[BACK TO PAROS]

Paros

South from Parikia, along the west coast, which faces the island of Antiparos, are several fine beaches. Just 3kms from the port is Agia Irini. This sandy beach is visible from the elevated main road just before the turnoff for Petaloudes. About 20kms south of Parikia is Aliki, a charming, fishing village.

The north coast beaches are the best on the island. To the west of Naoussa, is the picturesque Kolymbithres Beach. Small sandy coves are punctuated by smooth, giant rocks, which must be scaled or swum around to reach the next cove or the open sea. North of Kolymbithres, is Monastery Beach, the north coast's nudist beach.

The east coast beaches, equidistant from Parikia and Noussa, can be reached by private transport or public bus. The beautiful beach at Ormos Molos, on a small peninsula near the village of Marpissa, is the closest and therefore the most crowded. Pisso Livadi, 9kms from either Parikia or Naoussa, is a small sandy beach. The next cove south, Logaras, has started to feel Piso Livadi's crowds. There is a universal consensus on the best beach, Chryssi Akti (Golden Beach) on Paro's east coast, is 22kms south of Naoussa.

Parikia features excellent shopping, particularly in the agora. The wide range of galleries, handcrafts, boutiques, fashion shops and food markets make Paros one of the best spots in all Greece for folk-art shopping. Just off the market street, almost at its end, you will find the Aegean Center for the Fine Arts.

The site that draws thousands of pilgrims annually to Paros is its famous church, the Panagia Ekatontapylliani. Located just off the private boat harbour, is the large, graceful example of Byzantine church architecture. The name means "100 doors", but those who try to count will find only 99. There is a legend that if the 100th door is found, the Constantinople (the holiest Greek Orthodox city, known now as Istanbul) will be returned to the Greek nation.

Paros is also famous for its white marble, from which works of art of rare beauty and plasticity were carved in the classical era. The island produces wine, oil, potatoes and cereals. During this classical period, life on Paros was supported by the marble quarries, which produced some of the most unique building materials of the age. It was much used by sculptors, too. There was a continuous flow of architects and sculptors from all parts of the Greek world who ordered large quantities of the famed Parian marble, and the island's production was even greater than that of Penteli, near Athens.

Among the triumphs of Parian marble, one could mention the temple of Apollo on Delos, Praxiteles' statue of Hermes at Olympia, the Venus of Milos, and the temples of Demeter and Asklepios on Paros itself.

<click to go back>