Paros is the number 1 destination for surfing in Greece! Windsurfing is one of the most popular sports in Paros and there are very well organized schools on the island. The beaches offer windsurfing for all kind of levels and types of windsurfing, from learning the basic skills to competitions in various beaches. The strong northern wind blows consistently during the summer period and the strongest wind is to be found on the eastern coastline between Paros and the neighbour island Naxos, where an amazing wind tunnel is created. Golden Beach has been chosen by the Professional Windsurfers Association since 1993 as a World Cup site. The event takes place early august and every year there are more participations and more fans of the sport.

Southwest coastline

Water

Kitesurfing is one of the most popular sports in Paros because of the strong northern winds during the summer period. Although it is a relatively young sport it gets more and more popular every year. Many of the Sport Clubs which offer windsurfing along the eastern coastline of the island also offer kitesurfing instruction and equipment to rent or buy.

Southwest coastline

Water

In the southern part of Parikia, you find the remaining columns of The Sanctuary of Asklipios, the God of medicin. The cult worship of Asklipios started around 300 BC where all the diseased and injured people gathered in groups at the temple seeking cure from various illnesses. According to tradition the devotees would sleep within the precincts of the temple and it is believed that they had visions or dreams during night, which they reported to the head priest the following day. The priest prescribed afterwards a cure which most of the times involved a dip in the therapeutic baths, mud cures or practicing sports. On a slightly elevated terrace above The Sanctuary of Asklipios you find the ruins of the temple of Pythios Apollo. Unfortunately today it is only a few remains, the rest of the temple was probably destroyed in 202-201 BC.

Parikia

History & Culture

The Enviromental & Cultural Park was founded in 2009 and is located and working within the Ai Yiannis Detis peninsula. The purpose of the park is to be a showcase of social services. The park offers different activities. For example they made 3 very nice walking paths around the peninsula which are suitable for people of all ages and level of physical activity. They also opened a museum with an exhibition of the island of Paros through the russian cartography in the period 1770 to 1774. During summer they also have an openair cinema and scheduled concerts.

Ai Yiannis Detis peninsula

Nature, Culture, Entertainment & History

The Valley of Butterflies is located with a short distance from Parikia. Every year during the summer period the trees in the green valley are covered by the Jersey Tiger moths. The graceful trees give out a sweet fragrance that in turn draws the butterflies like magnet and create the breathtaking natural phenomenon. Follow the paths around the relaxing and peaceful nature and find the butterflies around the park area. In general they are a bit difficult to spot because they camouflage themselves in the color of the leaves but try to look in the shaded areas close to the stone fences or in the bushes where they normally like to stay. The Valley of Butterflies is also known as "Petaloudes" which is the greek word of butterflies.

Between Parikia and Aliki

Nature

Visitors who pass by the small village of Marathi are spellbound by the view of the radiant and luminous white rock that extends from the mountains. Here you find the famous Ancient Marble Quarries. The marble here was some of the finest type in Greece and it was used to temples and sculptures. Archaeologists are of the opinion that 75% of all the sculptures created in the Aegean islands were made out of the marble from Paros. It was also exported around in other parts of Greece since it was also preferred by the famous greek sculptors because of its transparency and fine consistency. Some of the great masterpieces like "Venus de Milo" and "Hermes" were sculpted out of the marble from Paros. They say that during the peak of the Roman empire, this quarry employed about 150.000 slaves working as miners. Many french people visit the quarrie because the tomb of Napoleon was constructed by this marble.

Marathi

History & Culture

You find several boat taxis around the island of Paros that brings you to different beaches. There is for example a boat taxi between the port of Naoussa to Kolymbithres, Monastiri and Lageri. There is also a boat taxi between the port of Parikia and Krios beach. The boat trips are not so expensive and they don't take so long time. A different alternative than the road transportation!

Parikia & Naoussa

Transportation

The beautiful Byzantine church of Panagia Ekatontapiliani is located close to the port of Parikia and is considered as one of the most important and best preserved Byzantine monuments still standing in Greece. The original church was constructed in 400 AD and has been changed and extended during several periods and therefore the church has paleochristian, byzantine and post-byzantine elements. Considering that the first Christians used to build their churches with parts of the ancient temples, this church also consists of marble parts. The church is the third most important paleochristian monument in size in Greece. The entire area consists of the central church of Virgin Mary with the internal chapels of Agios Anargiros, Agios Philippos and Osia Theoktisti. Outside the main church there are three chapels; Agios Nikolaos from early Christian period and Agia Theodosia and Agios Dimitrios from 1700 AD. In the yard there is a baptistery and the cells that assist the temples. According to the tradition the church has 99 doors and a secret door that will open when the church of Hagia Sofia in Constantinople will be Orthodox again. Panagia Ekatontapiliani Church is an impressive monument and it is considered to be the protector of Paros.

Parikia

Religion & Culture

The Frankish Castle is one of the most important monuments of Paros, located on the small hill in the middle of Parikia. It was built in 1200 AD by the Venetians with material of old ancient sanctuaries. Unfortunately it is only a part of the wall and a tower that are the remains of the castle today. The architecture of the castle is unique. The globular construction of the tower and the difficult stonework of the walls make the castle magnificant and it pays a big role in the history of the island.

