Naxos Dionysus Temple

Location: Glinado

The Temple of Dionysus in Naxos, Cyclades: The cult of Dionysus was rife in ancient times in Naxos. Dionysus was generally much loved by the ancient Greeks as he was the god of wine, celebration, and fun. It was believed that he lived in dense forests and was always wine drunk.
According to mythology, when Theseus abandoned Ariadne on Naxos, Dionysus saw her and fell in love with the young, beautiful lady.
At first, Ariadne didn't like the god and tried to hide in the intense greenery of the island, but Dionysus found her, they got married, and Ariadne became a goddess.

To honor their god, the residents of Naxos built a large temple that partly survives today in the position of Iria, close to Glinado village and about 5 km from Chora.

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Scientists believe that religious activity in the area started in the 13th century BC, during the Mycenaean Era, and four successive temples were built in that era.

The ruins that survive today show that the temple was built approximately in the 6th century BC following the Ionian architectural style. In the 1st century BC, the Romans reconstructed it. During the 5th century AD, after the religion of the Olympian gods had failed, the temple converted to a Christian church.

Adjacent to the monument lies a small room with findings from the site.

How to get there

The Temple of Dionysus is located in Glinado 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 car rental allows visitors to discover Glinado and many other places of interest at their own pace.

Public transfers: The central bus station of the island is located at the port of Naxos. There are several buses from Chora to Glinado during the day. Line 3 reaches Glinado. 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.