Ναός Άρτεμης

Nas Beach

Located 6km west of Armenistis, Nas is an idylic place seemingly frozen in time. It is situated at the union of the Chalares River and the Aegean Sea, and was the site of one of Ikaria's earliest settlements. During the 6th century BC, the Ikarians built in Nas a temple to the Goddess Artemis, patroness of sailors & protector of wild animals and hunters. Only the temple's foundation and retaining walls of the Tauropolos waterfront of the ancient harbor are visible today and, but the natural beauty of Nas remains as it was in classical antiquity. The beach is open to nudists and non-nudists. Hiking up the riverbed will eventually bring you to a small waterfall and pool. On the cliff above the beach there are a few peaceful tavernas in which to try the local cuisine and rooms for rent with breathtaking views of the canyon, sea and the majestic Nas sunset, the best sunset on the island and one of the most beautiful in the Aegean. The name "Nas" derives from the Latin word for a temple. In Greek the word is "naos".

Nas

From Armenistis a 3.5 km long paved road continues west to the small settlement of Nas which belongs to the community of Raches and has about 50 permanent inhabitants. The name Nas probably derives from the Greek word "Naos"(temple) or by alteration of the godesses' ancient name "Ma," as Artemis was called in Asia Minor where she was first worshipped. Nas is a small bay with few houses. Its terrain is characterized by numerous terraces surrounded by stone walls for the locals cultivations, and the tree filled gorge of Nas with the Chalares river flowing through it and ending in a small but pretty sandy beach. There are also several tavernas with excellent views of the surrounding sea, rooms/studio apartments for rent, and a local handicrafts shop.

The small bay of Nas used to be a significant port in former times when piracy was at its peak. At the first appearance of the Turks in the Aegean and the departure of the Franks from the island in the early 16th C, the Ikarians who moved to the hideouts of the western side for defensive purposes blocked up the ancient port. Today only part of the ancient jetty survives where one can still see the iron eyelids embedded in the ground used to make the ships fast in bygone days. Nearby stand the crumbling foundations of the Temple of Artemis, patroness of bulls, also known as the sacred Tavropolion. Mystic beauty unfolds in this idyllic place in the hours of dusk.

The large magnificent gorge of the Chalares river which flows into the Bay of Nas captivates the visitor. Walking along the river bank with the towering plain trees, the sound of running water and the song of the birds, you arrive at a waterfall which falls into a secluded rock pool and then continues along a stone riverbed amidst high rock formations up into the mountain. The beautiful beach of Nas with its fine sand and its small pool at the mouth of the Chalares River which ends at the beach where the ruined temple of the goddess Artemis stands is a truly unique and majestic setting.