Naxos Kokkos Tower

Location: Potamia

Another fantastic Venetian structure of the 17th century in Naxos is the Tower of the Kokkos family, built atop the small river in Lierado, a quarter of the Potamia settlements.
The tower is situated about 10km from Naxos Town, making the historic structure accessible to visitors.

The concrete path leading to the tower is of moderate difficulty, while the verdant surroundings add a dreamy vibe to the experience.

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The structure is closer to an estate, as it boasts a watermill, an olive mill, and a bakery that ensured autonomy back in the day. It expands into three levels, interconnected with trap doors and stone stairways. It belonged to the orthodox family of Kokkos that used it as the epicenter of their feud.

Not long after, in the same period when Venetians were claiming vast areas of Naxos as their feuds, a violent conflict occurred between the Barozzi and Kokkos families. Franciscan Barozzi murdered the head of the Kokkos family, leading to a bloodstained vendetta between the families and resulting in his and his men's revenge murders. A few years later, like in a real-life Romeus and Juliette story, the Barozzi heir and the Kokkos heiress were secretly married, thus binding the two heritages and feuds together.

Above the main arched entrance to the Kokkos estate, the quote "The memory of death serves during life" is carved, dating back to 1686. The estate is abundant with such details, as well as exceptionally colored interior decorations, which remain to this day.

How to get there

Kokkos Tower is located in Potamia Village.

Private transfers: We recommend using an online pre-booked transfer service, which provides transfer by taxi, minibus, or private VIP car and arranging a pickup directly from the port, airport, or your hotel. Alternatively, there’s the option of arranging a pickup by a local driver directly at the following numbers: 0030 22850 25835, 0030 22850 24829, or booking your taxi online.

Car rental: Τhere's the option of renting a car and picking it up directly from the airport, port, or your hotel. Using a rental car allows visitors to discover Kokkos Tower and many other places of interest at their own pace.

Public transport: The central bus station of the island is located at the Port of Naxos. There are few buses from Chora to Potamia during the day. Line 9 reaches Potamia. Consider that time schedules might change according to the season. Check the official timetables here.
Tip: Since buses don’t always stop at every scheduled stop of their itinerary, our advice to visitors is to inform the driver about their final destination in advance.