KINIDAROS (KYNIDAROS), NAXOS: THE MARBLE AND MUSIC VILLAGE
Kinidaros is a village on a rocky hillside in the centre of Naxos, beside the quarries that have supplied the island’s marble for millennia. Two features set it apart in local descriptions: its direct link to the stone industry, and a musical and dance tradition that is regarded as the strongest on the island. Both appear in guides under the village’s two spellings, Kinidaros and Kynidaros.
Location and Setting
The village stands at about 400 metres above sea level, about 15 kilometres from Naxos Town, and is surrounded by olive, plane and oak trees, with vines nearby. It sits on a rocky hillside next to the marble quarries. Population is given as about 400 in most tourism sources and about 500 in one, which also describes Kinidaros as having the largest number of children of any Naxian village; these figures are estimates, and the main sources of income are quarrying, agriculture, livestock farming and building work. One tourism site says that the spring supplying Naxos Town with water lies near Kinidaros.
From Kioura to Kinidaros
Local tradition says the village was first built in the valley of Halandra, at a place called Kioura, and that a pirate attack in about the 15th century left few survivors, who moved inland to the present site for greater safety. A document that mentions the name “Kynidaros” is dated 9 March 1539 by one source. Tourism sources also say that Kioura was the starting point of the ancient aqueduct of the tyrant Lygdamis, built in the 6th century BC; other sources place the aqueduct’s springs at Flerio (see the Kourounochori guide), so the aqueduct’s origin is described inconsistently.
The remains of the old settlement and two abandoned churches, Agios Dimitrios and Agios Artemios, can still be seen in the valley. Sources describe both as Byzantine, although one gives the 18th century for Agios Artemios, so the dating is uncertain. A legend holds that an ancient temple of Artemis stood on the spot, which would explain the church’s dedication; this is a legend, not an established fact.
The Marble Quarries
The quarries lie beside the road to the village, and are among the most visible landmarks on the route. Naxian marble, sold commercially as Naxos Crystallina, is known for its bright white, crystalline appearance and is reported to be less porous and more durable than many other marbles. It was used in ancient temples and sculpture, and the quarries near Kinidaros are said to lie only about 7 kilometres from the ancient quarry at Flerio. For the archaic kouroi cut from the same marble, see the Kourounochori guide.
Sources name several quarry sites in the area, including Sanidas (said to be the oldest still operating), Zas, Bolimbas, Amelathious and Skaretzou. Bolimbas is the largest and the one nearest the road, with white faces visible from it. Reports differ on how many quarries are active, with one source saying five and another saying three of five are in operation in limited quantities. One heritage article says that modern quarrying began only in the late 1950s, when a bulldozer cutting the new road from Naxos Town to Kinidaros struck solid marble. The quarries are working industrial sites, so they are viewed from the road and should not be entered.
Music and Dance
Kinidaros is regarded as the musical village of Naxos. Local descriptions say that its residents “learn to dance before they walk”, and the village is the home of the Konitopoulos family, described as a leading force in island folk music for many years. Tradition links this to the arrival of families of musicians and dancers after an ancient destruction of Naxos; this is folklore and cannot be verified. Traditional musicians regularly play in village tavernas on summer evenings, and the village is described as holding festivals more often than most others on the island.
The calendar of feasts includes the spring celebration of the parish church of Agios Georgios (the date depends on Easter), Agia Irini on 5 May, Agia Paraskevi on 26 July, Agios Artemios on 20 October and Agios Nikolaos on 6 December. Dates should be confirmed locally before travelling.
Walks Around Kinidaros
Sources mention a trail linking Kinidaros with Eggares (see the Eggares guide), passing several churches, and the Dryades forest, a shaded area with benches used by locals for walking and resting. The Garinou spring lies in a valley behind the village; it is reached on foot in about 40 minutes, or by 4x4, and is described as a green spot with water turtles. Paths are not always signposted, so water and a map are advisable.
Visiting Kinidaros
Kinidaros is reached by car or taxi from Naxos Town on the road past Melanes and Kourounochori; public bus services are seasonal and timetables should be checked at the terminal. It combines easily with Kourounochori and Potamia (Potamia guide), the Flerio kouroi and the marble quarries. For the historic centre of Chora, see the guide to the Kastro of Naxos. Because the village is residential, visitors should keep to the lanes and public spaces, and treat churches as places of worship. Live music is regular in tavernas on summer evenings.
Quick Answers
What is Kinidaros known for? It is known for the nearby marble quarries, its music and dance tradition and the ruins of the older settlement in the Halandra valley.
How far is Kinidaros from Naxos Town? About 15 kilometres by road, via Melanes and Kourounochori.
Is Kinidaros the same as Kynidaros? Yes. Both are spellings of the same village name.
Can the marble quarries be visited? They can be seen from the road, with Bolimbas the most prominent, but they are working sites and not open for access.
Kinidaros joins two quite different traditions: an extractive industry whose product reached temples and sculptures across the Aegean, and a living culture of music and dance that is still practised in the village. For planning a stay on the island, see the fabnaxosvillas villa portfolio and the guide to getting to Naxos.