Cave of Antiparos

Antiparos Cave is situated 8km from Antiparos Town (Chora) and is also called Cave of Agios Ioannis church. This natural wonder is definitely the number one attraction of Antiparos island. The cave is full of stalactites and stalagmites which form different shapes and sizes. The oldest stalactite in Europe can be found here and is estimated to be 45 million years old and is called “The Huge Central Column”.

It is also the only vertical cave in all of Europe with a depth of around 85m. The cave is very large and extends at several levels, with a length of 89m and its width almost 60m.

There are some inscriptions in the cave walls which dates back to the Neolithic period. A few visitors include Alexander the Great, King Otto, lord Byron, the marquis de Nointe (ambassador of France) and the lyric poet Archilochus of Paros.

The cave was originally used as a refuge and later as a place to worship for the goddess Artemis.

The temperature of the cave is around 15 degrees Celsius and the decent into the cave has 411 stairs. The cave is divided into the “Antechamber” and three additional halls called “The Chamber of the Stone Waterfalls”, “The Chamber of the Cathedral”, and “The Royal Chamber”.

There are two picturesque little churches at the entrance of the cave named Agios Ioannis (Ai Yiannis) Spiliotis and Zoodohos pigi.

Every year on the 7^th and 8^th of May a celebration is held where they serve local food and drinks.

Antiparos Cave was fully developed in the second half of the 2000s with funds from the European Union by erecting barriers, building adequate steps, installing lighting, security cameras and loudspeakers to inform visitors.

Admission ticket: 6.00 Euros (including a visit to the Folklore Museum)

Kids 6-12 years: 3.00 Euros (50% discount)

Kids 0-6 years: Free entrance

How to get there:

By vehicle or bicycle: 

The paved road that leads to the Cave begins to the left of where the ferry boat docks (arriving from Paros) in the Port area of Antiparos. The parking lot at the Cave is very big and spacious.
By Municipal bus: 

The Municipal bus stop is located in the Port area of Antiparos, opposite Agia Marina, where the ferry boat from Paros docks. There are frequent departures for the Cave.

Additional information:

• You can use your Antiparos Cave ticket to also visit the Historical and Folklore Museum of Antiparos.
• In winter months visits can be made upon arrangement with the Municipality of Antiparos.
• For school visits, please contact KEDA at the telephone number 22840 61640.
• The descent in the cave will take you down approximately 411 steps so be prepared. You should wear comfortable shoes.
• Make sure you bring a bottle of water as you will need it after the 411 step ascent. There is no shop close to the cave.
• Individuals with respiratory or heart problems are not permitted to enter, because of the high level of humidity prevalent inside the Cave.
• Smoking, flash photography and the breaking off of stalactites and stalagmites are strictly prohibited. Writing on the walls and surfaces of the Cave is also explicitly prohibited.
• The area in and around Antiparos Cave was renovated in 2009. The modernization project included the creation of the 411-step cement staircase with a protective railing, for a spacious and safe descent, the installation of security cameras, the remodeling of the forecourt area and the installation of lighting using the latest technology.
• The audio tour is available in two languages (Greek and English). Free printed leaflets with the cave information are available in seven languages (Greek, English, French, Italian, German, Swedish, Russian), and may be obtained at the entrance to the Cave.
• The cave can be accessed by bus from the port that runs hourly during the summer.
• You can also go to the cave by car, motorcycle or bicycle. The paved road that leads to the Cave begins to the left of where the ferry boat docks (arriving from Paros) in the Port area of Antiparos. The parking lot at the Cave is very big and spacious. You can also walk to the cave. The walk is estimated to take about an hour and a half from Antiparos port.
• For additional instructions or information about your visit, please contact: +30 2284061640

 

Venetian Castle

The Venetian Castle of Antiparos (Kastro) is located in the center of Antiparos Town (Chora) and it was built as a single, autonomous, residential unit. Kastro means “Castle” in Greek. The castle was constructed in 1440 when the Venetian Giovanni Loredano married Maria Sommaripa of Antiparos. Due to the location of Antiparos it was a major attraction to pirates in the Aegean Sea and therefore the Venetian Castle was built to protect the residents of the town.

The original version of the Castle had a main tower at the center and houses around the perimeter. The base of the tower is what still remain today. At the south wing was the only entrance, near Antiparos square, a Gothic gateway that has survived to this day. The base of the circular tower was home to the local governor.

