|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
WELCOME TO PAROS ISLAND
GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION
The island
group of Paros and Antiparos lies roughly at the centre of the
Cyclades , between Naxos , Myconos , Ios , Sifnos , Syros and 90
nautical miles southeast from Piraeus . Paros has a surface area
of 186 square km , with 120 km of coastline . In the middle of
the island is the highest point , the peak of the mountain Aghios
Elias or Aghii Pandes , reaching 771 meters . The island is
partly mountainous and partly lowland . The mountains however do
not extend to the sea in the form of steep rocky shores ,as 
very
often happens with many of the islands in the Aegean . Instead
they form gentle slopes which , towards the coasts , become low
cultivated valleys and plains . Most of the coastline is easily
accessible and forms hundreds of coves and sandy beaches . The
ground of the island is rocky consisting mainly of granite with
limestone pockets containing the famous Parian marble.
Natural
vegetation is sparse with most of the island flora concentrated
inland where there is water . In the southeast where the land is
flat there are many large fertile plains under cultivation .
Paros is one of the most fertile islands in the Cyclades and
produces wine (already known from antiquity and still exported to
other parts of Greece and abroad) , olive oil potatoes and
cereals . Famous
since ancient times the Parian white marble is no longer mined .
The marble mined today is g
ray and it is only used
in the construction industry .The two natural bays of the island
, Parikia (the port and the capital of the island) and Naoussa
(the famous summer resort) have beautiful sandy beaches ,
protected from the wind .
With its wonderful mild climate , its beautiful countryside and the friendliness of the people , Paros is a perfect holiday destination .
CLIMATE
Paros climate is typically Mediterranean , with hot , dry summers and mild winters . Luckily there is always a breeze coming from the sea . Often Aeolos , the ancient god of winds, opens his windbags as the Greeks say and the meltemi wind blows in the Aegean , especially from mid July to mid August . Meltemi is a northern wind that usually starts in the morning and can blow all through the day , even for 3-4 days . The summer winds of 4-7 bft mean that there is usual ly a breeze to be found on some parts of the island and the heat is not strong . So there is a reason why PWA (Professional Windsurfers Association ) chose Paros for the windsurfing World Championship Grand Prix that takes place every August in Paros. The winter temperature is usually between 10-15 C and the summer from 22-34 C . The water temperature is in the winter 5-12 C and in the summer 19-25 C .
PAROS TODAY
Paros today is one of the most visited islands in Greece . Tourism found its way to Paros in the sixties and it is now third in popularity only to Myconos and Santorini . Tourism is now the principle source of income , but fortunately the local people managed to retain their traditional way of life , so many of them still take care of their farms and make excellent wine and olive oil . There are also many fisherman , so do not miss the opportunity to taste the freshly caught fish of the Aegean .
Being the capital of the island PARIKIA is a hub of activity .
There you will find the main port which has excellent connections
to most of the other islands of the Aegean , as well as the
mainland . In Parikia also you will find the main bus station
with buses traveling all over the island . The capital also is
the main commercial center , so there you can find services such
as banking facilities and many shops selling souvenirs among them
handicrafts , jewelry and pottery. Explore the narrow streets
inside the town and discover the beautiful architecture of past
centuries . Paros architecture is of a great interest as Parikia
has characteristics of neoclassical influences blending
harmoniously with the original Cycladic shapes. Parikia' s bay
has also a number of sandy beaches , such as Livadia , Krios ,
Marcello , Delfini , etc . Several feasts and cultural events are
organised during the summer with traditional dancing and folklore
music .
EKATONTAPYLIANI or Our Lady of Hundred Gates is the most important monument of the island and in 1997 was the celebration of her 1700th anniversary. Considered to be miraculous many pilgrims visit the church every 15th of August . The church is linked to history with myths of the Byzantium. Tradition and history state that the church was built in the reign of Constantine the Great by his mother St Helen during her voyage to the Holy Land and her intention of finding the True Cross . Inside the church is the Baptistry one of the few remaining in the world that has the shape of a cross . The church is decorated with beautiful post Byzantine icons and has a Byzantine museum .
PARIKIA'S ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM contains finds from Paros and Antiparos some dating as far back as 6000 years . Here the visitor will find Neolithic and Bronze Age idols and objects of different periods . Many finds show how Archilochos one of the most important poets of Antiquity lived and wrote his satiric poems in Paros .
THE KASTRO or Frankish castle is
in the center of Parikia . Built from pieces and columns of
ancient temples in the 13th century only one wall remains today .
