Marpissa: Churches, Museums and Windmills

Márpissa brings together churches, museums and historic sites with a walk and themed festival routes. If you’re looking for a hotel in Marpissa, this town profile offers some specific points to consider: you can decide whether church architecture, museum buildings, local history or outdoor activity is especially important for your stay.

Churches and Windmills

There are four windmills in Márpissa’s main square. The town’s old churches include Agios Modestos, dedicated to local farmers. Metamorfosi, also called Metamorphosis Sotiros, is a Byzantine metropolitan church and a cross-shaped basilica. It has a tiled roof and a brick dome, and was built in 1960 near the windmills. The small, whitewashed Church of Evangelismos tis Theotokou is in the town center. Because of its architecture and significant icons, it is listed as a historic monument.

Museums and Places of Remembrance

The Folklore Museum of Marpissa is housed in a restored stone building in the town center, at Agios Nikolaos Square. The Nikos Perantinos Sculpture Museum stands on a hill in Márpissa, on the eastern side of Paros. It is housed in a renovated neoclassical building, with sculptures by Nikos Perantinos displayed in five large halls. Their locations and architectural character distinguish the two museums: the folklore museum is in the square, while the sculpture museum is on a hill. If you’re planning a museum visit, check current visitor information in advance.

A monument in Márpissa commemorates Nikolas Stellas, who died on May 22, 1944, while resisting the German occupation. The town’s history is therefore also present at a specific place in the village. The Monastery of Agios Antonios also stands near Márpissa, on the summit of Kefalos Hill; it was founded in 1597. A path leads from Márpissa’s main square to the monastery. West of Márpissa is the Monastery of Agios Georgios Lagadas, which dates from the 16th century and has been renovated.

Walks and Themed Routes

A short walk leads southwest from Márpissa along a flat gravel road. The path continues beyond Márpissa. The three-day Routes in Marpissa festival follows a different format: its activities are organized around themed routes through the traditional settlement. You can choose between a walk in a southwesterly direction and a festival format that organizes its activities along routes through the town. No date for the festival is given here; check current event dates before traveling.

Paros as the Wider Context

In Parikia, on the wider travel destination of Paros, stands Panagia Ekatontapiliani, one of Greece’s most important early Christian monuments. It is located in northeastern Parikia, near the harbor. In the southern part of the church is the ancient baptistery, dating from the 4th century, considered the oldest and best-preserved baptistery in the Orthodox East. This offers two scales for exploring cultural sites: the churches, museums and places of remembrance in Márpissa on the one hand, and the monument in Parikia on the other.

Discover more destinations: Lefkes, Náousa, Paros, Kolimpithres, Ampelas, Molos, Parasporos, Sarakiniko

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