There’s also a free open-air cinema screening arty and classic movies (Almodóvar and Hitchcock were on the programme in 2017), and a wonderful amphitheatre for music and theatre performances.Īnd all this without mentioning Monastiri Beach, which has another pool of pure, clear water. The granite on the paths was used in Neolithic times for ornaments, weapons and jewellery. The hills in the park have wild herbs and flowers and arresting views back over the bay to Naoussa. Moments from Naoussa, you can tackle walking trails that guide you past yet more outlandish rock formations, caves, a lighthouse and hidden coves. The Aï-Yannis Detis Peninsula in the north of Paros has been turned into a culture and recreation park. Paros Park Source: Arne Thielenhaus / shutterstock Paros Park Their faces are also marked with ridges, straight vertical lines and holes, and you can sunbathe on top of some and climb others to indulge your curiosity.īetween the rocks are enticing sandy beaches, and the rocks create pools of placid, shimmering water to swim and snorkel in.ħ. Over many millennia these rocks have been chiselled by the sea and north wind into all sorts of strange shapes that look like they were sculpted by an abstract artist. Ten minutes from Naoussa, this beach is actually a string of sandy coves, all separated by surreal granite rocks that also litter the water around the bay. Kolymbithres Beach Source: Pawel Kazmierczak / shutterstock Kolymbithres Beach The sea is so tranquil that the only thing that musters more than a ripple is the wake caused by ferries entering and leaving Parikia’s harbour in the distance.Ĭhildren will have the time of their lives playing in these safe waters while parents and couples will be spellbound by the vistas over the glimmering sea, back to Parikia and its mountainous backdrop.Īs ever front row sun loungers cost a little extra, and you may need to arrive early for a good spot in summer. With a crescent of white sand, pool-like waters and full waiter service, it’s a mystery why Marcello isn’t busier. Ten minutes around the bay from Parikia is what most people agree is the best beach on the island. Marcello Beach Source: PitK / shutterstock Marcello Beach Give yourself time to view the baptismal font and learn about the church’s history at the museum in the cloister.ĥ. Here you can view the most venerated of the church’s icons, the Virgin of Ekatontapiliani, painted in the 1600s. Most eye-catching is the iconostasis in front of the apse, which is held up by marble columns with Corinthian capitals that were fashioned in the 500s. The interior eschews the normal colourful hagiography for simple, Byzantine stone patterns and decorative friezes. “The Church of a Hundred Doors” in Parikia dates to the 4th century and is said to have been founded by St Helen, the mother of Constantine when she stopped on the island during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.Īs such it is one of Greece’s outstanding early-Christian monuments, with architecture mostly from the 6th century during the rule of Justinian after the first church was damaged by fire. Panagia Ekatontapiliani Source: Stamatios Manousis / shutterstock Panagia Ekatontapiliani Let’s explore the best things to do in Paros: 1. In the capital is an early-Christian wonder, the Panagia Ekatontapiliani church founded by St Helen 1,700 years ago. The beaches on Paros are almost too good for words, bathed by shallow waters of shades ranging from turquoise to royal blue. Paros is synonymous for the high-quality marble that was quarried here in ancient times, used for the Parthenon’s roof tiles and iconic sculptures like Nike of Samothrace and the Medici Venus. Parikia, the main port is a knot of winding streets below a castle made from re-used marble from an ancient temple, while the small fishing port at Naoussa is one of the Cyclades’ most endearing scenes. Right at the centre of the Cyclades, the island of Paros is a holiday destination cherished for its phenomenal beaches and cute Cycladic villages of snow-white houses.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |