ALTERNATIVE NAMES: Paros, Paroikias

ISLAND GROUP: Cyclades Greek Islands

POPULATION: About 7,000 of whom some 3,000 live in and around the main port, town and Chora of Paroikias

GEOGRAPHY: The island is 21km from north-east to south-west and up to 16.5 km across totalling some 190 sq km. There is mining on Paros and some agriculture.

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS: Travel agents and tour operator offices, port bustle of ferry boats, English spoken, old quarter offers lovely mass to compensate for the drabness of the busy port, lack of mountains,cultivated countryside, indented coastline.

SPECIALITIES: Marble mining, red wine, agriculture.

ADMIN:

TELEPHONE PREFIX: 22840

MAIN TOWNS: Paroikias is the main port and town with three small pebble beaches. You can't avoid accommodation which is announced everywhere. Naoussa is 11km from Paroikias on the northern coast. Ambelas 4km from Paroikias used to be a quaint village but tourism has opened and scattered the area. Alyki, 12 km from Paroikias was originally a south-west coastal area of salt-pans and a small fishing boat port. Now it has been given over to tourism and there is a disco and tree lined sandy beach. Drios, 22 km from Paroikias is on the western side of Paros. The high steep retaining wall on the small shingle beach side of the road is planted with trees and the area is very attractive. Logaros, 22km from Paroikias is comparatively under-developed. Piso Livadi (21km) is a pleasent lively fishing boat port struggling to hold off the usual ravages inflicted by organised tour operators.