Antiparos

Antiparos is one of my personal favourites. It is a typical village with narrow streets, a small fishing port, and all the house are kept in white and blue as these are the tradition colours of the Cyclades. The village is not nearly as touristy as the bigger settlements on Paros; Parakia, Naoussa or Lefkes to name a few. Still you will find anything you need: restaurants, private rooms even an internet café with broadband.

Life goes slow on Antiparos. Everything is still quite traditional. When the old men go to the Kafenion (small cafes) they leave their wives behind. The men spend hours sitting around small tables and drinking Greek coffee. They discuss matters of importance (mostly football and politics), play Tavli (Backgammon) or cards while their wives often sit just next to the Kafenion and discuss what they feel is important.

Most shops are in the main street. It's impossible to miss. It is leading from the port into the village. The first thing a visitor will notice is the smell of fresh bread. There are two bakeries in this street providing locals and visitors with bread and various cakes. If you follow the street you will end up on the main square (Platia). On the right side is a small castle (Kastro) and the museum.

Antiparos main attraction however is a stalactite cavern. It probably is the most famous of its kind in all Greece. Most tourist use the only bus on the island to get there. The cave situated on the south coast well worth's visiting. The grotto is about 50 metre by 100, and over 15 metres high. Some parts of it are probably still unexplored. There are some remarkable examples of stalactite formations and incrustations. Interesting enough the cave was never mentioned by ancient writers; there is, however, in the entrance of the cavern an inscription recording several names of visitors in ancient times.

Antiparos apart from the stalactite cavern is a paradise for hikers and of course people who like it quiet and slow. Most of the island is uninhabited, a perfect spot for a long hike.

Restaurants (Tavernas) and rooms are a lot cheaper than on Paros, there are no tourist traps and people are really friendly. If you want to practise your Greek you will find it very easy to talk to the locals. They are very open and hospitable. Most of the restaurants are close to the port and without an exception very good. Especially the fish is a treat. Try it.

Close to the village is also a camp site. It is rather small but shady enough, reasonable and next to one of the best beaches on the island.

The only way to get to Antiparos is from Paros. From the capital Parikia take a bus to Pounda. In high season the bus goes 8 times the least and cost about 1.20 Euro. Pounda itself consists of a couple of restaurants, a church and the little port. The only purpose of this village is to provide the ferry service to Antiparos.

 

Pictures from Antiparos
View from the ferry to Antiparos	The port of Antiparos
The main-square (Platia)	The Kastro in Antiparos
A typical small street in Antiparos-Village	Flowers are everywhere
On Antiparos people still have time	A butcher in Antiparos

By the way: The biggest island of the world is Greenland.

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