The Fanari mountain towers over ELaiolithos Luxury Retreat, on the east side along with the village of Moni. Moni village has a great tradition in the craft of handmade loom weaving, excellent stone builders, very fertile region with plenty water, famous for its quality organic vegetable produce, excellent wine varieties, olive oil, raki and cheeses. Also the oldest Byzantine church of Balkans, Panagia Drosiani, which is one of the most popular visiting monuments of the island after Portara is here.
Fanari Mountain and Fanari Suite is an ideal destination for your holidays on Naxos island, Cyclades, Greece
Fanari mountain (903 m) rises between two high mountains: Mount Zas (1004 m) in the south and Mount Koronos (992 m) in the north. While Zas (Zeus) and Koronos are big and jagged, Fanari mountain is smooth and jolly. It’s surrounded by the picturesque villages of Apirathos in the east, Kaloxilos in the west and Moni in the northwest. These villages have been lying on the slopes of Fanari mountain since the Middle Ages and piracy times. Their active and creative inhabitants raised their animals here, cultivated their land, carved their rocks, sang and danced to traditional bagpipe music, fell in love and passionately savored life.
Up until the late 1700s, among forests, lush gullies and bubbling streams, the Fanari mountain area was home to deer, roe deer and other animal species, beautiful birds, rare swarms of bees and colorful butterflies, vineyards, olive groves, fig trees, almond trees, orange trees, apple trees, pear trees and sour cherry trees.
Numerous little Byzantine and Post-Byzantine churches were built in the region, the most prominent one being Panagia Fanariotissa, the church of Virgin Mary in Fanari. Today, these churches still exist, and they’re of central attraction to our visitors.
Fanari mountain is very popular to trekkers. You can reach the mountain via several different paths but you get to admire the most magnificent views as you ascend from Moni village. One of the top must Naxos’ hiking paths is the Fanarimountainhikingtrail.
ELaiolithos is the ideal starting point for the hiking path that takes you through Moni village, continues through forests, streams and majestic hillsides, then you climb Fanari mountain and you end up in the picturesque village of Apeirathos, one of the most famous villages of Naxos. Admire what is unfolding in front of you: This area is quite unique from a geographical viewpoint.
For those interested, here is a link for this hiking trail
The whole region of Moni village is among the most fertile area in Naxos island today, full of vegetation and water springs. ELaiolithos gets its tap water from Mountain Fanari spring above Moni village. This is our source of fresh tap water which is drinkable and 100% safe.
Fanari mountain in Naxos can guide you to ELaiolithos like a lighthouse, it can inspire you, and its views can bring the artist, poet or creator out of you. And somewhere there you end up in ELaiolithos’ Fanari Suite….
We have dedicated one of our luxury suites to honor this neighboring mountain, and named it Fanari. It’s an indoor version of the mountain with its color palettes and overall accents. Its artistic interior is decorated with natural earthly objects and organic materials that exemplify au naturel decor.
We know that nature has a profound effect on our overall well-being, both physically and emotionally, and our aim was for anyone staying in the Fanari Suite to entail its theme, embrace the earth’s simplicity, and bring the feeling of the outdoor experience into its indoor spaces. With the infusion of natural elements and colors into the suite’s interior, we make every visitor to be connected with the story of Fanari mountain even when they’re inside, and feeling calm. Upon departure we know that our guests have taken with them a piece of our region, a story, a scene, and a memory from our beautiful island!
Fanari Suite is like a local landscape-inspired wall art
~ Article written by Helen Marakis
