Paros Attractions
Chief place: Páros (Parikía)
Páros, lying some 8km/5mi west of Náxos, is occupied by a range of hills of gently rounded contours, rising to 771m/2530ft in Mt Profítis Ilías (rewarding climb, with guide; magnificent panoramic views). Three bays cut deep inland - in the west the sheltered Parikía Bay, with the island's capital; in the north an even more sheltered bay with the little town of Naoúsa (pop. 1400), which in Roman times was the island's main port for the shipment of the island's Lychnites marble; and in the east the shallow Mármare Bay. The whole island is covered with a layer of coarse-grained crystalline limestone, in which lie rich beds of pure white marble.
The island's considerable prosperity has depended since ancient times on agriculture, favored by fertile soil and an abundance of water, and on the working of marble, which is still quarried on a small scale. In recent years the rapid development of the tourist trade has brought changes in the island's landscape, economy and social structure.
Excavations on the islet of Saliangos, which was once joined to Páros, have yielded evidence of settlement in the late Neolithic period (fifth-fourth millennium B.C.).
The island, which has preserved its ancient name, was already well populated in the age of the Cycladic culture (third millennium B.C.). In the first millennium B.C. Ionian Greeks settled on Paros and made it a considerable sea power, minting its own coins, and in the seventh century B.C. Paros founded colonies on Thasos and in Thrace. In the sixth and fifth centuries Paros was celebrated for its school of sculptors. It was a member of the first Attic maritime league, and its unusually large contributions to the league (30 talents in 425 B.C.) are evidence of its wealth in the fifth century B.C.
In Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine times Paros was of no importance. In the ninth century A.D. it was depopulated as a result of raids by Arab pirates who ravaged and plundered the island. From 1207 to 1389 it belonged to the duchy of Náxos, and thereafter was ruled by various dynasts until its conquest by the Turks in 1537. It was reunited with Greece in 1832, after the establishment of the new Greek kingdom.
Regular flights from Athens, several times daily; also from Iráklion (Crete) and Rhodes.
Regular boat service from and to Athens (Piraeus), several times daily (cars carried). Local connections, daily, with the neighboring islands of Náxos, Ios, Santorin, Syros and Antíparos.
Páros, lying some 8km/5mi west of Náxos, is occupied by a range of hills of gently rounded contours, rising to 771m/2530ft in Mt Profítis Ilías (rewarding climb, with guide; magnificent panoramic views). Three bays cut deep inland - in the west the sheltered Parikía Bay, with the island's capital; in the north an even more sheltered bay with the little town of Naoúsa (pop. 1400), which in Roman times was the island's main port for the shipment of the island's Lychnites marble; and in the east the shallow Mármare Bay. The whole island is covered with a layer of coarse-grained crystalline limestone, in which lie rich beds of pure white marble.
The island's considerable prosperity has depended since ancient times on agriculture, favored by fertile soil and an abundance of water, and on the working of marble, which is still quarried on a small scale. In recent years the rapid development of the tourist trade has brought changes in the island's landscape, economy and social structure.
Excavations on the islet of Saliangos, which was once joined to Páros, have yielded evidence of settlement in the late Neolithic period (fifth-fourth millennium B.C.).
The island, which has preserved its ancient name, was already well populated in the age of the Cycladic culture (third millennium B.C.). In the first millennium B.C. Ionian Greeks settled on Paros and made it a considerable sea power, minting its own coins, and in the seventh century B.C. Paros founded colonies on Thasos and in Thrace. In the sixth and fifth centuries Paros was celebrated for its school of sculptors. It was a member of the first Attic maritime league, and its unusually large contributions to the league (30 talents in 425 B.C.) are evidence of its wealth in the fifth century B.C.
In Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine times Paros was of no importance. In the ninth century A.D. it was depopulated as a result of raids by Arab pirates who ravaged and plundered the island. From 1207 to 1389 it belonged to the duchy of Náxos, and thereafter was ruled by various dynasts until its conquest by the Turks in 1537. It was reunited with Greece in 1832, after the establishment of the new Greek kingdom.
Regular flights from Athens, several times daily; also from Iráklion (Crete) and Rhodes.
Regular boat service from and to Athens (Piraeus), several times daily (cars carried). Local connections, daily, with the neighboring islands of Náxos, Ios, Santorin, Syros and Antíparos.
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Delion
On the highest point (the southwesterly peak; view of the semicircle of the Cyclades) of Mt Taxiarkhis, beyond Parikía Bay in the northwest of Paros (about 45minutes from Páros town), was the walled sanctuary of the three Delian divinities Apollo, Leto and Artemis, the Delion.
Marpissa, Greece
Marpissa is an attractive large village with a Venetian castle and beautiful churches.
Naoussa, Greece
Naoussa is a pretty village in the Cyclades, with white-washed houses, narrow paved alleys, arches and tiny chapels. It also has a range of excellent beaches and attracts many visitors each summer.
One of the most popular beaches near Naoussa is Kolimbithres, where huge rocks eroded into strange shapes.
One of the most popular beaches near Naoussa is Kolimbithres, where huge rocks eroded into strange shapes.
Sanctuary of Aphrodite
On Mt Kounados, to the east of the town of Páros, was the sacred precinct of Aphrodite, with a rock-cut altar in the center. 40m/130ft lower down, on the south side of the hill, is the Cave of Eileithyia, which contains a spring.
Tris Ekklisíes
At Tris Ekklisies, 1.5km/1mi east of Parikía, on the site of the Heroon of Archilochos, the foundations of an aisled basilica of the A.D. seventh century have been brought to light.
