Greece - Korina Miller [313]
Return to beginning of chapter
PAROS ΠΑΡΟΣ
pop 13,000
Paros has a friendly, welcoming face. Its rolling hills are less formidable than the genuine mountains of neighbouring Naxos, and their slopes rise smoothly to the central high point of Mt Profitis Ilias (770m). White marble made Paros prosperous from the Early Cycladic period onwards – most famously, the Venus de Milo was carved from Parian marble, as was Napoleon’s tomb.
Busy Parikia is the main town and port. The other major settlement, Naousa, on the north coast, is a lively resort with a still-active fishing harbour. On the east coast is the engaging little port and low-key resort of Piso Livadi, while deep at the heart of Paros is the peaceful mountain village of Lefkes.
The smaller island of Antiparos, 1km southwest of Paros, is easily reached by car ferry or excursion boat.
Getting There & Away
Paros is the main ferry hub for onward travel to other islands in the Aegean. It is thus well served by regular ferries from Piraeus and by connections to and from most of the other islands of the eastern Cyclades, and also Thessaloniki, Crete and the Dodecanese. For details Island Hopping.
Getting Around
BOAT
Water taxis leave from the quay for beaches around Parikia. Tickets range from €8 to €15 and are available on board.
BUS
About 12 buses daily link Parikia and Naousa (€1.40) directly, and there are seven buses daily from Parikia to Naousa via Dryos, Hrysi Akti, Marpissa, Marmara, Prodromos, Lefkes, Kostos and Marathi. There are 10 buses to Pounta (for Antiparos; €1.40) and six to Aliki (via the airport; €1.40).
CAR, MOTORCYCLE & BICYCLE
There are rental outlets along the waterfront in Parikia and all around the island. A good outfit is Acropolis ( 22840 21830). Minimum hire per day in August for a car is about €45; for a motorbike it’s €20.
TAXI
Taxis ( 22840 21500) gather beside the roundabout in Parikia. Fixed fares: airport €12, Naousa €10, Pounta €8, Lefkes €10 and Piso Livadi €13. Add €1 if going from the port. There are extra charges of €2 if you book ahead more than 20 minutes beforehand, €3 if less than 20 minutes. Each piece of luggage is charged €0.30.
Return to beginning of chapter
PARIKIA ΠΑΡΟΙΚΙΑ
pop 4522
Parikia is a lively, colourful place full of the comings and goings of a typical island port but enhanced by a labyrinthine old town, 13th-century Venetian kastro (fort) and a long, straggling waterfront crammed with tavernas, bars and cafes.
Orientation
The busy hub of Parikia is the windmill roundabout, where you come off the ferry quay. The large main square, Plateia Mavrogenous, refurbished in 2007–08, is straight ahead from the windmill. The busy road to the left (east) leads along the waterfront to the beach at Livadia. The road to the right (south) follows the waterfront past a long line of cafes and tavernas and on towards Pounta (for Antiparos) and the south of the island.
Agora (Market St) is the main commercial thoroughfare running southwest from Plateia Mavrogenous through the narrow and pedestrianised streets of the old town and up into the area known as Kastro, where the Venetian kastro once stood.
The bus station is 50m to the right of the quay (looking inland) and the post office is 400m to the left.
A free, green by nature, green in colour bus – powered by electricity – runs around Parikia at regular intervals from early morning until late evening all year; a laudable energy-saving strategy by the local authority, it is reportedly well-used by locals at all times.
Information
BOOKSHOPS
Newsstand (Ekatondapylianis) A great selection of newspapers, magazines and books in all languages.
EMERGENCY
Police station ( 22840 23333; Plateia Mavrogenous)
Port police ( 22840 21240) Back from the northern waterfront, near the post office.
INTERNET ACCESS
Wired Café ( 22840 22003; Agora; per hr €3.50; 10.30am-2pm & 6-11pm Mon-Sat, 6-11pm Sun) Reliable internet