PAROS
Vacations and Sightseeing
Vacations and Sightseeing
| Basic information | |
| Official language | Greek |
| Capital | Parikia |
| Area | 196 km² |
| Population | 12,514 (2021) |
| Currency | euro (EUR) |
| Web | .gr |
| Code. | GRC |
| Tel. | +30 |
Popular destinations GREECE
| Aegina | Alonissos | Andros |
| Chios | Corfu | Crete |
| Hydra | Kalymnos | Karpathos |
| Kefalonia | Kos | Lefkas |
| Lesbos | Mykonos | Naxos |
| Paros | Patmos | Peloponnese |
| Poros | Rhodes | Samos |
| Santorini | Skiathos | Skopelos |
| Spetses | Thasos | Zakynthos |
Vacations and Sightseeing
Paros was included in the top 10 'best islands in Europe' by the well-known site Tripadvisor in early 2014. Paros finished tenth, and the top 10 also included the Greek islands of Naxos (2nd), Milos (5th), Kefalonia (6th) and Santorini (7th).
The beautiful picturesque fishing village of Naoussa is located in a large bay in the northern part of Paros, 10 kilometres east of the capital, Parikia. Naoussa is considered one of the most beautiful villages in the Cyclades, despite the development of tourism, this lovely village has managed to preserve its character and charm. Naoussa has whitewashed small houses with many flowers, small whitewashed churches and chapels and labyrinthine narrow, cobbled streets. The village is built like an amphitheatre around a small port, which many consider to be the most beautiful in Greece, where small colourful fishing boats (caiques) moor and the remains of a Venetian castle can still be seen.
Parikia, also called Paros Town or Chora, is the capital of Paros. This small town is the commercial and cultural centre of Paros and the island's main port as well as the connection point with many other islands. Paros has typical Cycladic architecture, with whitewashed houses with additional architectural lines and coloured wooden doors, windows and balconies. Also characteristic of the Cyclades is the Venetian architecture with its large mansions.
The church of Panagia Ekatontapiliani is located a few metres from the port of Parikia. This is one of the best preserved Paleo-Christian monuments in Greece and, in fact, it is the largest in size. Legend has it that the original church was built by Saint Constantine, first emperor of Constantinople, after he sacrificed his mother Saint Helena. The mill by the harbour of Parikia is also very beautiful.
The castle, called Kastro, was built in the 13th century on the highest point of the city. For its construction, materials and columns of an old Acropolis Temple that used to stand on the same spot were used. Only part of the wall and a tower remain from this Venetian castle. The Archaeological Museum displays a collection of sculptures, inscriptions and vases from Neolithic and Roman times.
Paros has many beautiful beaches along its entire coastline, only the mountainous north-west of the island has no beaches. Around Naoussa are the beautiful beaches of Agii Anagyri, Aliki, Kolymbithres, Laggeri, Megalo Piperi, Mikro Piperi, Platia Ammos and Santa Maria. Other beautiful beaches are Agia Irini, Agios Fokas, Ambelás, Chryssi Akti, Krios, Livadia, Logara, Piso Livadi and Pounda. Paros is known for its wide range of water sport activities such as windsurfing, kite surfing, kite boarding and water skiing. The long sandy beaches of Chryssi Akti and Nea Chryssi Akti are a Mecca for surfers from all over the world.
Beautiful beaches on the neighbouring island of Antiparos are Livadia, Panagia, Diplos, Glifa, Apandima, Soros, Psaralyki, Sifneikos, Gialos and Agios Georgios.
The islet of Antiparos has one fantastic attraction, the large Cave of Antiparos (216 metres long, 203 metres wide, 18 metres high), with beautiful rows of stalagmites and stalactites. The stalagmite at the entrance is said to be 45 million years old and the largest in Europe.
Sources
Wikipedia
CIA - World Factbook
BBC - Country Profiles
Last updated March 2024Copyright: Team The World of Info