Paros is the teeming heart of the Cyclades Islands in the central Aegean Sea, located 150 kilometres outside of the Port of Piraeus. The popular tourist destination is covered with cubic white houses outlined by crystalline waters lapping pristine white beaches. The traditional villages set against a lavish rolling landscape encompass realms of culture, historical monuments and ancient marble quarries.
The most popular beaches for sunning, windsurfing and swimming include ChrissíAktí, Santa Maria and Poúnda. Mazes of ancient trails create plentiful hiking opportunities across the entirety of the island highlighted by the Byzantine Léfkes-Pródromos trail. The different villages are tourist allures themselves, including the medieval-style Márpissa encompassing the Monastery of Ayios Antonios and the exquisite Náoussa which encloses the historic ruins of a Venetian fortress.
The island of Paros is most easily accessed by ferry routing out of the Port of Piraeus, but also from Rafína, Lávrio and other islands of the Cyclades. There are central bus stations located in the main villages of Parikia and Naoussa. Taxis, cars and motorcycle rentals abound, and much of the island is easily explored on foot.
Paros was originally a Byzantine territory and historically had sided with the Persians throughout different eras in time. Paros came under the rule of the Ottoman Empire following the Crusades until the Greek War of Independence.