Paros lies in the heart of the Cyclades, a group of 39 islands in the Southern Aegean Sea scattered between the Peloponnese and Turkey. The Cyclades have been inhabited at least since 7000B.C. The seafaring civilisation appeared around 3000B.C., which was also when the famous Parian marble was discovered, bringing prosperity to the Island; both the Venus de Milo and Napoleon’s tomb were carved from Parian marble. In 1537, the island came under Turkish rule and became a neglected backwater, prone to pirate raids. The labyrinthine, hilltop characters of its towns date from this period, as the mazes of narrow lanes were designed to confuse invaders.
Paros’ serene landscape of fertile valleys and rolling hills is dotted with small churches and windmills. Endless sandy beaches with shimmering blue waters and picturesque white villages bathed in the Aegean light, instil a sense of calmness to any visitor. In fact, Paros has always attracted artists to its shores because of this combination of clear white light, strong lines in the architecture, and the softly contoured landscapes.
