More Parikia Port

Attractions in Parikia

Ekatondapiliani church This large, Byzantine church is built around a large courtyard with lemon trees and flowering shrubs, surrounded by a high wall built against pirate incursions. Monk’s cells line the long balconies to either side of the courtyard, and reached by steps, with an ecclesiastic museum in one of them. The church itself was built in the form of a Greek cross (though an imperfect one), and actually consists of three churches that interconnect, the oldest of the three the 4th century BC chapel of Aghios Nikolaos, though later adapted, and joined to the newer buildings. Constructed in the 6th century AD by Emporer Justinian, the church was. designed by Isidore of Miletus and executed out by his pupil. These later churches were preceded by a 4th century AD church built by Emperor Constantine, for his mother, who, while traveling from Rome to the Holy Land, had taken refuge in Paros during the storm and vowed to build a church there if she should find the Holy Cross, a promise later carried out by her son. The church of Ekatondapiliani has 16th-19th century icons and other liturgical items. The walk to this church through the narrow lanes of Parikia is a pleasure in itself, as is wandering through the fragrant church courtyard.

Just behind the Ekatondapiliani church, this museum is open Tues to Sun from 8am to 3 pm, and houses carved marble tablets from the 16th to 17th centuries BC, taken from the historical ‘Parian Chronicles’, accounts of artists,playwrights and poets, which were discovered during the 17th century AD. There is also a 5th century BC winged Nike (Victory), finds from the Tem[ple of Apollo, a 7th century BC amphora, and part of a monument frieze depicting the 7th century BC Parian lyric poet, Archilochos, who has been credited with the invention of the iambic pentameter. The museum is open Tues through Sunday from 8 am to 3 pm, 1.50 euros admission.