Paros and Anti Paros
Paros has become one of the most visited islands in Greece. Getting there from Athens takes a modest five hours, by ferry making it a convenient and popular spot for both Greeks and foreigners who want to spend their days hanging out on its many beaches, frolicking in the ocean( it’s an attractive destination for sailors) or their nights hitting the bars.
The bustling resorts of Paroika and Naoussa provide ample opportunities for hedonism.Paros has become an option for tourists over spilling from nearby and now party island of Mykonos . As such this barren rock of an island is threatened by over tourism . Paros has a population of just 20,000 in the winter months which swells to 200,000 in summer.
But Paroika is also home to the second oldest church in Greece , established by Constantine the Great in the 4th century .Its early Christian Baptistry has even been decribed as the “Haghia Sofia of the Aegean”.
Paroika’s archeological museum contains a small but valuable collection of antiquities from the island’s past including statues of Gorgo and Nike both dating from the 5th Century BC
The most valuable marble from the ancient world was mined on the island but the precious stone, famed for its brilliant white , fine grain and luminesence is now protected and no longer available .
The small seaside communities of Drios and Elyki are welcome escapes from the bigger towns and the mountain village of Lefkes is cooler and less hurried for those wishing to explore a peaceful alternative . Classic whitewashed buildings and narrow streets are common in all Parian towns as elsewhere in the Cyclades .
Despite some great isolated beaches, rocky and often barren Paros can be hectic, but luckily it comes with its very own antidote, the aptly-named Antiparos.
AntiParos
Just ten minutes away by boat, this peaceful island has just one village, Kastro, and also boasts the intriguing cave at Agios Ioannis Hill, full of stalactites and among the biggest in Europe.
Decades ago Kastro was a village with just one street but Paros overspill has created a little town . An upscale clientele attracted to its secluded boutique hotels and seaside eateries also includes a global celebrity list including American actor Tom Hanks who has built a second home here .
Despotiko is a small, uninhabited island just a few hundred metres off the coast of Antiparos. It’s known for its rich archaeological history and beautiful landscapes, featuring pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters. The island is particularly famous for the ancient ruins , freshly excavated and restored , of a sanctuary dedicated to Apollo, which date back to the 5th century BC.
Despotiko is a great spot for those interested in history, nature, and tranquility. Its said it is packed with more antiquities per square meter than just about anywhere else in Greece.
Paros is conveniently situated in the centre of the Cyclades group of islands .Other day trips from Paros include, Mykonos , the more rural and traditional Naxos , and Delos , famed for its exquisite classical Greek ruins . Along with Knossos in Crete , these are the best preserved in the Aegean .
Destination: Greece
