Paros: An Idyllic Greek Island

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of visiting Paros, an idyllic island in the heart of the Aegean Sea with beautiful beaches and charming villages whose rich history spans over thousands of years. What I discovered there was a sense wonder that captivated my imagination – a window into a way of life that eludes modern day society.

As the turbo-propelled plane made it’s slow descent into Paros, I gazed out towards the coastline that twisted and turned back in on itself. A multitude of small, white houses were sprinkled throughout the many towns, thinning out towards the central mountainous region of the island. My excitement grew.

Not long after touching down, I made way towards the booked accommodation in the back of a local taxi. We weaved through the narrow streets, dodging numerous scooters travelling the wrong way through a one-way street. A number of close calls were averted at the very last second, but the nonchalant attitude of the driver really sold the idea that this was all a part of the control chaos (and that would later be verified in dramatic fashion later in Crete). And it wasn’t before long that I would jump straight into that chaos with my very own scooter!

Parikia

Arriving at my destination, I was greeted by a freshly painted white multi-story house with colourful flowers and grape vines sprawled out across the walls of its perimeter. Luckily enough, my room was on the upper floors, offering me a unique view across the town of Parikia. My host, Giorgos, was full of enthusiasm and provided me with information about how to reach the best spots on the island – along with helping organise a scooter giving me the flexibility to easily travel all over the island!

My first stop was in the town of Parikia, with its centre comprised of a series of narrow alleyways enclosed by endless white buildings of different shapes and sizes, forming a series of interconnected paths akin to a labyrinth. Unlike with Theseus though, the streets were filled many landmark restaurants and bars on every corner, with the occasional deep-pink coloured leaves of a giant bougainvillea tree every so often. At the other end of this maze, emerged a series of harbour-side restaurants gazing out towards the mainland of Greece many kilometres away. I finished the evening with a mouth watering portion of grilled seafood followed by one (or two) ouzo!

Monastiri Beach

On the second day, I hopped on the scooter and took the scenic route to Monastiri Beach, a small sandy beach located on the north of the island with crystal clear water glimering in the lush summer sun. After taking a long and relaxing dip in the still water, I walked over the beach-side bar to grab some lunch followed by a beer. The music was mellow and the sunbeds inviting.

After a few hours here, I stopped by the second and more quiet beach in this area – Kolimpithres. Impressive other-worldly rock formations surround the entrance to the water. The pillow and ellipsoid shapes of the culdron-form concaves in the granite rocks were carved away by wind and water erosion through the passage of time. Interestingly, these shapes are particularly unique due to the formation of parallelepipeds in the rock caused by rapid quenching of the hot granitic magma by the cold sea.

Here I was able to find a peaceful beach tucked away from any sort of built-up beach-side cafes and music. This is definitely the spot for a more relaxing experience. There were two small nearby islands I was tempted to swim across to, and if it weren’t so late I might have just satisfied my curiosity. Next time!

Naoussa

In the evening, I made the journey to my favourite town on the island – Naoussa. It is an old fishing village founded during the Byzantine era but characterised by its 15th century Venetian port along with its stunning architecture, having retained its original charm despite becoming a popular tourist destination. The town is built amphitheatrically around its old port, and at its centre you will find another cozy labyrinth of bright white, pink-flower cladded alleyways. However the real star of the town is its old port. There you will find a picture perfect experience with small fishing boats moored and rocking alongside each other, the catches of octopus hanging out to dry in the warm summer sun, and a vibrant nightlife of restaurants with tables and chairs cladding the perimeter of the harbour.

The relic of a nearby venetian castle is connected to the port via bridge, with the soft splashes of waves echoing through its open ruins. A short stroll through the town will lead you to a set of restaurants whose doors open directly to the edge of the Aegan Sea, a sight of immense beauty.

Lefkes & Southern Paros

On the following day, I travelled into the mountainous centre of the island to visit the historical town of Lefkes. Traversing the higher altitudes of the island via scooter was itself a fun experience, with plenty of twists, turns and views to keep me entertained. The drive also revealed the island’s history of the world-renowned Parian marble with the endless quarries engraved into the mountain’s side. The town of Lefkes was relatively small, with a historic church and an ancient walking trail aptly named the Byzantine Road. After enjoying a quick frappe, I hit the road towards the beaches on the southern side of the island.

I arrived at the “Golden Beach” and decided to spend the rest of the day there. A bumpy off-road exit from the highway lead me to a large stretch of sandy beaches completely free of sunbeds! The light turquise water was as clean and warm as in the north of the island, however didn’t quite have the same charm as the smaller beaches elsewhere on the island. Nearby were a series of beach-side bars with their ornately facades enticing wearing beach-goers in with their Mediterranean summer vibes. It worked, as after an hour in the water I made my way in to the closest one whose entrance was connected to the water via a long timber walkway. The souvlaki was succuent and the daiquiri delicious.

I made my way back to Parikia via the southern ocean road – spectacular views out into the Aegean instilled a sense of awe and wonder deep within me. As I traversed the long and open roads of the small Greek island, I absorbed its beauty at every turn. A winding coastline with tiny white houses were scattered across the horizon, historic millennia-old churches lay at the centre of every village, and the whitest white marble extracted from the quarries in the mountains overhead was embedded into nearly every second structure.

My three days on this spectacular little Greek island had left a lasting impression on me. Not only had it imparted a wealth of knowledge and experience, but it had connected me to my roots in a way I had never felt before. Growing up in Australia with a Greek background, we rarely have the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the culture and truly understand the significance of Greece’s history while learning a thing or two about its people’s way of life. I can say with certainty – while this was only my first visit to a Greek island, it certainly won’t be my last!

Εις το επανιδείν!