The beauty of Paros is mirrored in the glittering waters of Aegean Sea and its fame as has exceeded the borders of Greece. Paros captures the light of the sun and shines, as the white marble that came out from its heart. The centre of the cosmopolitan island of Paros lies behind the main port with narrow alleys, whitewashed terraces, balconies full of flowers, restaurants and hotels.

 

Paros is one of the main centres of Cycladic Civilization and has known a great prosperity in the archaic and classical era due to the fine marble that lies beneath its surface. The fine, flawless Parian marble became famous for its snow-white colour and the unique transparency reaching a depth of 3,5 cm and has been used for worldwide famous statues like this of Winged Nice of Samothrace and Venus de Milo both in Louvre Museum. As it is derived from the works found, an active faculty of Parian sculpture was created here. In the Roman years to follow Paros declined and revived only in the 4th century when the church of “Panagia Ekatondapyliani” was built under the orders of Saint Helen. Since the 10th century Paros suffers the raids of Pirates and goes under Venetian and Ottoman Occupation till standing up to join the Greek Revolution in 1821. Paros finally becomes a part of Greece and since 60’s has been established as one of the tourists’ favourites destinations in Greece.

Paros is almost in the center of Cyclades, with Naxos to the east and the small island of Antiparos to the west from which it is separated by a channel about 8 km wide. The surface of the island of Paros is 165 sq. km. and the population is 12,853 residents.

The church of Panagia Ekatondapyliani dates from the 4th century AD and is one of the most splendid churches in the Cyclades. The name translates as Our Lady of the Hundred Gates and is a literally description of the impressive number of doorways with superb columns of Parian marble. Very close to the picturesque village of Marathis which is 4 km far from the centre of Parikia, there are the ancient marble quarries where marble mining stopped in the 19th century. The Archeological Museum of Paros has many interesting exhibits. One of them is a Gorgon sculpture in nearly perfect condition. There are several beaches to choose but Paros’ top beach is Hrysi Akti (Golden Beach) which is very popular to windsurfers.

Some of the local products of Paros are honey, olive oil, traditional handmade marzipans, wine and vinegar. The vineyards around Parikia produce Mandilaria and Monemvasia wine, as well as grapes to eat.