Paros is at the heart of the Cycladic Islands, about 150km SE of Athens.
Dominated by a 770m mountain, Prophitis Ilias, and fringed by beautiful beaches and crystal clear water, it is approximately 21km (13 miles) at it’s greatest length from North to South and about 10 miles wide.
The climate is warm and dry in the summer with cooling breezes ensuring that the temperature rarely exceeds 32C (88F) and the winters are temperate with the coolest months averaging around 15C (59F).
The wind makes the island a Mecca for yachting, and the world wind-surfing championships take place here every year.
The population numbers around 12,000, though in the summer the influx of both part-time residents who have a second home here, and of course the tourists upon which the island depends for its main source of income, balloon this to about 50,000 in August.
Farming and fishing still form part of the island’s economy, but the world-renowned marble mines no longer export their precious stone; Paros marble is prized for its quality and translucence which made it the choice of many famous sculptors throughout the ages, the most famous piece being the Venus de Milo.
Paros is still the home of many sculptors and artists of all kinds, the clarity of the light making it ideal for painters and photographers alike.
