Aliki – Fishing Village and Hiking Trail to Agkairiá

Aliki is a fishing village 11 kilometres south of Parikia, near Agkairiá. The neighbouring settlement of Agkairiá is small, with a few scattered houses. The hiking trail from Aliki to Agkairiá runs between the two places. This makes it easy to distinguish the character of the fishing village from the trail’s destination.

Walking from Aliki to Agkairiá

After about ten minutes from Aliki, the trail reaches the few houses of Agkairiá; the route climbs gently. The approximate time refers to this section, up to the houses. The Aliki–Agkairiá hiking trail is considered moderately difficult. The walking route passes through the village’s narrow lanes and along an unpaved path; traditional Aegean houses can be seen on the village streets. The gentle incline and moderate difficulty rating describe different features of the route.

Agios Georgios in Agkairiá

Agios Georgios is the old parish church of the village of Agkairiá. The building is a single-nave basilica with a vaulted narthex and a round-arched bell tower above the entrance. A narthex is the entrance hall of a church. Single-nave means that the building has one nave.

Culture and Nature on Paros

The wider destination of Paros offers additional cultural sites. Panagia Ekatontapiliani is in the northeastern part of Parikia, near the port, and is one of Greece’s most important early Christian monuments. In the southern part of the church is the ancient baptistery, dating from the 4th century; it is considered the oldest and best-preserved baptistery in the Orthodox East. Ekatontapiliani also houses the Byzantine Museum of Parikia, with rare icons, woodcarvings and other religious relics from the Byzantine period and Ottoman rule. The Kastro of Parikia preserves the ruins of a Venetian castle built from columns from ancient temples and other architectural elements.

In Lefkes stands Agia Triada, a listed church building made of Parian marble and built in 1835. Unlike the single-nave Basilica of Agios Georgios in Agkairiá, Agia Triada has three aisles; its central aisle is raised, and the building has two bell towers.

The Paros Environmental and Cultural Park has a seven-kilometre network of hiking trails, as well as organised and unspoilt beaches. Its amphitheatre has 700 seats for concerts and performances. Since 2009, the Municipality of Paros has held “Festival at the Park” there, a summer programme of cultural, sporting and environmental events. The Alyki Cultural Festival on Paros takes place every year in June and lasts three days. The Butterfly Valley on Paros is home to a rare habitat for Jersey tiger moths, which can be seen there in large numbers on tree trunks.

Discover more destinations: Andiparos, Molos, Paros, Santa Maria, Sarakiniko, Náousa, Drios, Piso Livadi

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