The holiday destination Greece enjoys great popularity among tourists with its extraordinary flair. If you are busy planning your holiday, you should consider a visit to the Greek island of Paros. The island belongs to the Cyclades archipelago in the Aegean Sea and is located in its center west of Naxos. Paros has an area of about 197 square kilometers, which is populated by about 15000 inhabitants. In the middle of the island, the two main peaks of the mountain region tower up.
The 771-metre-high Profitis Ilias houses the monastery of Agios Minas on its north side, in the immediate vicinity of which the deposit for the valuable marble was located. South of the Profitis Ilias lies the only slightly lower summit of the Stroumbulas. Marble mining has a long tradition on the island and has also made the region internationally famous for its vineyards. Paros is one of Greece’s popular holiday destinations, with its idyllic sandy beaches and picturesque villages, and offers something for every type of tourist. The perfect stay is thus guaranteed.
Sights and places in Paros
Parikia
Parikia is the main town of the island of Paros and is located directly on a bay, which also serves the
ferry port. Not far from the harbour is the church of Panagia Ekatontapliana, the most famous sight of Paros. It is one of the most important early Christian buildings and has a Byzantine museum inside in addition to the baptismal font made of white marble. In the old town of Parikia, the remains of an old Venetian fortress from the 13th century can be visited. A visit to the Venetian Castro will reveal the remains of the island’s settlement, which date back to 2500 BC. If you don’t mind a short walk, you should climb to the top of the hill near the church of Agios Konstantinos.
As a reward, a fantastic view of the sea beckons. The ancient cemetery, discovered in 1983, dates back to 700 BC and offers visitors interested in archaeology numerous exhibits in the attached museum.
In the numerous small streets of Parikia there are many restaurants, cafés and shops that invite you to linger and browse. The nightlife of Paros takes place mainly in Parikia.
Naoussa
To the north of Paros and 20 minutes from Parikia, Naoussa is a picturesque fishing village and the second largest town on the island. Built around the harbour, Naoussa exudes the idyllic charm of a Mediterranean fishing village and attracts many tourists in the summer months who want to take in the ambience first-hand. On a hill above Naoussa is the church of Panagia, one of the sights of the village. Due to the elevated position, there is a wonderful view of Naoussa and its bay from there and at the harbour of the fishing village is another sight of the island with an old castle. There are numerous beaches in the vicinity of Naoussa, which are best reached by boat from the port.
Lefkes
Right in the centre of the island of Paros is the village of Lefkes, whose cathedral Agias Trias
visible from afar. From its garden there is a beautiful view of the
Neighboring island of Naxos. A 1000-year-old Byzantine road paved with marble runs through the middle of the village.
Beaches
The island of Paros offers tourists an almost unmanageable number of beaches, all of which have their own character and appeal to all the preferences of holidaymakers. Directly opposite the port of Parikia are the beaches of Martselo and Krios, which are very spacious and have many bars. Here the focus is on tourism and there is the possibility of renting sun loungers and umbrellas.
The main beach of the town of Parikia is Livadia, which can be divided into three sections due to its length. In the first part of the beach there are many bars and shops, in the spacious second section the traditional beach life prevails with
deckchairs and parasols in front of and in the last section, everything is dedicated to water sports with the sailing school.
Opposite Naoussa, rock formations divide the coast into many small bays that offer a
Retreat from the tourist strongholds of the island and with a bit of luck you will have it all to yourself. A little further in the same region is Monastiri Beach and is the place to go for holidaymakers who like to party. To this end, concerts and beach parties are regularly held there.
Water sports enthusiasts or divers should make a note of the beach of Santa Maria. It is located in
windbreak between Paros and Naxos and thus offers ideal conditions for
Aquatics. It is framed by dunes and salt lakes, which make up the picturesque overall picture.
round off. Golden Beach is also very popular with surfers and is very popular with surfers in the month of July
the backdrop for the World Windsurfing Championship.
How to get to Paros
Paros has only one small airport, which is served exclusively by domestic flights
becomes. If you arrive by plane, you usually first stop in Athens, Santorini or Mykonos before reaching Paros airport with a local airline.
However, the island of Paros is also excellent to reach by boat. In Piraeus , the ferries depart between seven and eight o’clock in the morning and reach the port of Paros after four to five hours. Tickets can be purchased online or directly at the port.
