Unique Architecture and Building Regulations of Paros, Gem of the Cyclades, Greece

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The best way to discover and admire the architecture of Paros is to walk through its small narrow alleys, letting them choose your direction, exploring the shapes, shadows and colors of the charming little villages. We now invite you for a virtual walk and hope you will soon feel compelled to visit our beautiful island!

In traditional Cycladic architecture, functionality, protection, simplicity and aesthetics blend together, forming a particularly interesting and beautiful image.

The architecture in Paros is typical Cycladic architecture, but the diversity of elements from different civilizations adds a special touch.

This diversity is due to the fact that all the conquerors who ruled the island left an architectural trace behind them as in the city of Naoussa where the Venetian port creates a contrast with the traditional architecture of the Cyclades or in Parikia , where the old two-story Venetian houses (for example the building of the old Collage of Arts) show a clear Italian influence.

The buildings on the island are mostly whitewashed cubic houses with flat roofs and colorful wooden windows, doors, balconies, and pergolas. The houses are built in an amphitheater, one on top of the other. The streets are paved with stones and decorated with white lines, emphasizing the natural curves of the stones.

Narrow maze-like streets and steps wind around houses and tiny white chapels, leading to the top of villages where a blue-domed church usually stands. White windmills and blue domed churches are typical of the Cyclades (with the exception of Mykonos where most chapels and churches have a red dome).

The most famous church in Paros is Ekatontapiliani (Church of 100 Doors) in Parikia. Legend has it that only 99 can be found and that the 100th gate will not be found until Istanbul (Constantinople) becomes Greek again. (If you want to know more about the church, there is a fantastic webpage http://www.ekatontapyliani.org )

Building regulations on the island of Paros

To protect the unique local architecture of the island, the local administration has taken precautions and introduced very strict building rules. All new buildings built on the island must follow the typical Cycladic architectural style so as not to damage the beauty of the island. Some of the most important regulations are as follows:

1. Houses cannot exceed 2 floors (ground floor and first floor) and the area of ​​the first floor must be equal to or less than 1/3 of the ground floor. Construction of a basement is only allowed outside of the city plan.

2. If you are building outside the city plan, the minimum area required to obtain the building permit is 8000 m² if the title is new (recent subdivision). For securities linked before 1993, the minimum area is 4,000 m². The maximum living area of ​​the building is 200 m² on 4000 m² of land and 280 m² on 8000 m² of land but we can add 25 m² of garage space.

3. Inside the city plan, the maximum living area of ​​the building can be much higher than if you build outside the city plan. Inside the settlements, the houses are either connected to each other or have very little space between them.

4. Windows and doors must be wood and meet certain aesthetic standards.

5. Terraces can be added to the house without planning permission and not count as living space.

6. Buildings must be whitewashed in order to obtain a mandatory residence permit for electricity (this is the law from 2006. Does not apply to permits for electricity). build issued before 2006.)


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