ELaiolithos® isn’t just a place to stay — it’s a story unfolding in the heart of Naxos. A collection of art-inspired eco villa suites, it offers sustainable luxury, deep connections to the island’s heritage, and a chance to experience Naxos’ beauty, culture, and soul firsthand.

ELaiolithos’ Story

Eleni’s Childhood 

Born and raised in Naxos, Eleni grew up immersed in the island’s traditions and natural beauty. From tending fields with her father to helping her mother with loom weaving, she experienced a life rooted in sustainability, craft, and respect for the land. These formative years shaped her vision for ELaiolithos, blending heritage with thoughtful living.

Roots and Family Legacy

Born and raised in the lush landscapes of Naxos, Eleni grew up immersed in the island’s traditions and natural beauty. Her father, a renowned shepherd and cheese artisan, and her mother, a skilled loom weaver, instilled in her a deep respect for nature, craft, and community. From olive harvesting to weaving and exploring the island’s landscapes, these early experiences shaped her lifelong commitment to sustainability and authentic living.

Today, her mother and siblings continue traditional businesses in Khalkion, keeping the family heritage alive — a legacy that ELaiolithos celebrates in every detail.

 Eleni shares:

“ELaiolithos grew from my love for Naxos — its landscapes, its culture, its spirit. Every corner is shaped by my heritage and my desire to share it with travelers seeking something real. Here, you don’t just stay — you belong.”

A Vision Realized

Handcrafted Suites 

After years living abroad, Eleni returned to Naxos with a dream: to create a place that reflects her heritage, values, and love for the island. Nestled between the villages of Chalkio and Moni, ELaiolithos blends modern comfort with traditional craftsmanship. 

Each suite at ELaiolithos tells a story and reflects the artistry and traditions of Naxos. From loom-woven textiles to bespoke décor inspired by local craftsmanship, the suites combine modern comfort with authentic heritage, creating spaces that are both luxurious and deeply connected to the island.

Sustainable Luxury in Every Detail

At ELaiolithos, sustainability isn’t a trend — it’s a way of life. From eco-friendly building practices to locally sourced farm-to-table cuisine, every detail reflects a commitment to the land and the people of Naxos. Guests experience a luxury stay that respects nature, celebrates tradition, and nurtures the senses.

Experiencing Naxos

Surrounded by thousands of ancient olive trees and panoramic views of valleys, mountains, and the Aegean Sea, ELaiolithos offers more than a stay — it’s a journey into the heart of Naxos. Guests can savor authentic flavors, enjoy handmade touches in every corner, and immerse themselves in the island’s landscapes, culture, and traditions.

Your Invitation

ELaiolithos is an invitation to be part of the story — to connect with the island, its people, and its timeless beauty. Here, heritage meets heart, and every stay becomes a meaningful experience.

ELaiolithos is a compound word formed by joining the two words
“Elaion” and “ Lithos”
and reveals also
EL Eleni/Ellas/Ellin/Light – AIO/ELAIO Eternal/Olive – LITHOS Stone
The Eternal Stone of Eleni, inside the Olive Groves

Building a Vision

Construction of ELaiolithos took three years, opening its doors in late 2017. Eleni transitioned from a decorator in New York to a full-time hotelier in Naxos, becoming the founder, creator, and designer behind this sustainable project.

“A goal of an eco-friendly accommodation was not just met; ELaiolithos surpassed it. It came out exactly as I had imagined — with a sensuous aura, attentive and authentic, just like the surrounding area. ELaiolithos was built with love for humanity, love for Naxos, respect for the environment, and passion for life. Opening up an area as a travel destination is a huge responsibility. Preserving the original character of the land requires authenticity and transparency — qualities that come naturally to me.” — Eleni

Life Shaped by the Land

ELaiolithos offers a rare sense of proximity to Naxos’ most authentic side. From nearby stone villages and centuries-old monuments to daily life shaped by enduring farming traditions, guests are invited to experience the island as it has always been lived — wandering historic streets, exploring timeless landmarks, and savoring local flavors rooted in the land.

Set above the lush Drimalia valley, with views toward Mount Zeus and its eight pyramid-shaped peaks, and across the Aegean to Ios and Sikinos, visitors are drawn into a quieter, greener Naxos — a fertile land of ancient olive trees, open horizons, and timeless rhythms. Every moment here invites a deeper connection to place, culture, and nature.

