Creators of Naxian Hospitality - Episode # 9: Mr Nikos Moustakis, Filoti village, Naxos Island.
Filoti village is situated in the center of the island of Naxos at an altitude of about 400 meters. It is built amphitheatrically on two hills āKlefaro (on the left) and Rahidi (on the right)āas one faces it coming from the Chora of Naxos. They are at the foot of Za (āZeusā), the tallest (1,004 meters) mountain of Cyclades, that has taken its name from the Father of the twelve Greek Olympian Gods.Ā
In the last ten years, a systematic effort has been going on for the restoration of the old neighborhood of Fasolas, which was, for the last two centuries, the center of the commercial and social activities of Filoti.
Letās see what the man who came up with this idea, Mr Nikolaos Moustakis, said about Fasolasā neighborhood and the first restored building/shop āThe Old Smithyā: āThe āneighborhood of the professionalsā of Fasola, gives a very good picture of how the economy of an island village was organized and operated in the 19th century and the first half of the 20th, but also of the human scale dimensions that characterized the places of work, as well as the dwellings. One of the first restored buildings/shops is the Old Smithy. The smithy of āGiorgos dā Antonisā, was founded by the great grandfather of āGiorgosā, Antonis Pagidas (the refugee youngster). He learned smithcraft in the place where the Ancient Greek god Hephaistos (Hephaestus) had done, as āaccording to the mythā teacher of Hephaistos was the Naxiotis Kedalion (or Cedalion). This smith shop nourished āup to 1983āthe four generations of the family, supplying the craftsmen of almost all professions with tools, but also with a big portion of household equipment, not only for the Filoti residents, but also for the neighboring islands.A proof of that is the ātefteriā (notebook) with all the āveresediaā (sales on credit) of the next- to last owner of āGiorgos tā Antoniā. From the six children of the family, the relay baton of the professional tradition was received originally by Dimitris (Dimitrakis tā Antoni), grandfather of āGiorgos tā Antoniā. The Old Smithy is open to all visitors from the 1st of May to end of October from 10.00 -20.00. We are waiting for you for a unique journey to the past!ā
For more info please visit our website: www.naxos.gr and www.naxos-filoti.gr









