Market Street in Parikia is the shopping hub of the island, with lots of tempting jewelry, leather, pottery and -- as always in Greece -- shoe shops. This may not be a nation of foot fetishists, but it certainly is a nation of shoe lovers. The Jewelry Workshop (tel. 22840/24-359) is precisely that, with the work of several local designers. If you're looking to decorate your home, have a look at Yria Interiors (tel.22840/24-359; www.yriaparos.com), and Yvonne von der Decken's shop Palaio Poleio (tel. 22840/21-909), both on Market Street, both with pottery, home furnishings, and some old pieces from Greece and Europe. Audiophile (tel. 22840/22-357) has an extensive collection of CDs of Greek and international music, at prices a bit higher than you might pay in Athens. On the harbor, InterNews (tel. 22840/22-513) sells international newspapers, guidebooks, maps, and some novels.
Several shops that sell local produce, including cheeses, honey, and wine, all merit stars. Pariana Proionta (Parian Produce) (tel. 22840/22-181), run by the Agricultural Collective, is on Manto Mavroyennis Square; Topika Proionta (Local Produce) (tel. 22840/24-940) is on Market Street and Paktia (tel. 22840/21-029) is just off Market Street, just around the corner from the tempting Dodona ice-cream parlor. (I have lost the card with the name of the shop adjacent to Paktia that has the island's most interesting silk-screened T-shirts. Don't worry: you'll spot the shop with the snowy-white T-shirts with scenes of scattered cafe chairs and beach umbrellas, starfish and constellations, flowers and herbs.) Further along the unsignposted street that leads from Market Street to the Cathedral the Distrato Café (tel. 22840/24-789), has its own shop with organic produce from Paros and elsewhere in the Cyclades.
Across the island, in the old part of Naoussa, Metaxas Gallery (tel. 22840/52-667) holds exhibitions of paintings by local artists, which are sometimes for sale; you can also find locally crafted jewelry here. Hera, which is just down the lane from the Naoussa Sweet Shop (tel. 22840/53-566), offers local pottery, jewelry, carpets from Greece and Turkey, and fine-arts books of local interest. Owner Hera Papamihail is a talented photographer whose prints are available for purchase. The kiosk on the main plateia has some international newspapers. Paria Lexis Bookstore (tel. 22840/51-121) offers a selection of travel guides, maps, and novels.
In Lefkes, Anemi (tel. 22840/41-182), by the kafeneion on the plateia, has hand-loomed and embroidered fabrics. In addition, nuns in several of the island's convents often sell crafts.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
