Paros

The small town of Parikia, the main administrative centre of the island, stands on the site of an ancient city. It is built on the seafront and all around a hill dominated by the Byzantine church of Agios Constantinos (1684), a masterpiece of popular architecture.
Arriving at the port can be somewhat tiring during the summer months because there are always crowds coming and going. The sea front is much too touristy and is lined with endless restaurants and bars. Only the mills and fishing port maintain the local feel of the place, especially in the early morning, when fish are auctioned off to fishmongers.
To appreciate Parikia, head for the heart of the town to discover the charming little lanes there. Along the main street is found a succession of shops catering for the mass tourist influx. To the right of the central road can be seen the ruins of the Kastro, a former fortified Venetian castle built in 1260 on the site of the Ancient Acropolis. Columns from an Ionic temple as well as fragments from Byzantine buildings were used for its construction. All that remains today is a part of this rampart where this blend of heterogeneous elements can be admired.
Around the Kastro are the old districts of the town which are characterized by paved narrow lanes, often arched, smelling of jasmine, gleaming white houses generally with two floors, old fountains, stately dwellings and an infinite number of chapels nestling amongst the houses.

Located on the northern edge of Parikia, on the site of an old church, stands the church of Panagia Katopoliani, the third early Christian basilica in Greece. It houses, amongst other things, a baptistery in the shape of a basilica with cupola and apse. There are also baptismal fonts in cruciform shapes with a little column in the middle, unique in Greece.

There are many villages and each one of them has its own character and individual charm. They are all worth a lengthy visit.
Amongst the most interesting are Lefkes, Marpissa, Marmara, Naoussa, and Prodromos.
They are full of twisting alleys, squares, lime-bleached houses, often graced by crimson bougainvillea or aligned flowerpots, chapels on the corners of each road and stone benches where the elderly gather for a chat, displaying the nochalance of the inhabitants who love to take life easy.

Up away from the coast the landscape has remained natural, dotted by "katoikies", or rural houses in dialect, monasteries hidden in the hollows of a valley, mills in ruins, threshing floors, wine presses, and dovecotes. Shepherds with their herds of goats add to the country charm of these walks. There are a number of paths that hikers can enjoy.

Agioi Pantes and the Ioannis Kaparos Monastery

Don't miss visiting Agioi Pantes, the highest point of the island (771 metres), where the view over the other islands of the Cyclades is breath-taking in clear weather.
About halfway along there is a sign indicating the direction to the Ioannis Kaparos Monastery. This building, built in the 17th century and surrounded by fruit trees, is a typical example of a rural monastery. It is better to visit in the morning or late afternoon to be sure of finding the landlord at home.

Marble quarries and the Agios Minas Monastery

The visit to the famous marble quarries in Marathi, a rural village surrounded by hills, situated between Parikia and Lefkes, is also an interesting little walk which will take you straight into the past. At the foot of the hill are two openings which were the entries to the two quarries. Corridors branch out from there towards the underground tunnels where "lychnitis" (highly transparent white marble) was extracted. Not very far from there are the ruins of the buildings belonging to the Marble Company of Paros, founded in 1878 for the working of the quarries, and a little higher up the hills is the Agios Minas Monastery, built in the 16th century as a fortress, particularly interesting for its architecture and icons.

Monastery of Longovarda
Between Parikia and Naoussa, the Longovarda Monastery, built in 1638, is a very good example of sacred architecture. The church is made in a cruciform shape and has a small dome on top; the courtyard is planted with cypress trees; the monks' cells are arranged harmoniously. There are painting and binding workshops as well as a library containing some rare books. The visit is for men only.

The coast
The Paros coastline is indented with several creeks offering a number of opportunities to swim and hike.
The most beautiful of the beaches are found on the east coast with the Golden Beach at the top of the list.
Otherwise, take a look at Cap Phokas with a very pretty view over the port of Parikia.
Opposite Naoussa is the bay of Kolymbithres with its strangely shaped rocks polished by the wind and its rocky inlets of fine sand. A little further on is the trendy Monastiri beach where all kinds of water sports can be enjoyed. Near Naoussa the best spots for windsurfing are the Santa Maria beach, bordered by elegant villas, and the creeks of Filitzi.
In the south, the beaches are protected from the northerly winds. The beach of Agia Irini, surrounded by palm trees, is very pretty but also crowded, as is the beach of Farangas.
You'll discover on your own which beach or creek is for you!

Paros : Overview - Where to stay ? - Excursions - Photo gallery