The best way to discover and admire the architecture of Paros is to walk through the narrow streets, allowing them to choose their own direction, explore the shapes, shadows and colors of beautiful little villas. We invite you to a virtual walk now and hope that you will soon feel obliged to visit our magnificent island!
In the traditional Cycladic architecture, functionality, protection, simplicity and aesthetics are mixed together, forming a particularly interesting and beautiful picture.
The architecture in Paros is traditional, traditional Cycladic architecture, but the diversity of elements from different civilizations adds a special touch.
This diversity is due to the fact that all the conquerors who rule the island left an architectural trace behind, like in the city of Naoussa, where the Venetian port creates a contrast with traditional Cycladic architecture or in Parikia, where the old two-story Venetian houses ) demonstrate a certain Italian influence.
The buildings on the island are mostly whitewashed cubic houses with flat roofs and colored wooden windows, doors, balconies and pergolas. Houses are built amphitheatrically, one on top of each other. The streets are lined with stone and decorated with white lines, emphasizing the natural curves of the stones.
Narrow, labyrinth-like streets and steps break around houses and tiny white chapels leading to the top of villages, where there is usually a blue domed church. White windmills and blue domed churches are typical of the Cyclades (with the exception of Mykonos, where most of the chapels and churches are red domed).
The most famous church on Paros is Ekatantapiliani (church of 100 doors) in Parikia. Legend has it that only 99 can be found, and 100 gates will be found only when Istanbul (Constantinople) becomes Greek again. (If you want to know more about the church, there is a fantastic web page http://www.ekatontapyliani.org)
Paros building rules
To protect the island’s unique local architecture, the local administration took precautions and introduced very strict building codes. All new buildings built on the island should follow the typical Cycladic architectural style in order to leave the beauty of the island unscathed. Some of the most important rules are:
1. Houses can not exceed 2 floors (ground and first), and the area of the first floor should be equal to or less than 1/3 of the first floor. The construction of the basement is allowed only outside the city plan.
2. If you are building outside the city plan, the minimum land area required for obtaining a building permit is 8,000 m², if the name is new (the last division). For toilets from 1993, the minimum area is 4,000 m². The main floor of the building is 200 m² in an area of 4,000 m² and 280 m² in an area of 8,000 m², but you can add 25 m² in the garage.
3. Inside the city plan, the maximum habitable surface of a building can be much larger than if you are building outside the city plan. Inside the settlements, houses are connected to each other or have very little space between them.
4. Doors and windows must be made of wood and must meet certain aesthetic standards.
5. Terraces can be added to a home without a building permit, and they are not considered livable.
6. Buildings must be washed white to obtain a residence permit, which is mandatory for electricity (this is the law from 2006 onwards.
