Antiparos

Antiparos (Greek: Αντίπαρος; Ancient Greek: Ὠλίαρος, romanized: Oliaros; Latin: Oliarus; is a small island in the southern Aegean, at the heart of the Cyclades, which is less than one nautical mile (1.9 km) from Paros, the port to which it is connected with a local ferry. Saliagos island is the most ancient settlement in the Cyclades, and Despotiko, an uninhabited island in the southwest of Antiparos, is a place of great archaeological importance. The Community of Antiparos was founded in 1914 and was promoted to a municipality in 2010 with the implementation of the Kallikratis Programme, under the principle of "each island a municipality". It occupies an area of 45.182 square km, including the island of Antiparos and Despotiko. It has, according to the 2021 census, 1,265 permanent residents and a density of 28 inhabitants per km2. The island's economy is based on tourism, fishing, farming and less on agriculture in the plains. It is known for its white houses, cobbled streets and the flowers that thrive in the yards of the houses. Antiparos is a tourist resort in the summer for Greeks and European visitors, as well as land investors from the United States. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson own a property on Antiparos. Also, Ioannis Martinos, a Greek shipping businessman, owns a villa on Antiparos, and also Petros Pappas, a Greek shipowner, owns several significant properties on the island. The main settlement lies at the northeastern tip of the island, opposite Pounda on the main island of Paros, whence a ferry sails for Antiparos harbour. The historical center is located in the Venetian castle of Antiparos, which is connected through the shopping streets in the picturesque coastal street. Other settlements are the resort of St. George in the southwest edge, Soros and Kampos. Beaches in the wider area...