MĂ©lanes, French lavender (Lavandula stoechas) and rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) grow in their natural habitat amid the phrygana landscape. Together with the irrigated valley, they create a contrast between cultivated land and the native plant life of the phrygana.
Paths in the Village and Around the Kouroi
In MĂ©lanes, visitors can follow routes through nature and along the river. Walks through the lanes are also possible. Nearby, a marked access path leads from the Kouros of Flerio to the Kouros of Faraggi and to the surrounding quarries in the hills south of Flerio MĂ©lanes. Visitors can follow the path; check local conditions before setting out.
The walking options differ in their points of reference: nature and riverside routes, as well as the lanes, are in the village, while the marked access path links the Kouroi and quarries in the surrounding area. This distinction helps visitors see the village paths and the route by the historical sites as separate experiences.
Marble, Sanctuaries and Watermills
The ancient marble quarries, with the oversized Kouroi at Flerio and Faraggi, are among the important monuments of MĂ©lanes. The first sculpture schools were located in Flerio. The Kouros of MĂ©lanes, dating from the 6th century BC, and the sanctuary of the springs are also located there.
A small temple was discovered during an excavation at Flerio in 1997. It belonged to a sanctuary whose cult was connected with the springs and the surrounding quarries. Flerio thus brings together themes that also shape the landscape: water, marble and sculpture.
Nearby, in Marmaroti, there is a complex of two traditional watermills dating from the 17th century. They were built to make use of the slope. Another place to visit is the Archaeological Collection of Kourounochori in Kourounochori, MĂ©lanes, Naxos.
The Wider Historical Context
Beyond the sites around Flerio, the Naxos aqueduct places the area in a wider regional context. The polis of Naxos had it built in the late 6th century BC. The aqueduct was about 11 km long, supplied water to the ancient city and irrigated farmland along its route. Its function was therefore distinct from that of the individual monuments at Flerio: it served the ancient city and the agricultural land along its course.
Visitors can also sample traditional Naxian dishes in MĂ©lanes. Alongside the landscape, paths and archaeological sites, culinary discoveries can therefore be another focus of a stay.
Discover more destinations: Iraklia, Egiali, Arkesini, Filoti, Glinado, Koufonisia, Agkidia, Agiassos.
For the main travel overview: Naxos.