The castle is surrounded by many old churches , of which St
Constantine is the most important (built in the 12th century)
with a magnificent view to Parikia's bay . Don' t miss the sunset
and the panoramic view of the bay from the temple of Demeter ,
the ruins of which are next to St Constantine . Among the
interesting monuments of Parikia there are also the remains of a
n ancient cemetery on the seaside , the ancient temple of Pithion
and the bases of the temples of Dilion and Aschlipeion .
THE MONASTERY OF LONGOVARDA is one of the most impressive monuments on Paros . It was built in 1638 and women are not admitted . There are many monasteries in Paros , some of them you can visit such as Moni Christou Dassous (Jesus in the Forest) , Aghios Andreas , Moni Thapsanon , Moni Aghiou Georgiou and many other , as Paros is considered to be a religious island . The visitors must be dressed in a descent way in order to enter to the churches and monasteries .
THE
ANCIENT MARBLE QUARRIES OF MARATHI where the famous Parian marble
has been produced since antiquity .The Parian marble is white and
transparent up to 3,5 cm . Many masterpieces were made with this
marble such as The Aphrodite of Milo, the Victory of Samothrace ,
Hermes of Praxiteles and many temples on the sacred island of D
elos
. Paros has raised also famous ancient sculptors such as Skopas
and Agorakritos and painters such as Arkesilaos and Nicanor . Two
of the ancient tunnels are located immediately to your left as
you enter the quarry site . Unless you are a trained cave
explorer , do not attempt to enter , as the caves are deep and
labyririnthic . A small road leads to the monastery of Panaghia
ton Thapsanon , dedicated to the Virgin of Myrtidiotissa .
On our way to the mountain is the tiny village of KOSTOS , a typical Cycladic village with only one square and a tavern where you can eat lamb chops under the pine trees and admire the beautiful churches. Just before the entrance to the village , the pottery workshop Studio Yria is situated on a hilltop . Apart from the breathtaking view of eastern Paros and the neighboring island of Naxos , you may enjoy watching the craftsmen at work .
At the altitude of 300 m above
the sea level and offering an enchanting countryside scattered
with ancient olive groves , eucalyptus and cypresses is the
village of LEFKES . Hidden in the mountain for fear
of pirate raids , the old capital of Paros is one of the most
beautiful villages in the Cyclades . The village is built
ampitheatrically and in its narrow streets full of old churches
and white houses built in the 15 th , 16thand 17th century , you
will feel that time has stood still some centuries ago . The
present day inhabitants number 500 but the presence of the
cathedral , a number of neo-classical buildings nicely blended
with the traditional cubic shaped Cycladic architecture and the 9
windmills are indicative of the importance and the wealth of the
village in the past . The cathedral of Aghia Triada (Holy
Trinity) built in 1830 is very impressive . Having peculiar bell
towers and a marble altar (most of the church is made of Parian
marble) it also h as a collection of precious Byzantine icons .
The view from the church and the nearby cemetery is breathtaking
. In the center of thevillage is a very old cafe and a barber
shop , so take time to drink a Greek coffee and experience the
faity-tale village . Avid walkers can trek the ancient Byzantine
road that leads to the village of Prodromos. Lefkes village hosts
two small museums , THE FOLK ART MUSEUM with house tools
hand-woven and embroidered clothing and THE MUSEUM OF AEGEAN FOLK
CULTURE with objects and elements of the Aegean plus a library
which contains an extensive bibliography for cultivating an
acquaintance with the Aegean civilization . Approaching the folk
culture of the Aegean we discover how the people under strenuous
circumstances succeeded to live in harmony with the environment ,
respecting both nature and humanity . After a perfect day in
Lefkes don' t miss tasting the MAVROUKA , the sweet red local
wine .
Once a fishing popular
resort on the village , now the most island and surely the
prettiest , the port of NAOUSSA has played an important part in
the history of the island at various times during 1200
inhabitants today the past . The village has and many tourists
during the summer months . Naoussa' s picturesque fishermen port
with its tavernas , ouzeris with octopuses dried , bars and
discos is the hanging in order to be jewel of Paros . You may
find that it may take you a few days before you have discovered
and admire the unique samples of Cycladic romantic spots . Local
festivals architecture and the with .The traditional 
dancing are organised during the
summer traditional plate of Naoussa is gouna , a fish dried in
the sun and then grilled . History , especially that of 16th-19th
centuries comes to life as the visitor walks through the narrow
streets . You feel the presence of the pirates (Naoussa was the
port of the famous pirate Barbarossa) , the French Capuchins ,
the Russian troops and the Venetians . There is also a Venetian
fortress , a small Byzantine museum , a Traditional costumes
museum and many - many churches and chapels .
The vast bay of
Naoussa hosts some of the most beautiful sandy beaches , some of
them very famous as Kolymbithres (where the wind sculptured the
rocks) , Monastiri with a beach club , Lageri and many quiet and
natural c
oves .
