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With a skyline sprinkled with blue-domed churches and a coastline decorated with miles of golden sand, holidays to Paros serve up Greek island charm by the bucket load.
Charming capital
Parikia’s port is the busiest spot on the island, with ferries stopping there en route to Santorini or Naxos. But it definitely has an appeal of its own, and plenty of sights to see. The jewel in its crown is a huge windmill, which stands guard over the town and can be seen from the harbour. Cast your eyes higher still and you’ll be able to spot the ruins of the Kastro Fortress – this 13th-century Venetian castle adds an Italian touch to the island’s history.
Pretty ports
You only need two words to describe the old fishing town of Naoussa – picture perfect. The cubic, whitewashed houses here are typically Cycladic, fronted by colourful doors and window boxes teeming with flowers. Tiny churches and blue-domed chapels pepper its maze-like cobbled streets and, at the harbour itself, colourful fishing boasts called caiques are moored. Grab a table at a waterfront taverna and you can enjoy the view over a glass of wine.
The world’s finest marble
Paros is famous for its marble, which was considered to be the best in ancient times. It’s rumoured that the iconic Venus de Milo statue – now housed in Paris’ Louvre Museum – was carved from Parian marble. And, more recently, in the 19th century, it was used for Napoleon’s tomb. You can still visit the quarry it came from, near Marathi village, and even take a chip of marble home as a souvenir.
Hiker’s paradise
Paros is crisscrossed with walking trails, and most of them come with photo-worthy views. The Environmental and Cultural Park of Paros is a great pick, as the paths across the peninsula are all mapped out, with points of interest marked up. There are seven routes to choose from – opt for the one that winds along the coast and you’ll be able to spot the surrounding Cycladic islands – Mykonos, Syros, Tinos and Naxos.
AT A GLANCE
- Kick back on Golden Beach
- Take a daytrip to Antiparos
- Sample home-grown Paros wine
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WHEN TO GO
The skies in Paros certainly have a favourite colour – they’re blue for most of the year. Temperatures hover around the 20 degree mark during the spring and autumn months, so it’s the ideal time to explore the island. June, July and August see the temperature dial cranked up to the high 20s and low 30s, but the breeze stops things from getting too toasty.
Where we go in Paros
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