Before starting our tour, we gathered several quotes for local taxi drivers. Believe it or not, a local travel agent on the island, Polos General Travel Agency (https://polostoursparos.com/), ended up arranging the best deal for us. They also provided us with information on Day Cruise tours to other islands. Our private driver, Panos, with Golden Car Rentals Paros (https://goldencarrentalsparos.com/en) arrived at our Villa and our adventure began.
Our first stop is one of the most important Byzantine monuments of Greece- Panagia Ekantontapiliani (Our Lady of the Hundred Gates) located in Parikia, the capital of Paros. Every year, on August 15th thousands of pilgrims, arrive to honor the miraculous icon of the Virgin.
Next, Panos took us to one of Paros’ many beaches. Paros has some of the most beautiful and popular beaches in the Greek islands. The water is crystal clear, and the atmosphere is relaxing. Some beaches in Paros are organized and lined up with seaside hotels, restaurants and beach bars, while others are totally secluded. On the eastern side, particularly Golden Beach and New Golden Beach, are known as great spots for windsurfing and kite surfing. We spent about 30 minutes at Kolymbithres which is known for its clean water and the rock formations. After dipping our toes in the Aegan Sea for the first time, we climbed back in our private car and headed to Nausaus.
Naoussa has a small fishing harbor with a Venetian Fortress. The Fortress was was once a stately Venetian castle with two towers constructed in the old port. Over time, some of this 15th century structure eroded or sank into the sea and now a watchtower partially submerged in water is all that remains. This town is also full of restaurants, a wonderful bakery, hotels and local bars where you can enjoy a refreshing drink after all your sightseeing.
In Letckes Village, we meandered our way through the narrow mountain village. Lefkes is situated in the central part of Paros, 11 km south east of Parikia. It is built at an altitude of 300 metres above the sea level, on a verdant hill covered with olive trees and pine trees and offers a breathtaking view of Naxos Island. This lovely village used to be the capital of Paros during the Middle Ages. It is full of little traditional whitewashed houses, mixed with Venetian architecture, and beautiful dovecotes. The charm and the beauty of Lefkes are still untouched by mass tourism, which help it maintain its authenticity. The main church of Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) is very beautiful and we stopped to admire its along our walk.
Our day ended back at our Villa with kisses goodbye to our new friend, Panos. Then, we enjoyed a glass of Greek wine on our large patio to watch the sun set on another marvelous day in Paros.Our driver made sure everyone’s taste for adventure was satisfied He was always there when we were ready but gave us all the time we needed at every stop.
Great way to spend the day ($250 EUR for 7 hours).
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