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The Temple of Apollo is an unfinished temple in Naxos, Greece. It’s located on the islet of Palatia next to the port in Naxos Town.
History of the Temple of Apollo
The temple was commissioned by the tyrant Lygdamis in 530 BC. It was supposed to rival the Temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens and the Heraion of Samos.
Construction stopped in 524 BC after Lygdamis was overthrown. If completed, the temple would have been 59 meters long and 28 meters wide with an entrance on the west side. It would have also been at least 30 meters tall with a peristyle of 6 x 12 columns.
Around the 6th or 7th century, a Christian church was built atop the ruins. It was dismantled by the Venetians in the 13th century. The marble was used to construct the fortress of Kastro and other buildings.
Portara
All that’s left today is the monumental gate called Portara. It was too heavy to dismantle so the Venetians left it in place. Only three of the four columns remain with each one weighing about 20 tons. Portara measures 6 meters high by 3.5 meters wide.
Getting There
The temple is accessible via a short causeway from Naxos Town. It starts just north of the main bus station where you’ll find a statue of Aphrodite.
Once at the ruins, you’ll be able to look back for fantastic views of Naxos Town and the northern coast of the island. The temple is also a popular place to view the amazing sunsets Naxos is famous for. I actually caught the sunset from Grotta Beach, where I was also able to capture the silhouette of Portara.
