Parikia offers several historical perspectives on Paros: a walk around the Kastro takes you past small churches; Ekatontapiliani and the ancient cemetery reveal further religious and archaeological traces. When choosing accommodation on Paros, this distinction can help with planning: here, Parikia is associated with churches, architectural history and archaeological themes, while other places and landscapes on the island offer their own highlights.
Parikia Kastro: Churches and Reused Building Materials
On a walk around the Kastro, you will come across Panagia of Stavros, Agia Anna, Agios Markos, Agios Stylianos and Agios Konstantinos. Many small churches around the Kastro are built into its walls. Panagia of Stavros is dated to 1514; Agios Konstantinos has a covered courtyard. The ruins on the Kastro include a Venetian castle built from columns from ancient temples and other architectural elements. A walk around the Kastro thus brings church buildings together with the remains of a castle complex.
Ekatontapiliani and the Byzantine Museum
Panagia Ekatontapiliani is in the northeastern part of Parikia, just a few steps from the port. The church is an Early Christian cross basilica and is considered one of Greece’s most important Early Christian monuments. In the southern part of the church is the ancient baptistery, dating from the 4th century, which is considered the oldest and best-preserved baptistery in the Orthodox East. The Byzantine Museum of Parikia is also housed in the church complex. Its collections include rare icons, wood carvings and other religious relics from the Byzantine period and the period of Ottoman rule. The church of Agios Nikolaos also stands opposite the port and is protected as a religious monument.
Archaeological Traces in Parikia
The Archaeological Museum of Paros was founded in 1960 in a room next to Parikia High School. The most significant find at the ancient cemetery of Parikia was a Polyandreion, or communal tomb. It dates from the Late Geometric period of the 8th century BC and is considered unique of its kind in the Aegean. A large gravestone stands in front of the Polyandreion. Together, the tomb, its dating and the gravestone provide a tangible point of reference for the early history of the town.
August 15 in Parikia
On August 15, the feast day of the Panagia Ekatontapiliani church, a celebration draws people from across the island to Parikia. It includes island music, a fireworks display from fishing boats in Parikia Bay, and a procession carrying the Epitaphios of the Virgin Mary along the coastal road. The date can help you plan when to visit; check current event dates before travelling.
More Cultural and Natural Highlights on Paros
Beyond Parikia’s themes, Paros offers further points of interest to consider when choosing where to stay. In Lefkes, Agia Triada is a protected church building constructed from Parian marble in 1835. The three-aisled basilica has a raised central nave and two bell towers. The cultural festival in Alyki takes place every year in June; it lasts three days and features events in Alyki on Paros.
The Paros Environmental and Cultural Park offers a 7-kilometre network of walking trails, as well as organised and natural beaches. Its amphitheatre has 700 seats for concerts and performances. Since 2009, the park has hosted “Festival at the Park,” a summer programme of cultural, sporting and environmental events. Another natural feature on Paros is the Valley of the Butterflies: it is a rare biotope for Jersey tiger moths, which can be seen there in large numbers on tree trunks. The walking trails, cultural programme and biotope each offer a different focus from the architectural and church history of Parikia.
Accommodation and Getting Around
If you are mainly interested in the churches, the Kastro and the archaeological sites, you could consider Parikia as a possible base for your stay on Paros. Livadia is a long sandy beach nearby and is also suitable for visitors staying in Parikia and the surrounding area. The KTEL bus station in Parikia is next to the port; check current bus information before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Ampelas, Sarakiniko, Parasporos, Drios, Lefkes, Marpissa, Páros, Andiparos.
See the main travel overview: Paros.
