The Wild Northern Loop: Koronos, Eggares Olive Press and the Cliff Road from Apollonas

If you have rented a car for Day 3's inland village loop, do not turn around at Apeiranthos. Continuing north from Apeiranthos over the eastern shoulder of Mount Koronos to the northern fishing village of Apollonas and returning to Chora down the dramatic north-western coastal cliff highway via Eggares completes one of the most scenic 3-hour circular drives in the Greek Islands.

1. Koronos Village & The Historic Emery Mines (9 km North of Apeiranthos)

Ten minutes north of Apeiranthos, look down to your right into a deep, V-shaped green ravine: clinging to both vertical sides of the gorge is Koronos, one of the oldest and most authentic mountain villages in Naxos. For centuries, Koronos was the home of the island's emery miners (smyriglades). Park on the upper road and walk down the stepped whitewashed lanes to the shady village plaza and the Koronos Folklore & Emery Museum.

2. Apollonas Harbour & The North-West Cliff Coast (Agia Tower & Abram Beach)

From Koronos, the road winds down through terraced vineyards to the northern bay of Apollonas, where you climb two minutes up the hillside to see the 10.7-metre, 80-tonne Kouros of Apollonas lying in its ancient marble quarry, then enjoy grilled fish or a swim off the sandy harbour beach. Instead of driving back through the mountains, turn west onto the coastal cliff road back to Chora (32 km, 45 minutes):

• Abram Beach & The 17th-Century Tower of Agia: the paved two-lane road hugs high sea cliffs looking straight across at the northern tip of Paros, passing the warm pebble-and-sand bay of Abram and the ruined 17th-century fortified Monastery and Tower of Agia (Panagia Chryssopolitissa) set among plane trees and running springs high above the waves.

3. Eggares Village & The 1884 Olive Press Museum (8 km before Chora)

As the coastal road drops into the fertile green valley of Eggares just fifteen minutes before you return to Naxos Town, stop at the restored Eggares Olive Press Museum (Liotrivi, Free Admission): dating back to 1884, this historic stone mill preserves its original basalt crushing wheels, cast-iron screw presses and animal-powered gears, and treats visitors to a complimentary tasting of Naxian extra-virgin olive oil, olive paste, olive-oil cake and olive marmalade in its sunny courtyard.