Naxos Tripodes

General information

Tripodes in Naxos (or Vivlos) is a small traditional village is situated 8 kilometers from the capital and has whitewashed houses, narrow paved streets, and beautiful ruins of windmills.
The way to locate it is to look for the three old windmills on a hill.

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Tripodes translates to three legs. There are many theories regarding the village's name etymology. Michael Kontelieris (1893-1939), an Aegean folklorist from Naxos, has written that Tripodes rests on a stony trunk spreading on three large legs - one reaching Plaka, one towards Kehraies, and one towards Sangri village.
A newer version seems more likely, though. Many contracts found in Tripodes indicate that three-legged stools constituted dowry for females.
Another testimony states that the settlement was named after the Tripodo village in Heraklion since Cretans fled there during the pirate era.
The folk version proposes that while digging at some point in the past, a three-legged stool was discovered, on which the first community meetings were recorded in a Bible.

The permanent residents are approximately 800, but during the high summer season reach more than 1000. The inhabitants' occupations include agriculture, animal husbandry, and tourism. Unlike other villages, young people don't leave Tripodes or return after their studies.
The plain of Plaka plays a major role in the regional economy. Except for the infamous Naxian potato, a variety of fruits and vegetables are cultivated, including excellent grapes which produce equally excellent wine. Cattle-breeding units provide locals with fresh milk used for cheese production, while high-quality meat is also produced.

After entering the village, one encounters the imposing Panagia i Tripodiotissa, a 16th-century monastery, on the left. The quaint white windmills, the village's trademark, complete the first image. While strolling around the settlement, guests can admire an old fountain, traditional cafes, picturesque paths with flowers, and eucalyptus trees. On the road to the Venetian tower of Belonia lies the Blouma district, which boasts tiny old dwellings with whitewashed courtyards.

A visit to the local Folklore Museum allows learning about Tripodes' history, folk culture, traditional way of life and work, and daily habits of its former inhabitants.

Locals preserve the traditional way of living and local folktales and are known for their hospitality. The inhabitants' warmth combined with the high-quality regional products turns Tripodes into the ideal place to taste local delicacies, such as ksinotiro and arseniko cheeses.