In Eleni’s Words

I have always been drawn to the mountains — honest, pure, and quietly powerful.
Here, everything feels real. Life slows down, not to stop, but to reveal itself.

In this landscape, you are free to do nothing or everything. To listen. To feel. To breathe.
You begin to understand the land not through explanation, but through presence.

This is the kind of living I believe in — sustainable not as a concept, but as a natural rhythm that unfolds when you live with respect.

ELaiolithos is my way of sharing this feeling.
Not simply a place to stay, but a space shaped by warmth, care, and genuine hospitality.
A place where every guest is invited to create their own story, carried home quietly, like a memory that lingers.

Our perspective is simple: life feels better when it is lived close to nature.

At ELaiolithos, well-being isn’t a concept — it’s a natural outcome of the environment, the pace, and the way life unfolds here. Surrounded by open horizons, ancient olive trees, and the quiet rhythms of the land, guests are gently invited to slow down and reconnect — with nature, with themselves, and with what truly matters.

This place was created to honor that forgotten bond between humans and the natural world. Not through rules or rituals, but through authenticity, presence, and everyday moments shaped by the landscape of Naxos.

Here, happiness and balance don’t need to be chased. They simply emerge.

A Personal Dedication

ELaiolithos is dedicated to my three children — the quiet strength behind everything I create. I thank them for their patience, their understanding, and the time we sacrificed while this dream was taking shape. Today, this place allows them to build their own connection with Naxos, to explore their roots, and to share meaningful moments with family on the island that shaped me.

I am deeply grateful to my friends, who shared my excitement at the beginning and stood beside me with encouragement when the journey felt heavy and uncertain.

A special place in this story belongs to my brother, Mihali. His work, integrity, patience, and unwavering support carried this project through its most demanding moments. Without him, ELaiolithos would not exist as it does today. I am proud to be his sister.

Finally, my sincere thanks go to every person who worked on this land with care, honesty, and dedication. Their hands helped shape this place, and they know who they are.

I thank everyone who became part of my journey.

Building ELaiolithos was, in itself, another Naxos experience — one that shaped me as deeply as the land that inspired it.

I wish you a life guided by heart, not force.
Because, as wisdom long before us reminds us, true strength is not measured by power, but by the depth of one’s heart.

— Eleni

Naxos’ only GSTC Gold-certified eco-luxury stay, ELaiolithos blends sustainable living with character, warmth, and the authentic soul of the island.

Uncover History: The Timeless Olive Press

At ELaiolithos, there’s more to discover than meets the eye. One of our treasures is a rare antique olive press, dating from 1540–1969, carefully passed down by the locals of nearby Moni village and transported to our estate along with other vintage artifacts.

Every piece — the massive stones, intricate rotating mechanism, and millstone — has been meticulously reassembled exactly as it was in its original setting. Visitors can see firsthand how olives were crushed and pressed to create the region’s prized olive oil, offering a living glimpse into centuries of local craftsmanship.

The process was hands-on and labor-intensive: olives were placed on a 3.5-ton stone slab, then pressed with a 1.5-ton millstone. Early presses, known as “Trapetum” (from the Greek trepo, meaning “to turn”), used a wooden beam rotated by humans or animals to crush the olives. While machine-driven presses appeared in Europe after the 18th century, animal-driven presses remained in use in Greece well into the 1970s.

This extraordinary olive press, offered to ELaiolithos’ owner by Eleni and Dimitrios Nanouris from Moni village, stands at the entrance of ELaiolithos as a symbol of centuries of local life. It’s more than an artifact — it’s a tangible connection to Naxos’ heritage, allowing guests to experience the authentic traditional methods of olive oil production.

The name ELaiolithos itself comes from the ancient Greek words for the mashing stone (elaiopetra or melopetra). This large cylindrical stone crushed the olives into pulp, rolling along a carved cavity and creating the paste that would be pressed into oil — a process that echoes the rhythms of Naxos life for generations.

You can read The Story Behind the Name ELaiolithos: Rich in Meaning and Cultural Depth

Let yourself be spoiled, and above all Enjoy!