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Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Holydays in Paros,Greek Island

Windmill Paros
Windmill Paros by martindrums44

Paros (Greek: Πάρος; Venetian: Paro) is an island of Greece in the bicentric Aegean Sea. One of the Cyclades island group, it lies to the westerly of Naxos, from which it is separated by a channel most 8 km (5 mi) wide. It lies approximately 100 nmi (185 km) south-east of Piraeus.

Today, Paros is one of the most favourite European tourist hotspots. The Municipality of Paros includes numerous depopulated offshore islets totaling 196.308 km² of land. Its close neighbor is the Community of Antiparos, lying to its southwest. Paros also became famous for its dustlike albescent marble which gave rise to the term Parian which is used for China and dustlike marbles worldwide
.

naousa, paros
naousa, paros by tziralis

Paros has numerous beaches including Chrissí Aktí (Golden Beach, Greece) near Drios on the east coast, at Pounda, Logaras, Piso Livadi, Naoussa bay, Parikia and Agia Irini. The constant strong wind in the strait between Paros and Naxos makes it a favoured windsurfing location.

Naousa Old Port
Naousa Old Port by MarXXI

The capital, Parikia (Italian: Parechia), situated on a bay on the north-west side of the island, occupies the site of the ancient capital Paros. Parikía harbour is a major hub for Aegean islands ferries and catamarans, with several sailings each day for Piraeus (the port of Athens), Heraklion (the capital of Crete) and other islands such as Naxos, Ios, Santorini, and Mykonos.

Naousa, Paros
Naousa, Paros by _Dimitris_

Naousa, Paros island
Naousa, Paros island by teo58 (off line - on long vacation)

In Parikia town, houses are built and decorated in the traditional Cycladic style with flat roofs, cover walls and blue-painted doors and window frames and shutters. Shadowed by fancy vines, and surrounded by gardens of oranges and pomegranates, the houses give the town a picturesque and pleasing aspect.

On a sway beside the sea are the remains of a medieval castle, built almost entirely of the marble remains of an ancient temple. Similar traces of antiquity, in the shape of bas-reliefs, inscriptions, columns, & etc., are numerous. On a sway shelf to the south are remains of a precinct which was dedicated to Asclepius. In addition, near to the recent harbour, the remains of an ancient necropolis are visible, since being discovered recently during non-archaeological excavations.

Naousa, Paros
Naousa, Paros by _Dimitris_

In Parikia's main square is the town's principal church, the Ekatontapiliani (literally: "church of the hundred doors"). Its oldest features almost certainly predate the adoption of Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire (391 AD). It is said to have been founded by the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great (ruled 306–337 AD), Saint Helen, during her pilgrimage to the Holy Land. There are two adjoining chapels, one of very early form, and also a baptistery with a cruciform font.

Cafe in Parikia (Paros)
Cafe in Parikia (Paros) by Rol1000

Ekatontapiliani
Ekatontapiliani by 크리쓰

Church of Agia Anna, Lefkes, Paros, Greece
Church of Agia Anna, Lefkes, Paros, Greece by Eustaquio Santimano

On the north side of the island is the bay of Naoussa (Naussa) or Agoussa, forming a safe and spacious harbour. In ancient times it was closed by a chain or boom. Another good harbour is that of Drios on the south-east side, where the Turkish fleet used to anchor on its annual voyage through the Aegean during the period of Ottoman rule over Paros (1537 - 1832).

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