Paros

Paros is one of the largest islands of the Cyclades with approx. 120 km coastline, situated about halfway between Athens and Santorini. Paros Island has a lot to offer its visitors! Paros is an island with a rich history, encapsulated by famous monuments from the lands ancient and medieval past. These are just some of the reasons, coupled with excellent tourist facilities, which has led to Paros being developed into an important centre of tourism in recent years. Whether you prefer a quiet, peaceful holiday enjoying the beautiful nature and traditional Greek atmosphere, an active or educational one, or you would just like to party, you'll definitely find what you are looking for!

Things to see

The typical countryside of Paros with its gentle, terraced hills and magnificent rock formations, endless vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees is overwhelming. In the spring, the island is completely green, with flowers growing everywhere! There is a large number of attractive villages in the traditional Cycladic style. Their glowing white houses along labyrinth like streets, decorated with arches, pretty balconies, Greek pottery, bright flowers and fragrant herbs will make you wander around and get lost, discovering one postcard theme after the other. Paros also has an incredible amount of picturesque churches and villages, chapels and monasteries, likewise windmills, and you stumble across historical remains wherever you go, some of them of great significance in Greek History.

Paros has many beautiful sandy beaches for all tastes. Some are hidden, tiny little bays, enclosed by extraordinarily "sculptured" rocks others are long and wide. The beach of Kolimbithres is one of the most famous beaches in Paros and it is particularly impressive because of the huge blocks of granite boarding. Golden beach or Chrissi Akti is a long golden sandy beach extending for 700 metres, famous by windsurfers for its ideal wind conditions. The small beach of Agia Irini is boarded with beautiful palm trees, giving to the place a tropical atmosphere.

In Paros you can also visit the archaeological museum with exhibits which cover the period from the Neolithic Era to the Roman Times. The Paros Wine Museum is a newly built museum dedicated to the history and tradition of wine-making in the area. The Aqua Park of Paros is one of the biggest water parks in Greece and uses sea water instead of the common artificial water. It has many slides and other games for young and adults.

Naoussa is the renowned harbor of Paros which played an important role in various periods of the islands history. Today it is one of the prettiest villages in Cyclades, with white washed houses, narrow paved alleys, arches and tiny chapels it also offers a range of excellent beaches and attracts many visitors each summer. Near to the town of Naoussa is the Palaiopyrgos ("old tower"), with ruins from the Classical period. According to archaeologists the capitol of ancient Paros was situated here.

Other areas worth visiting on Paros include the site of Petaloudes, an idyllic landscape of dense vegetation and abundant running water. Thousands of butterflies gather here in the summer months lending a unique beauty to this serene area of the island.

When to come

Paros is an island worth visiting from all. In summer you can join many feasts like the Feast of Agia Marina on 16th of July, the Feast of Panagia Faneromeni on 8th of September and the Feast of Agio Ioanni on 23rd and 24th of June in Antiparo. Also in Patrikia you can join the Feast of Panagia Ekatontapiliani on the15th of ugust. In Naousa on 23rd of August is celebrated the pirate festival with a big feast representing the assault of the pirates in the village of Paros.