Online Paros map showing major beaches on Paros.
Resorts to visit in Paros.
Detailed tourist and travel map of Paros.
Paros road map and visitor information.
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click here to return to Paros
Online Paros map showing major beaches on Paros.
Resorts to visit in Paros.
Detailed tourist and travel map of Paros.
Paros road map and visitor information.
Close this window or
click here to return to Paros
Paros is one of the central Cyclades group of Greek islands that remains popular but has managed to survive the growing demands of package tourism. Traditional villages still offer a genuine taste of Greek life and, with the exception of the popular resorts of Parikia and Naoussa, seaside resorts remain charming and laid back. The lack of a big airport and charter planes has kept it a little off the beaten track.
Paros is the third biggest island in the Cyclades after Naxos and Andros at around 200 sq km and with a 118km coastline. Iy has Naxos to the east, Mykonos to the north and Ios and Santorini to the south. Roughly leaf-shaped, the two biggest centres at Parikia and Naoussa are on the northwest coast, while the island's best beaches lie to the southeast. Paros has a permanent population of about 13,000. In the middle of the island is the highest point Aghios Ilias or Aghii Pantes at about 770m.
Nearby is the island of Antiparos with an area of 38sq km, a long, thin island about 125km north - south and 6km east-west. It highest point is Profitis Ilias at 300m.
| +30 (22840) | ||
| Airport | 91257 | |
| Buses | 21113, 21395 | |
| Heath centre | 24410 | |
| Hospital | 22500 | |
| Port | 21240 | |
| Police | 2333, 51202 | |
| Taxis | 21500 |
Paros has a good variety of attractions to visit and explore. Many historical monuments have unfortuantley been lost but there is still plenty to see.
This church in the centre of Parikia, usually just called Katapoliani is basically the jewel in the island's crown It is said Saint Helen, in her search for the Holy Cross, stopped in Paros in the 4th century and promised to built a church on the site. Constantine the Great built the church in the 6th century. Looted during Frankish and Turkish rule it was further damaged in 1773 by an earthquake. It was reconstructed using the original plans with a cross-shaped basilica with vaults and domes. It is comprised of the main temple tot he Virgin Mary, a shrine to Agios Nikolaos and a baptismal font. The church also houses a small ecclesiastical museum, with artifacts and wood carvings from the Byzantine era.
Near Parkia, on the naoussa road, is the triple church complex Tris Ekklisies, built in the 17th century on the site of an ancient Chirstian basillica.
Not as ghouslish as it sounds. The ancient cemetery dates from the 8th to 3rd century BC and includes a wide variety of graves. Of not is the mass grave that dates to the Geomtric period and is the only one in existence in Greece.
At Psychopiana, about 6km from Parikia, in a lush valley where thousands of butterflies come to mate. Jersey Tiger moths Euplagia quadripunctaria arrive in July and August. When airborne they display their deep red overwings.
The folklore museum, on the road north out of Aliki, houses a collection of miniature sailing and fishing boats built by the artist Benetos Skiadas. It also includes a Parian house, a blacksmith’s workshop, a traditional cafeneion, windmill and weaving workdhop.
About 5km north of Parikia the Marathi marble quarries contain long galleries, some 200m, now an industrial museum.
The island is noted for its local cheeses, particularly its gruyere, and for its wines and vinegar. Typical local dished include revithia (baked chick peas) and revithokeftedes (chick pea cake). Also look out for kolopia (spinach pie).
For cakes and sweets try the cheese and honey pies amygdalota and the small honey sweets called skaltsounia.
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