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JOYFUL EXPLORATION I PAROS

Argonauts. Erected far from the sea to hide itself from marble quarries in Marathi as part of a hike on foot or an
real-life pirates in centuries gone past, the inland village excursion with a tour guide or on your own.
of Lefkes impresses with its beautiful houses, delightful Very close to Parīlio and Cosme is a protected peninsula VACATION ESSENTIALS
flowers and 360-degree panoramic views. It is also home called Paros Park with winding walking trails, spectacular
to Agia Triada, a distinctive Byzantine church made of the rock formations, magnificent views, unique beaches and the Discover Mykonos in a new way with the new electric models.
finest white Parian marble. Here, in Paros’ first capital, the Ai Giannis Detis monastery, with its fascinating exhibition
island’s history appears frozen in time, with rickety tavernas, of 18th century Paros maps. What’s more, an annual festival
leaning houses and winding marble-paved streets and alleys takes place in its amphitheater and films are frequently NOW IN PAROS TOO!
all surviving — and thriving — centuries on. A deep-seated shown in the open-air cinema.
tradition of ceramic production in the town brings to life
a number of local workshops and studios; most notably ARTS & CULTURE
Yria Ceramics and the Lefkes Ceramic Workshop, both Faithful to its cultural heritage, Marathi is the proud “birthplace”
of which produce pieces inspired by the area. Marpissa of the finest Parian marble. The precious material some
is another settlement to seek out; a study in bright white of the all-time great masterpieces, like the world-famous
under the Aegean sun, featuring picturesque churches, Venus de Milo and Hermes were sculpted by, unveils its
traditional painted footpaths, signature Cycladic blue glory at the ancient marble quarries. Local myths and art
details and colorful floral features around every corner. lead to the Folklore Art Museum of Cycladic Civilization
at Aliki. Curated by Benetos Skiadas, a traditional local
UNIQUE LANDMARKS artist, it features large miniatures of ships and important
Yet, the nooks and crannies worth visiting – and experiences buildings with unrivaled art and workmanship. Visitors can
worth having – on Paros extend far beyond its beaches and admire his creations into a beautiful garden full of olive trees,
towns. One of the most remarkable things the island was amaranths and woodbine. At this point, add the name of
known for in antiquity was its white marble. In fact, there Nikos Perantinos, a sculptor and graduate of the School
was a point in time where 70% of high-quality marble used of Fine Arts in Paris whose museum is located in Marpissa.
across the Mediterranean came from here. Although they are He was a teacher of simplicity, who won many awards and
almost completely depleted, you can still visit the ancient distinctions for his excellent work. •

Agia Triada Church in
Lefkes Village: A serene
blend of history and beauty
in the heart of Paros.

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