Paros

Paros (; Greek: Πάρος [ˈparos]; Venetian: Paro) is a Greek island in the central Aegean Sea and part of the Cyclades island group. It lies 8 kilometers (5 miles) west of Naxos, separated by a narrow channel and about 150 km (93 miles) south-east of Piraeus. The Municipality of Paros covers about 196.308 square kilometres (75.795 sq mi), including numerous uninhabited offshore islets. Its closest neighbor is the municipality of Antiparos, located to the southwest. In ancient Greece, the island was home to the city-state of Paros. Historically, Paros was known for its fine white marble, which gave rise to the term Parian to describe marble or porcelain of similar qualities. Today, working marble quarries and mines (as well as abandoned ones) can be found on the island, but Paros is primarily known as a popular tourist destination.