There are more churches than houses at the Kastro (Venetian Castle) of Paroikia. Post-byzantine chapels mainly from the 18th c. add to the beauty and charm of the Kastro. It’s been quite a while since the Kastro-Old Market Initiative has been trying to keep up or revive the festivities at the Kastro chapels.
You may not have heard of the so-called “Simian basin”, an unusual traditional vessel exclusively built in Simi, one of the sponge-fishing islands in the Aegean Sea with a great ship-building tradition.
The vineyard and the care it needs are fraught with myth. But there’s just one story: thousands of years ago man discovered Dionysus’ gift, the vine, and gradually learnt how to look after it, the ultimate aim being participation and bliss. This knowledge has been handed down from one generation to another, despite the progress and comforts technology has brought.
The Parian landscape is not always so fair coloured, rocky and dry, but has other faces as well, with different colours especially in spring. It’s the time when Paros becomes colourful from the poppies, daisies, amaranth, myrtle and spicy herbs.
Have you ever wondered what some places were like 30, 40 or even 50 years before we were there? Walking along the narrow streets of the traditional settlement of Parikia, more specifically inward from the market, at the settlement extending from Mando Mavrogenous Square to the Frankish castle of the town…
Unlike the rather exaggerated marble paved road seeming to be leading nowhere, the whole quarry area gives an impression of abandonment. A uniquely exquisite exception, the modern marble sculptures found in the specially formed plateau near the ancient quarries.
