Traditional Cisterns of Naxos Island

The traditional cisterns were widely used on Naxos Island to store water for domestic and agricultural purposes. There used to be separate cisterns: those collecting water from the terraces of the houses that would be used for drinking purposes and those cisterns that were constructed in the courtyards that collected water for washing and cleaning. Their use on Naxos was abandoned after World War II, although it is considered to be a very efficient system for specific needs in water. Very few cisterns are preserved today.

Cistern of Apano Kastro.

Hydria Virtual Museum

Cistern of Kastro Apalirou.

Hydria Virtual Museum

Very interesting examples are the cisterns of the byzantine fortress Kastro Apalirou and the Venetian castle Apano Kastro. These are going to be described in the following paragraphs, for the interested readers and the potential visitors of Naxos who would like to learn more about them.