The original architectural style of the castle was altered, and the central tower was used as a water tank tower. Some of the upper floors has collapsed, and renovation requires permission from the Greek archaeological department.

An integral part of the castle of Antiparos is the small bats that come out in the dark and fly around the tower to the east.

The entrance of the castle is situated next to the metropolis of Agios Nikolaos.

 

Despotiko Island

Despotiko island is a small uninhabited island, located to the south west of Antiparos. It has nice sandy beaches and small coves. The most magnificent beach is called Livadi beach.

During many excavations it is found that Despotiko island was a cult center from the 7^th century BC till the Roman Times. Ancient cemeteries of a temple of Apollo were found with swords, jewellery, small statues and ceramics, which shows Despotiko had great development in ancient times.

Despotiko was conquered by the Venetians in 1207 and then by the Ottomans in the 16^th century. The island was also inhabited until the 17^th century when they were killed by pirates. Since then the island remained uninhabited and the island was used as shelter in the Aegean Sea.

Despotiko can be reach by private boat or you can take one of the many daily tour boat trips.

 

Church of Agios Ioannis Spiliotis

The Church of Agios Ioannis Spiliotis can be found on the southern side of the island. It stands at the entrance of the Antiparos Cave. Every year there is a festival (name day) on the 7^th of May.

 

Church of Agios Nikolaos

Agios Nikolaos was built in 1703 and is called the Cathedral of the island. You can find the church in the quarter of Kastro Chora, specifically inside the Antiparos castle. The year 1783 appears on the transom of the north door.

Other churches that can be found in Antiparos castle: Prodromos, Gennisis of Christ, Agios Antonios, Evaggelistria and Agios Anthanasios.

 

Folklore Museum of Antiparos

The Folklore Museum of Antiparos is located in the castle of Antiparos. Here you will find specimens from Cycladic figurines, traditional uniforms of Antiparos, statuettes like The Pregnant Lady, the violin shaped figures made of Parian marble and The Seated Man (made of opsiolianos a kind of stone), and photographs from the excavation of Despotiko.

Phone: +30 22 8406 1005

Opening Hours: Daily from 08:00 – 14:00 (weekends my differ)

 

Scuba diving

Antiparos island is located in the center of the Cyclades with many reefs, caves and shipwrecks. There are 2 shipwrecks close to the island, one which sank in 1882 while carrying an iron ore and the other, the M.S. Express Samina, a 115m ferry sank in 2000.

The Blue Hole is very popular as you can surface inside and breathe the air. Other famous spots are the cave of Panderonisi islet, the Barracuda Point, the Bubble Reef and the Canyons.

There are a few Scuba diving centers on the island which offers courses and diving trips for all ages. The waters of Antiparos are crystal clear and makes it ideal for beginners or experts.

Antiparos (Chora)

Phone: +30 22840 61493 OR +30 69727 30162

 

Windsurfing

Windsurfing is quite popular between the strait of Paros and Antiparos (Eastern side of the island) due to the summer winds called meltemia. Most of the windsurfing centers can be found on the island of Paros, but lately you get increasingly more centers on Antiparos.

The most popular beaches on the island for windsurfing is Psaralyki and Glyfa.

Phone: +30 697191 4191 OR +30 698044 3127

Address: 1st Psaraliki Beach, Antiparos, Cyclades, Greece

 

Cycling

Cycling around Antiparos can be a lot of fun especially if you like to explore the island. There are countless options to choose from.

There are different levels of routes that can be enjoyed.

If you prefer an easy ride for all levels and ages, try Port to Glyfa, then on to Kambos, and back.

For those already initiated in the sport, a more challenging route—but with special (mental and spiritual) ‘compensation’ for the effort expended—might be as follows: Port—Soros—Ayios Sostis—Mastihia—Ayios Yeorgios—Monastiria—Kambos—Avlakia—Ayios Dimitrios—Sifneikos Yialos—Agriokastro—Camping Site—Port.

Every year on the 15-16 of July the island celebrates the feast day of Agia Marina and this attracts cyclists from all over the world.

In early September there is a challenging route around the island for mountain bikers who is the “guest of honours”.

Bicycles can be rented on the island with different rates at different times of the year.