The island of Antiparos
Antiparos, a small island that harmoniously combines adventure with serenity as well as simplicity with luxury. It is located in the heart of the Cyclades, a stone’s throw from the island of Paros (30 minutes by boat from Parikia and 6 minutes by ferry-boat from Pounta).
Endowed with absolute natural beauty, it is surrounded by golden sands, crystal clear waters, picturesque cobbled lanes colored by bougainvillea and landscapes that will surely capture your eyes, soul and heart. Mostly barren, its land is of volcanic origin. In ancient times, the island was verdant (hence its ancient name “Oliaros” which means wooded island), but an unknown disaster changed its morphology.
Today our island is visited by thousands of tourists, to admire the rare jewels that it hides, the archaeological sites, the amazing view that is scattered in every corner of our island, the clean beaches, the streets, the traditional foods, the refined flavors of the restaurants , the fresh fish, the local meat, the wonderful wines and the tsikoudia of Antiparos which is worth trying. For lovers of nightlife there are bars & disco for all tastes. But above all there is the warmth, kindness and hospitality of the residents who guarantee that your stay will be unforgettable.
The cave of Antiparos is one of the most important attractions of the island. Its unique natural architecture combined with its unique stalagmites, give a magical image to those who visit it. The road to the cave is accessible by car or by the island’s public transportation. Before the entrance to the cave we find the small church of Ai Giannis of Spiliotis.
Despotiko is one of the small uninhabited islands surrounding Antiparos. The Sanctuary of Despotikos is of the highest archaeological importance and functioned since the 7th century. BC until the Roman years. Built on the small island of the Aegean, the sanctuary has remained intact over the years, giving a unique touch to the Aegean area. Despotiko is identified with ancient Prepesinthos. The archaeologist Christos Tsoundas started the first excavations in Despotiko in the 19th century where he managed to discover Proto-Cycladic cemeteries. Then followed other excavations by the archaeologist N. Zafeiropoulos, who brought to the surface traces of a Doric temple. The large excavation carried out by the archaeologist Giannos Kouragios revealed elements of the auxiliary spaces of the sanctuary. Noteworthy is the statue of a female deity found in the area. According to this research, it is possible that the sanctuary was dedicated to the god Apollo and the goddess Artemis, due to the great similarity with the findings of the sanctuary of Delion of Paros.
One of the most remarkable buildings of the Cyclades is the Venetian Castle located in the traditional settlement of Antiparos. Due to the many pirate raids on the island, the inhabitants built the castle for their protection at the beginning of 1440. Even today one can distinguish the base of the tower located in the center of the castle. The tower functioned as the last refuge of the inhabitants or as the residence of the local lord. The perimeter of the castle is covered by the walls of the houses. Just before the entrance to the Castle we meet the Metropolis of the island, the church of Agios Nikolaos.