ANTIPAROS

Antiparos is the only settlement on the port of the isle of the same name south-west of Paros. The houses of the settlement, built around the central square, are snow-white with well tended, beautiful gardens. Along the coastal road are several small tavernas, restaurants, bars and coffee-shops which are full of tourists during the summer months. The most impressive part of the settlement is the Kastro region, where the islanders lived during the 15th-19th century, in order to protect themselves from their enemies. What has been saved today is only parts of the base of the big tower which existed in the centre of the castle as well as parts of its walls. What is worth visiting on Antiparos is a famous cave with wonderful stalactite decoration, also known as Archilochos's cave, named after the lyric poet from the 7th century BC, whose name was engraved on the rock. At its entrance lies the picturesque chapel of Agios Ioannis Spiliotis.

LEFKES

The mediterranean Lefkes village, with a population of about 500, is built at an altitude of 200 m, 12 km east of Parikia. It is near a small picturesque settlement built in a richly vegetated area full of olive trees. Among the beautiful snow-white houses of the settlement are the distinguished and beautiful churches of the 15th-17th century, like the marble church of the Holy Trinity (Agia Triada) with its old icons, or the churches of Agia Varvara and Agia Theodosia. In the settlement, there is also a remarkable folklore museum and many workshops for pottery and weaving. What is worth visiting at Lefkes, at a distance of 4 km, is the site of the archaeological excavations where ancient marble quarries have been traced, as well as the Monastery of Panagia Myrtidiotissa Thapsanon, Agios Ioannis Kaparos and the Monastery "Panagia sta Kelia" (the Virgin in Cells).

NAOUSSA

Naoussa is one of the most beautiful settlements on Paros with a population of 1,200. It is situated 10 km north of Parikia and, because of its marvellous beach, it shows a great touristic growth. The area has been inhabited since antiquity. During the Byzantine period, there was a Byzantine settlement, while in the 17th-18th century it began to flourish financially. Nowadays, it is a picturesque settlement with narrow pebbled streets, white houses, old mansions and remarkable churches, like the one of Agios Athanasios, Metamorphosi (Transfiguration), Pantanassa, Agios Ioannis Theologos, Agios Nikolaos with a small Byzantine museum, Agios Georgios and, finally, the one of Taxiarchaki. At the entrance of the port of Naoussa lie the ruins of the famous castle of the city, built in the 15th century. What is worth visiting in Naousa is the Byzantine church (12th-13th century) on the site Protoria, or the monastery of Agios Andreas (1648), Agios Ioannis Theologos (16th century), Agios Georgios as well as the beautiful beach of Kolimbithres.

PAROS (PARIKIA)

Parikia is the capital and port of Paros with a population of nearly 3,000. Near Hora, the archaeological excavations have brought to light ruins of an Asclepieio, the Pythion, a temple of Aphrodite, a temple of Eileithyia, the temple of Zeus Ypatos and Delion which supports the view that Parikia is built on the former site of an ancient port. The city is very beautiful with typical Cycladic features: narrow pebbled little streets, white houses, old mansions, vaulted arches and small picturesque chapels. The whole setttlement is built around the port and, because of the great touristic growth of the island, it is continuously extended. At the port's entrance, a windmill made of stone welcomes the visitor, a trademark of Paros, while along the coastal road there is a great number of restaurants, tavernas, bars and pastry shops, which are always crowded. In the background the hill of Agios Konstantinos with the ruins of the Venetian castle is visible, while the city has a remarkable archaeological museum. There is also a series of churches, which are of great interest, like the one of Panagia Septembriani, or Agia Anna, Agia Eleni and the house where the heroine of the Greek revolution, Mando Mavrogenous, died. But the most significant highlight in town is the church of Panagia Ekatondapyliani or Katopiliani. What is worth visiting in Parikia is the Monastery of Loggovarda, the Monastery of the Christ of the Forest, with the grave of St Arsenios and the valley of the butterflies which has a unique natural beauty.