Paros is a beautiful Cycladic Island and it has many things to offer to its visitors – the wonderful landscapes, golden sandy beaches with crystalline waters, traditional villages with white cubic houses, churches, archaeological sites, fishing harbors, and more. The hilly countryside with endless vineyards and rare wildlife attracts nature lovers.
It is located in the middle of the Cycladic Islands and is the third largest island. It’s the ideal place for windsurfing and windsurfers from all over the world throng the beaches of Paros.
A Little Bit of History
The island has been occupied since 3200 B.C. and according to Greek mythology Cretan Alcaios was the first to dominate the island.
The central position and the fertility of its plains made Paros the target of Alcaios, who was trading with Egypt, Assyria and the Balkans.
Paros Port
The Ionians arrived in 1,100 B.C. and they destroyed the Minoan civilization. The Arcadians occupied the island at around 1000 B.C. and they gave the island the name Paros after their leader Parios.
In the 8th century Paros became a great maritime power and it started trading with the Phoenicians.
The island flourished culturally and economically. The Athenians, Macedonians, Ptolemiens, Mithridates and the Romans were the next successive rulers of Paros.
Parikia, the Capital of Paros Island
With the Roman rule, Christianity became the major religion of the island and many churches, chapels and monasteries were built.
Between 1207 and 1389 Paros was under the reign of Duchy of Aegean, and then it passed in the hands of the Franks and the Turks. After the War of Independence in 1821, the island came under the New Greek State.
Paros was the birthplace of many poets and the most famous among them was lyrical poet Archilochus.
The island’s semi-transparent marble was very famous and many masterpieces such as the Venus of Milo, statue of Hermes at Olympia and the Temple of Apollo of Delos were made of this marble.
The Feast Days of Agia Marina, Panagia Faneromeni, St. Ioannis, Panagia Ekatondapiliani, Virgin Mary and Saviour’s Metamorfosis are some of the famous celebrations here.
Where is Paros?
- 6.2 miles/ 10 km from Antiparos, Greece
- 55.8 miles/ 89.9 km from Apollonia, Greece
- 52 miles/ 83.8 km from Mykonos, Greece
- 31.6 miles/ 50.9 km from Syros, Greece
- 136.7 miles/ 220 km from Athens, Greece
- 52.6 miles/ 84.7 km from Mykonos Airport, Greece
- 87.6 miles/ 141 km from Santorini Airport, Greece
- 126.1 miles/ 203 km from Athens Airport, Greece
Things to See
- Panagia Ekatontapiliani Church
- Archeological Museum
- Frankish Castle
- Byzantine Art Gallery
- Wine Museum
- The Monastery of Longovarda
- Parikia
- Naoussa
Beaches
- Kolymbithres Beach
- Parasporos Beach
- Golden Beach
Excursions
- Boat Excursion to Antiparos
- Santorini
- Delos
Paros is a wonderful island, which is ideal for all kinds of holidays, from relaxing and exploring to active and peaceful.
Its whitewashed houses are picture-perfect, and make sure to taste the local specialties in its many tavernas along the sea.
We wish you a fantastic Mediterranean cruise!