Antiparos Island Paros

The small Antiparos island, we find it in the north-west direction just in front of the famous Paros island.

With an area of thirty-five square kilometers, Antiparos is a real unspoilt oasis where mass tourism has fortunately not yet taken hold. In reality it is precisely the island that does not allow all this, limiting the constructions and constantly striving to maintain its peaceful and calm atmosphere.

Everything is exactly how people usually imagine a Greek landscape, low houses plastered in bright white, branches of colorful bougainvillea framing blue doors and windows, narrow and sometimes winding cobbled streets, wild and almost deserted beaches, domed chapels blue and fantastic bays where nature continues its cycle undisturbed.

In the 70s it was very popular with the hippie community and still today some survivors manage campsites dedicated to naturalists. Yes, because Antiparos is still very natural and is ideal for a totally relaxing holiday.

Here time passes slowly and peacefully and is made up of simple things like gatherings of the elderly under the oaks to play cards or discuss the problems of life over a glass of wine, to days on the beaches where if you are lucky you will be there. only you and you can enjoy so much benevolence with only the sound of the sea, at the excellent food in the typical taverns that always serve fresh and traditional products, breathe that air that you see in the old films about Greece that make us dream so much.

Given its small size, you are wondering what is there to see in Antiparos.

In addition to the total idleness on the beach, the small island has very special and very important sites to discover.

Let's start with the Antiparos Cave. A large underground world known since the past with stalagmites and stalactites considered the oldest in all of Europe. Located in the Ai Yanni hill area, through 411 steps downwards you reach a real wonder of nature. At the entrance the small chapel of Agios Ioannis Spiliotis dating from the 18th century. Reaching them is easy from the port of Antiparos heading south and follow the signs. If you do not have the means, there are buses that depart from Chora and as always we advise you to view the timetable.

We continue with the interesting things to see with the Kastro which is located in Chora the main town of the island. Dating back to the period of Venetian domination, it is an imposing architecture. Built by Loredano, the complex was organized around a square-shaped courtyard where a tower stood in the center. To circumscribe two story houses that served as walls with a high and three meters wide wall without windows. Only one exit was planned on the southern side with a still existing Gothic door. Twentyfourtwo story houses were then built around the center which actually became a district called Ksopyrgo.

We arrive at the Despotiko island. We find it about seven hundred meters on the southwest coast of Antiparos. A small spur of rock 7650 meters large which in ancient times was called Prepesinthus with a small bay closed in the northern part by another Tsimintri islet. From 1207 to 1537 it was under the dominion of the Venetian Sanaoudos family and then passed to the Turks and eventually became a pirate base. Abandoned for a long time, it was then bought by two noblemen Petros Mavrogenis of Paros and Txortzis Baos of Mykonos called Despotes (in ancient Greece the despots were the lords with a tyrannical attitude with absolute powers from which the term) and therefore the reason for its first name. Attraction of the Despotiko island in addition to a sea of enchantment, tiny sandy coves and an almost lunar landscape, are the finds of the temple dedicated to the God Apollo and the Goddess Artemis. Ceramics, statues, gold ornaments and the remains of the temples suggest that in the 7th century the island of Despotiko was an important center of worship. Last and certainly not least the view over the islands of Ios, Serifos and Folegandros is a real feast for the eyes. To be able to visit it the only means is the boat. You will find organized excursions in Agios Georgios or Antiparos.

We then move on to the Antiparos beaches. Let's start by saying that the common denominators of all the Antiparos beaches are a limpid and crystalline sea with soft sand coasts. We start from Panagia beach considered one of the most beautiful not far from the Antiparos village. Soft light sand and important trees where you can shelter during the hottest hours. Agios Georgios beach is located about eleven kilometers from Chora on the west side. Given its position it is sheltered from the winds and overlooks the Despotiko island which can be reached with the boats that depart from here'. Soros beach, on the other hand, is one of the best known. Equipped with sunbeds, umbrellas and a bar where parties are sometimes organized, it has a beach of golden sand but the waters immediately become deep. Camping Beach the nudist beach par excellence since the seventies. About ten minutes from the port, it offers a soft sandy coast with a turquoise sea and an uninhabited islet that can be reached on foot or by swimming. Let's move on to Psaraliki beach which actually consists of two beaches. Five minutes from the port they are both equipped and ideal for water sports lovers as there is a center for renting equipment. Glyfa beach, a paradise! In the southern part, about six kilometers from the capital Chora, an expanse of clear sand and a clean and turquoise sea, a winning combination. Sifneikos beach the best place to watch the sunset in Antiparos. Its name comes from the island of Sifnos which can be seen from its beach. Here is the Agios Spiridonas beach, certainly the most suitable for families with children; transparent waters and a gently sloping seabed. Finally, the Faneromeni beach on the south coast. A pretty bay with white sand, clear waters and protected from the winds, fantastic for a day in close contact with Mother Nature.

Unfortunately there are no alternatives, you can only get there by sea. From Parikia and Pounda a ferry leaves every hour and the cost is € 1.50 per person.

A small island of indisputable charm, simple and quiet where you can relax body and mind and absolutely to be included in the things to see in Paros.