At a distance of 3 km is SANTA MARIA with the surfing beach . Watersports are plentiful including a diving club , although secluded coves are favored by the holidaymakers .
AMBELAS is a nearby tiny village with a couple of sandy beaches and seaside tavernas where you can taste freshly caught fish and seafood by the fishermen who own them .
Following the eastern route (the windy part of the island) are the most beautiful beaches , Glifades , Tsoukalia , Molos and Kalogeras , all of them sandy and quiet .
On our way to the south we will find the villages of MARMARA , MARPISSA and PRODROMOS all of them untouched by tourism . If you want to get an idea of how Paros used to be some decades ago you must visit Prodromos . Note the arched gateway which is formed by the belfries of two churches , a typical example of a fortified Cycladic village , where the continuous line of buildings on the perimeter constitute a wall . Leave your car or moped outside the gate (vehicles are not allowed into the village ) and enjoy a walk through the village , which looks as if it were still living in the last century .
The road
continues on to the villages of Pisso Livadi and Logaras , mainly
summer resorts with many small family hotels . The tranquil
beautiful resort of PISSO LIVADI boasts a sandy beach
and a small fishing harbor with aquamarine sea . A
few tavernas and a couple of
bars on the waterfront create a very peaceful scenery . The
colors are striking , the deep blue and aquamarine of the Aegean
contrasts with the bright yellow of fishermen' s nets . Night
life is low key with evenings dedicated to eating , drinking and
chatting at the cafe tables . Daily cruises to Naxos , Amorgos
and Myconos depart from the tiny port of Pisso Livadi .
LOGARAS is a holidaymaker' s dream with a glorious golden sandy beach (awarded with a blue flag for outstanding cleanliness ) where you will be able to work on that important tan , few tavernas on the sands and a carefree atmosphere .
POUNDA BEACH is nearby within a walking distance where a fabulous beach club offers excellent watersports and young people party all day during the high season .Following the road we find NEW GOLDEN BEACH , the windsurfers dream , in fact the World Championship of Windsurfing takes place every August and athletes from all over the world gather in their Mecca .
A couple of kilometers away is GOLDEN BEACH , a vast sandy beach ideal for sun seekers and of course sea sports . A drive south through the picturesque countryside will bring you to the tiny village of DRIOS , a summer resort with beautiful houses and a couple of tavernas by the seaside .
Until relatively recently ALIKI was one of Paros best kept secrets. After a hard day's sunbathing you are sure to work up an appetite and if you have a passion for seafood you have chosen the perfect location . The fish are freshly caught and cooked . The wine locally produced has an excellent taste . Choose one of the waterside tavernas and relax as you watch the sparkling azure waters . Not far from Aliki the captivating South with its rolling hills and secluded bays waiting for you to discover them . SCORPIO'S POPULAR MUSEUM is a must to be seen . It was created by a fisherman who makes miniatures of boats , monuments , windmills and elements of the tradition that tend to disappear . You will find it at the entrance to the village of Aliki .
THE
BUTTERFLY VALLEY or PETALOUDES has an astonishing view
to Antiparos and is a perfect place for the sunset . The butte
rflies of the valley fly only at
night , as they sleep during the day , so be quiet and do not
wake them up ! Their scientific name is PANAXIA QUATRIPUNCTARIA .
They need a lot of humidity shade and a silent environment . They
live for only 3 weeks and you can admire them from 9:00-20:00
every day from the beginning of June until the mid of September .
For a small entrance fee you can enjoy a cold beverage to the
small cafe and relax under the beautiful trees .
Not far from
the valley is the tiny harbor of POUNTA , where you will find a
fantastic spot for winsurfing .From here a 10 minutes ferry will
take you to the island of Antiparos . Almost one 
km
away is AGHIA IRINI with two palm beaches .
ACTIVITIES : Sailing , swimming , surfing , diving , underwater fishing and
water sports are the most popular activities in the island , but
Paros offers more opportunities for fun . There are basket ball
and football fields , tennis courts in many hotels , horseback
riding , a three hole mashie golf
course, a waterpark and a Go-kart track . For those who would
like to discover new experiences , fishing trips with traditional
fishing boats are organized . You will never get bored on Paros .
Free Spirit travel is located at the
entrance of the village of Naoussa . Our names are Michel &
Evina . We tried to give you a minimum information for our
beautiful island . There are more nice places and things to see ,
but you will discover them when you will come here . We will be
very pleased to help you choose accommodation and provide you all
the informations for an unforgettable vacation . We speak English
, French and Italian .
Send us an e-mail : frspirit@hellasnet.gr
Naoussa
Paros 84401 , Cyclades , Greece
tel : +30 284
52251
fax: +30 284 52294