Parikia

History & Culture

An interesting museum in Paros is the Archaeological Museum located in Parikia behind the Panagia Ekatontapiliani church. The museum was founded in 1960 and has expanded since then. Today the museum exhibits a collection of various findings excavated in Paros and Antiparos dating from the Neolithic period to the early Christian times. One interesting finding you find in the museum is the marble statue of the Mermaid Gorgo, who petrified everyone looking at her eyes. A beautiful statue dated from the mid 6th century BC. Another important exhibit is the marble statue of Nike (Victory) dating from 470 BC.

Parikia

History & Culture

Kimisis tis Theotokou church is the third largest church on Paros and the main church of Naoussa. The church is built on a hill overlooking the village and has a lovely view. There are two large bell towers and a gable above the main entrance. The church is a single-aisle basilica with a tiled dome and small narthex built in 1900 AD on the site of an older church. There is a beautiful green yard with pine trees next to the church and 16 marble steps leads you up to the main entrance.

Naoussa

Religion & Culture

Agia Triada Church is the main church of Lefkes village and is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. It is a beautiful Byzantine church made of fine, white marble with an architectural importance. The church is the second largest in Paros and was originally established on the previous location of three smaller churches (Agia Anna, Analipsi and Agios Georgios). The construction began in 1830 and were completed in 1835. The church is a three-aisle basilica with two large bell towers. Inside the church you find some rare and valuable Byzantine icons.

Lefkes

Religion & Culture

The owner of the museum is a traditional artist from Paros. His passion was to create a museum showing the true traditions of the Cycladic islands. Therefore he has created a whole exhibition with miniatures of ships and important monuments. Everything is handmade without any draft and without use of scientific instruments. All the material he has used are from the Cycladic land. The result is great and all the miniatures function in a perfect way.

Aliki

Culture & History

The Ancient Cemetery is located close to the port of Parikia and covers a large area shielded by a wall to the town. Archaeological evidence show that it was functional for the large period from the 800 BC untill 200 AD. The cemetery has therefore a variety of graves of many different types and from different archaic eras. The main attraction of the cemetery is a mass grave with a headstone from the archaic times, which probably marked an important military event.

Parikia

Religion & Culture

In the square of the mountainous village Marpissa you find The Byzantine Art Gallery. The building was used to be a catholic school during the Turkish domination. There are exhibits as worship articles, sculptures and icons. The most important icons in the museum are "The Prayer", "The Deposition" and "The Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus".

Marpissa

Culture & History

The Byzantine Museum in Parikia is located in the Ekatontapiliani church. The room of the museum was initially build as a small shrine dedicated to Virgin Mary in 400 AD. It was later rebuilt after the damages of the earthquake in 1773. The museum shows rare church artwork, wood carvings, silver and metal objects, religious amphorae and heirlooms from the Byzantine era.

Parikia

Culture & History

The beautiful Monastery of Agios Antonios was built at the top of Kefalos hill near Marpissa. It was founded in 1597 and is one of the oldest monasteries on the island. In 1642 the monastery was inhabited by monks but closed in 1834 due to the present small number of monks. The monastery got its name from the church, which is quite impressive with two domes and Ionic columns supporting the altar.

Marpissa

Religion & Culture

Paros is in general a great place to party. In Parikia and Naoussa there are plenty of places to go during nighttime. You can find many different types of bars with a variety of music options; Cocktail bars with nice atmosphere, partybars and nightclubs. Some say that Naoussa is a little bit more sophisticated than Parikia and the locals choose to go out here. Parikia should therefore be a bit more relaxed and international. There are also many beach bars throughout the island which organise beach parties and concerts.

Parikia, Naoussa & Beach areas

Evening activity

Close to the main road between Parikia and Naoussa The Monastery of Logovarda is located. The monastery was constructed in 1638 and it is the biggest monastery on the island. This church is dedicated to Zoodohos Pighi, the life giving source. It has an imposing architecture and the main church has nice wallpaintings and valuable icons. The monastery has a glorious history and the monks make rich and creative work like icon painters, bookbinders, writers ect. They have a very interesting library with rare manuscripts and rare editions. The monastery doesn't allows women. It is actually a male monastery that has a hostel and hagiography workshop.

Parikia

Religion & Culture

The Venetian Fortress is located in the old port of Naoussa and it is the most characteristic spot of the lovely fishing village. Originally it was constructed by the Venetians in the 15th century and it was used as a watchtower and protection for pirates and enemies attack. Today only a part of the fortress has remained, a half-submerged watchtower that is connected to the mainland with a short footpath. Originally there was a second watchtower that no longer exists. The towers had a large iron gate that made commercial transactions easy. The fort was conquered by russians after the Venetians. And finally conquered by Ottomans after the russians.

Naoussa

History & Culture

The Ancient Pottery Workshop was a larger establishment of a pottery dated back to 300 BC. It has two cisterns, a number of supplementary rooms, two spacious kilns with a diameter of 2 meters and four smaller kilns. The excavation started in 1986 in private land and was extended to the street in 1990. The excavations are preserved in a underground modern building. At the same area they also found a geometric grave and a wall of an archiac construction.

Parikia

Culture & Shopping

The picturesque Agios Nikolaos church is located in the small port of Naoussa. It is a small, single-aisle basilica with an arched bell tower above a secondary single space building. The locals believe the church protect the fishing boats and fishermen. Small fishing boats moor directly in front of the church, and the small port is a lovely sight.

Naoussa

Religion & Culture