Marpissa: Churches, Windmills and Trails

Marpissa brings together churches and windmills, museums, historic memorial sites and trails into the surrounding countryside. Four windmills stand in the main square, alongside a short hike to the southwest and cultural events such as the three-day Routes Festival. For a holiday on Paros, you can choose between architecture, history and outdoor activities as different focal points here.

Churches and Windmills in Marpissa

The four windmills in the main square are among the village’s distinctive landmarks. The churches also display a variety of architectural features: Agios Modestos is one of Marpissa’s old churches and is dedicated to local farmers. The Metamorfosi Church, also called Metamorphosis Sotiros, was built in 1960. It is a Byzantine metropolitan church with a tiled roof and brick dome, as well as a domed, cruciform basilica near the windmills.

Evangelismos tis Theotokou is a small, whitewashed church in the centre of Marpissa. It was designated a historic monument because of its architecture and important icons. Those interested in architectural styles can compare the features of a large Byzantine church with those of a small, whitewashed church here.

Museums and Monasteries

The Folklore Museum of Marpissa is housed in a restored stone building in the village centre, at Agios Nikolaos Square. The Nikos Perantinos Sculpture Museum offers a different architectural accent: it is located on a hill in Marpissa, on the eastern side of Paros. In a renovated neoclassical building, sculptures by Nikos Perantinos are displayed across five large halls; the museum showcases 192 of his works.

Two monasteries also have distinct settings. A path leads from the main square to the Monastery of Agios Antonios on the summit of Kefalos Hill near Marpissa; it was founded in 1597. The Monastery of Agios Georgios Lagadas lies west of Marpissa, dates from the 16th century and has been renovated. This connects architecture and history in the village with other historic sites in the surrounding area.

Traditions, History and Outdoor Activities

At the three-day Routes Festival, activities are organised around themed routes through Marpissa’s traditional settlement. On Good Friday, performances depicting the Passion of Christ take place on the cobbled streets. A memorial commemorates Nikolas Stellas, who lost his life on 22 May 1944 while resisting the German occupation. The festival routes, Passion performances and memorial represent different cultural and historical themes.

A short hike leads southwest from Marpissa along a flat gravel road; the route continues beyond the village. The place name is also useful for finding your way between the settlement and the port: the port of the Marpissa settlement is Piso Livadi.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Stay

When looking for a holiday apartment in Marpissa, consider which experiences you want to shape your trip. If you are mainly interested in churches, windmills and museum buildings, architecture and local history take centre stage. The short hike offers a different way to spend the day; the monasteries add historic sites near and west of the settlement to the options. This lets you choose where to stay based on the subjects that interest you most on Paros.

Discover more destinations: Molos, Sarakiniko, Antiparos, Ampelas, Kolimpithres, Santa Maria, Aliki, Piso Livadi

Back to the main travel guide: Paros.