Traversing the azure waters of the dazzling Cyclades cluster, the remote skyline will start to reveal an authentic miracle of nature, the island of Paros, which is considered to be the beauty queen of the Aegean. A lush green island with acres of wheat and barley, beds of melons, orange- and lemon trees, olive groves, figs and almonds, tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers and grapes. In Parikia, the capital people stroll through the white alleys, settle back below the Kastro or rest at one of the tavernas opposite of the gorgeous church of Ekatontapyliani, the oldest church of Greece, and visit the ancient cemetery. The mile long waterfront is lined with tavernas, clubs and countless bars, which sport a lively nightlife. There is the ruinous Venetian castle to see. Market Street has shops, which offer folk art, souvenirs, wood-carved objects, and ceramics. Paros also has many beautiful and lively villages; some of them are Aliki, Drios, Lefkes, Marpissa, Marmara, Naoussa, Pisso Livadi and Prodromos. Aliki is the most southern village and the second biggest fishing village after Naoussa. It has a beautiful sandy beach, which is perfect for surfing. If you like diving, you’ll be thrilled to see the relics of an ancient city at the bottom of the waters. Drios is a quaint village with a beach (slightly rocky) beyond the road, which is lined with restaurants and coffee bars. At the end of the beach you can visit the ruins of an ancient shipyard. Lefkes, the former capital, is a beautiful village built amphitheatrically upon the main mountain. Here you will find many churches including the church of St. Paraskevi, which is the first church that was built here. Naoussa is the second biggest city in Paros. Here you will encounter Kolymbithres Beach (where huge rocks eroded into strange shapes remind the visitor of sculptures embedded in the sand), whitewashed houses, narrow paved alleys, arches and tiny chapels. There's also an outdoor movie theater, with nightly features usually at 10 pm and midnight (often action films in English). Pisso Livadi is a picturesque village, built around a small fishing harbour is well organized for tourism. The beach of Pisso Livadi is one of the most beautiful sand stretches of Paros. Pounda is a popular Paros tourist resort. There are hotels, taverns, bars, windsurfing facilities and some very nice beaches here. Prodromos (or Dragoulas) is a small village that maintains the traditional Cycladic architecture with the small cube houses and small churches. An arch shaped roof unites the two small churches of Agios Spyridon (Saint Spyridon) and Agios Nikolaos (St. Nicolas). There is also the famous Byzantine Walking Trail. Other activities that Paros offers are go-cart track, horseback riding, scuba diving, sailing, snorkeling, wind and kite surfing, paragliding, waterskiing, and an amusement park with waterslides. For history buffs, there are the Ancient Pottery Workshop, the Folklore Collection, a wine museum, the Museum of Byzantine Art and an archaeological museum. So come and stay with us in Paros. There are many lodging facilities for you to choose from, for a vacation that won’t break the bank. The amalgam of excellence that Paros presents, shall capture you sight, your heart and your soul, forever... |