Byzantine Museum, Naxos

The Byzantine Museum is housed within a commanding four-level tower in Kastro. The museum offers visitors a unique journey through time, where the past is intricately woven with the present.

The tower itself is a remarkable piece of history, exuding an air of majesty that is enhanced by its panoramic view of the harbor and its strategic location near the northwestern gate of Kastro. As visitors approach the tower's main entrance, they are greeted by the Barozzi family coat of arms, an emblem that speaks of the tower's illustrious lineage. The interior door, adorned with the Crispi family coat of arms, further evokes a sense of the tower's storied past.

However, it was the P. Glezos family, the tower's final owners, who forever linked their legacy with this architectural gem. Their benevolent act of donating the tower to the state ensured its preservation and transformation into a cultural treasure. Today, the tower is affectionately referred to as the Glezos tower, or Apirathitissa, a name derived from Apiranthos, the hometown of the donor family.

After meticulous restoration efforts, the tower now stands as the proud home of the Byzantine Museum, encompassing the entire Cycladic region. Within its walls, visitors are treated to a captivating collection of Byzantine sculptures originating from Naxos and the surrounding Cycladic islands. These sculptures, meticulously dated between the 7th and 12th centuries, bridge the gap between eras and offer a glimpse into the artistic expressions of the past.