Current location:opinions >>
Move over Mykonos! Paros is far more laid
opinions749People have gathered around
IntroductionYou have to make a bit of an effort to reach the small, Cycladic island of Paros.But it’s worth it i ...
You have to make a bit of an effort to reach the small, Cycladic island of Paros.
But it’s worth it if you’re keen on fine beaches, blue-domed churches and ports where waterfront tavernas serve charcoal-grilled fish and spanakopita (spinach pie).
My Greek friend Theo and I arrived after a three-hour voyage by high-speed ferry from Piraeus.
You can also get there flying via Athens or go to big sister Mykonos and take a 45-minute ferry ride.
While that larger island is well-known for its hedonism, sunsets and cruise ship hordes, Paros is just 13 miles long and a favourite with Greek holidaymakers.
White and beautiful: Charlie Kitcat explores the Greek island of Paros, basing himself in the village of Naoussa (pictured)
We stayed in Naoussa, once a quiet fishermen’s village but now the island’s tourist hub.
Our room at the reasonably priced Iris Boutique Hotel came with a balcony overlooking the whitewashed town.
Jewellery shops and clothes boutiques line the winding streets while the ruins of a 15th-century Venetian castle stretch into the bewitching Aegean.
In the 1970s, Paros was a party destination — until officials briefly closed the island to foreign tourists.
Now it is trending again after being a location in the Netflix mini-series One Day. Airbnb saw a 32 per cent spike in searches by UK travellers.
Charlie tours Parika town, which boasts a traditional windmill, pictured, overlooking the water
Once a quiet fishermen’s village, Naoussa is now a tourist hub. Pictured: The local beach
New villas are ‘popping up like mushrooms’, as one islander put it, along with smartly designed luxury hotels such as the 38-room Avant Mar on Piperi Beach.
With its private plunge pools, thermal baths-themed spa and a restaurant overseen by star chef Nobu Matsuhisa, it’s unashamedly aimed at wealthy sun-seekers.
So, is Paros the new Mykonos? Not yet, but with an international airport due to open next year, it clearly will be.
Charlie says that Paros 'may just be a new target for the TikTok brigade'. Above, the island's Kolymbithres Beach
Pictured: One of the rooms at the 'reasonably priced' Iris Boutique Hotel where Charlie stays
We rented a car to explore. In Parikia, the small but satisfying Archaeology Museum offered enchanting artworks created over 2,000 years ago.
We learned how in classical times Parian marble was prized for its translucence, being used in sculptures such as the Venus de Milo. It also adorns Napoleon Bonaparte’s tomb in Paris.
Another engaging stop was the Valley Of Butterflies, a forested nature reserve where in summer thousands of Jersey tiger moths flock with vivid red underwings that are only revealed when in flight.
Charlie drives up into the mountains to Lefkes, pictured, where he dines at Taverna Agnadio
One morning, we took the seven-minute, €1.50 (£1.30 / $1.60) ferry west to Antiparos, which is smaller and more traditional than its go-ahead neighbour.
Paying a visit to its Historical And Folklore Museum, we were offered olives and a glass of local Tsipouro, a potent ouzo-like spirit.
Above, baked feta in filo with a drizzle of honey (file image)
Yet even here, there was a feeling that things were on the move.
'You know Tom Hanks has a house on Antiparos?’ said a waiter.
Then, a little later, a shop owner couldn’t help boasting how ‘the Obamas were here last week’.
Back on Paros, Theo and I drove up into the mountains to Lefkes.
As the sun set, we sat in the Taverna Agnadio savouring its panoramic view of white churches and windmills as luscious plates of tzatziki and honey-coated fried feta landed on the table.
It’s fair to say that Paros is making its presence felt. It’s been conquered by the Byzantines and Ottomans — and may just be a new target for the TikTok brigade. All the more reason to go now.
TRAVEL FACTS
Seven nights at Avant Mar, departing June 8, costs from £5,080pp B&B including flights from Heathrow via Athens and transfers (elegantresorts.co.uk). Double rooms at Iris Boutique Hotel from £63 B&B (irisparos.com). See visitgreece.gr.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Global Glance news portal”。http://benin.lochsaege.com/article-50b899949.html
Related articles
Analysis: Larson enters conversation with Verstappen as best drivers in the world
opinionsINDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Ask almost any hardcore motorsports fan who the best driver in the world is righ ...
【opinions】
Read moreByteDance's platform takes on U.S. e
opinionsTikTok, the wildly popular video-sharing platform, is attempting to challenge e-commerce giants such ...
【opinions】
Read moreShanghai makes great strides in improving business environment
opinionsA total of 535,500 new market entities were registered in Shanghai in 2023, up 29.1 percent year-on- ...
【opinions】
Read more
Popular articles
Latest articles
Trump accepts a VP debate but wants it on Fox News. Harris has already said yes to CBS
Pioneering zone to be launched in Hunan to propel Sino
Study links pesticide to breathing problems in children living near farms
China's current account surplus remains in reasonable range
Sweden beats France, Britain relegated after losing to Norway at hockey worlds
Major lithium reserves discovered in Sichuan
LINKS
- Rising Tennis Star Makes History, Aims to Return Stronger
- Family Does Part to Benefit Society
- Virtues 'Cultivate' Family Members into Better People
- Striving for a Better Future
- Ganzhou: Cradle of Hakka Culture
- Making Communities More Beautiful
- Join the Efforts! Federations, Women, Families Contribute to Food Production, Conservation
- 'I'm Good Here, in China!'
- Virtues 'Cultivate' Family Members into Better People
- Technician Leads Team in Making Scientific, Technological Innovations