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 The third largest of the
Cyclades group of islands,
Paros has been a
popular destination since antiquity, a meeting point of cultures and peoples
that left their mark in their passage. Combining an age-long history, quaint
Cycladic settlements, modern tourist infrastructure and an unparallel
natural wealth, today the island is one of the most visited places in the
Aegean.
Gently rolling hills surround the middle part and southeast of the island,
which is predominately agricultural covered by endless vineyards growing in
the land that produces the famous Parian marble. The indented coastline
encloses numerous small islets and two large bays, Naoussa in the north and
Parikia in the west.
 In the southwest, the small
island of Antiparos is a small holiday paradise with calm Cycladic
landscape, scattered chapels, a famous cave and a Venetian castle.
Standing on the site of an early Cycladic village, capital port-town Parikia
(or Chora) spreads along a sheltered bay on the west coast of the island,
laying at the feet of a Venetian castle. Numbering 3,000 residents, Parikia
beams with life during the summer when its population doubles with the
addition of colorful, multi-lingual crowds of tourists.
 In spite of its rapid
development, the town has managed to retain its Aegean-island charm, still
being steeped in history. Among the sites to see are the Ekantotapiliani
Church, the Archaeological museum and the Frankish monastery built by the
Capuchin monks around 1700. The coastal road leads to the hill of St. Anne
offering a unique view over the Aegea Sea between the ruins of Delion, a
temple dedicated to goddess Artemis and the nearby ruins of the Askleppion
and the temple of Pythian Apollo. Lining the sea front, the commercial
centre has many shops, traditional taverns, restaurants, bars and art
galleries housed in private and public buildings.
 If sandy beaches are what
visitors are looking for, then Paros is the right place. A paradise for
windsurfers, it has the best beaches in the Mediterranean, many of whom have
become quite popular. In addition to getting a glorious tan and partying at
the many nightspots, visitors can also enjoy a wide range of other
activities available on the island, such as diving, sailing, fishing,
horseback riding, mountain bike and trekking. |
