Chateau Zevgoli

Chateau Zevgoli occupies a genuine Venetian tower house in the Castro district of Naxos Town (Hora) — the medieval hilltop quarter built by the Duchy of the Archipelago after 1207. Staying here puts you inside the walls of one of the best-preserved Venetian settlements in the Cyclades, with the narrow flagstone alleys, Catholic churches, and heraldic doorways of the old nobility literally on your doorstep.

The hotel is built in the Cycladic style and sits within the Bourgos area at the foot of the Castro hill, about 500 metres from Grotta Beach. It is part of a small group of properties managed under the Naxos Town Hotels umbrella, which also includes the Apollon Hotel in the Fontana quarter and the adjacent Castro 1204 studios.

What to Expect

Chateau Zevgoli is a boutique property, which means fewer rooms and a more intimate atmosphere than the large seafront hotels along the Naxos Town waterfront. The building's Venetian origins give it thick stone walls and a vertical layout typical of tower houses — expect character rather than resort-scale amenities. Next door, the Castro 1204 studios offer two fully furnished self-catering options with views toward the Aegean, a useful overflow if you are travelling as a family or prefer more independence.

The location in the Castro area means the surrounding streetscape is one of Naxos Town's most architecturally coherent. You are within easy walking distance of the Venetian Museum (Della Rocca-Barozzi), the Catholic Cathedral, and the covered market lanes that connect the Castro to the harbour below.

How to Get There

Naxos Town is the island's main port and ferry hub, so arriving by sea is straightforward: Chateau Zevgoli is roughly a 10–15 minute walk uphill from the ferry terminal, following signs toward the Castro. By car, the hotel is accessible via the main coastal road into Hora; street parking in the old town is very limited, so it is worth confirming whether the property has parking arrangements before arrival. Taxis from the port are inexpensive for the short transfer if you are carrying luggage. If you arrive by bus, the KTEL bus station on the south side of the waterfront is about the same walking distance as the port.

Best Time to Visit

Naxos Town operates year-round in a way that the resort beaches do not, so Chateau Zevgoli is a viable base outside the peak summer window. July and August bring the largest crowds to the island's beaches, but the Castro itself remains navigable; the trade-off is higher room rates and advance booking requirements. May, June, and September offer warm weather, calmer conditions, and a far less congested old town. Winter stays are possible for travellers interested in the architecture and the quieter rhythms of a working Cycladic capital.

Tips for Visiting

• The Castro lanes are uneven stone-paved and steep in places; wheeled luggage is difficult to manage — a backpack or soft bag makes the walk from the port noticeably easier.
• Grotta Beach, 500 metres from the hotel, is a sandy stretch on the north side of the port headland, generally less crowded than the more famous beaches to the south.
• The Portara — the marble gateway of the unfinished Temple of Apollo on the islet of Palatia — is visible from the northern edge of the Castro and a short walk from the hotel, particularly rewarding at sunset.
• Book directly via the hotel's website or by phone if you want to clarify room type, since the property's online presence is smaller than the major booking platforms.
• The Fontana area, where the affiliated Apollon Hotel sits, is at the lower edge of the old town near the Grotta road and offers a slightly flatter approach to the waterfront amenities.

History of the Building

The Castro of Naxos was constructed from 1207 onwards under Marco Sanudo, the Venetian nobleman who established the Duchy of the Archipelago. The tower houses within its walls were built for the Latin Catholic nobility and are among the few intact examples of Venetian medieval domestic architecture in the Aegean. The name Zevgoli itself is a Greek surname associated with one of the old Castro families. Staying in a building with that kind of layered history — Byzantine, Venetian, Ottoman, Greek — gives the property a context that no modern hotel can replicate.