Piso Paraporti

Piso Paraporti is one of the surviving gate remnants built into the medieval walls of the Kastro, the fortified hilltop quarter that crowns Naxos Town. While most visitors walk through the more prominent Trani Porta — the main northern gate of the Kastro — Piso Paraporti (literally "back side gate" in Greek) offers a quieter entry point into the same labyrinth of Venetian-era mansions, Catholic churches, and narrow flagstone lanes.

The gate is a physical remnant of the defensive perimeter constructed by the Sanudo dynasty after Marco Sanudo established the Duchy of Naxos in 1207. That duchy, a Latin state carved from the ruins of Byzantine control following the Fourth Crusade, left its architectural mark across the entire hill. Piso Paraporti was part of the secondary access system — a back gate that controlled movement into and out of the fortified town without exposing the main approach.

What to Expect

Piso Paraporti is not a museum in the conventional sense. There is no ticket booth, no guided tour, and no interior exhibition space. What you find is a stone archway and the remnant masonry of the medieval wall system, integrated into the surrounding buildings as Naxos Town grew around and over its own fortifications over the centuries. The gate's stonework reflects the layered construction typical of the Kastro: Byzantine foundations, Venetian superstructure, and later Ottoman-period repairs.

The surrounding alleyways are among the most atmospheric in the Cyclades. Coat-of-arms carvings appear above doorways of noble houses. The Catholic Cathedral of Naxos is a short walk away, as is the French School — now a small archaeology museum — where Nikos Kazantzakis studied briefly as a child. The entire Kastro district is compact enough to explore on foot in under an hour, with Piso Paraporti functioning as a natural waypoint on a self-guided circuit.

How to Get There

Naxos Town (Chora) is the island's main settlement, and the Kastro sits directly above the harbor. From the port waterfront, walk inland past the main plateia and follow the signs uphill toward the Kastro. The approach through Trani Porta is the most signposted route; Piso Paraporti is reached by continuing around the outer wall to the rear of the hill.

If you are arriving by bus, the KTEL terminal is close to the port, and the Kastro is a 10–15 minute walk uphill from there. By car, parking is available along the harbor road and near the main square — the Kastro streets themselves are pedestrian-only and too narrow for vehicles. No boat access is relevant here.

Best Time to Visit

The Kastro quarter is best explored in the morning before the midday heat and cruise-ship crowds arrive, or in the late afternoon when the light is lower and most day-trippers have left. Spring (April–June) and early autumn (September–October) keep temperatures comfortable for walking the uneven cobblestone lanes. The gate itself is an exterior architectural feature accessible at any hour — there is no scheduled opening or closing time to plan around.

Mid-summer evenings offer a pleasant alternative: the Kastro cools quickly after sunset, the lanes are lit softly, and the resident cats that occupy every shaded corner all day become more active.

Best Time to Visit

History of the Kastro Fortifications

The Kastro's defensive circuit was laid out in the early 13th century under Venetian Duchy rule and modified repeatedly over the following four centuries. The perimeter originally included towers at regular intervals, multiple gates controlling access from different directions, and a wall thick enough to incorporate residential space. Piso Paraporti served the rear — the landward side of the hill — where goods and residents could move without using the main ceremonial gate.

When Ottoman control came to Naxos in the late 16th century, the walls were maintained but the military function of the gates gradually diminished. Over subsequent generations, buildings absorbed sections of the wall, and some gate structures were altered or partially demolished. Piso Paraporti survived as a recognizable remnant, making it a legible marker of the original fortification layout for anyone tracing the old perimeter on foot.

Tips for Visiting

• Wear flat, grippy shoes — the Kastro lanes are paved with marble slabs that become slick when damp.
• Carry a printed or offline map; the lanes inside the Kastro are not always signposted and GPS can struggle with the dense stone construction.
• Combine the gate visit with the nearby Archaeological Museum of Naxos (in the Kastro) and the Catholic Cathedral for a coherent half-day of Kastro exploration.
• Look up at the lintels and doorways as you walk — coat-of-arms carvings from Venetian noble families are embedded throughout the neighborhood.
• The view back over the Cyclades from the outer wall near Piso Paraporti is one of the better vantage points in Naxos Town, particularly looking toward the Portara islet.
• Early morning light hits the rear of the Kastro hill well, making this a good window for photography without harsh shadows or crowds.