Trails in Paros

On Paros, like all the Aegean islands, run through numerous trails. From here the grains from the fields went to the threshing floors and then to the windmills at the tops of the hills, the olives to the olive presses, the agricultural products to the villages and from the beaches, the catches inland. From these paths in Paros, just half a century ago, children went to school, often hiking for hours.

As many as trails in Paros found on the paths of modern roads were destroyed and buried under asphalt and concrete pavements. The only paths that have survived are those found mainly in the fields, farms and mountainous areas.

Traveling in the interior of Paros and especially above Lefkes to Agios Pantes you can find creeping vineyards on the terraces, presses for vines (vintage and pressing at the same time), drowned paths from the wilderness, stone huts, chapels, but also whole houses. Beautiful lizards follow your steps entering and exiting the dry stones, the cicadas stun your mind, while some eagle owls dance over your head.

Perhaps this is the only place where the mind is empty because the cities far away have nothing to say in front of this beauty.

Foreign walkers mention the trails to their drivers and highly recommend them. The German Dieter Graf Verlag in his excellent edition "Paths of the Cyclades" he describes and maps six of them.

The most famous and easy path of Paros is the so-called "Byzantine Road". Made of marble slabs starts from Lefkes, crosses small vineyards and olive groves and after a unique, downhill for most of the hour, reaches the picturesque settlement of Prodromos. All the way one gets intoxicated by the scents of Parian nature, the aromas of sage, oregano, thyme, sparta and ladana. From Prodromos, a path reaches Marpissa and from there climbs to the top of Kefalos hill, to the monastery of Agios Antonios and a second one approaches the beach of Drios.

The other routes are longer and more difficult, for more experienced walkers. The first one starts from the southern part of Parikia, from Kakapetra climbs to the plateau of Thapsani and from there descends to the ancient quarries, after previously passing through Vounia, and the monastery of Agios Minas. From Marathi the walk follows a dirt road and ends at the port of Naoussa.

Another walking route is from Lefkes to Agios Pantes which is recommended for cars, mainly 4 × 4. Only she has an alternative proposal, through Lagada to lead to Aspro Chorio. Like another of the white windmills of Lefka to Agia Kyriaki Avlaki and then Agios Georgios.