Little is known about the constitution of Paros, but inscriptions seem to show that it was modeled on the Athenian democracy, with a boule (senate) at the head of affairs. This implies that Paros was one of the wealthiest islands in the Aegean. Under the Delian League, the Athenian-dominated naval confederacy (477–404 BC), Paros paid the highest tribute of the island members: 30 talents annually, according to the estimate of Olympiodorus (429 BC). For their support of the Persians, the islanders were later punished by the Athenian war leader Themistocles, who exacted a heavy fine. Paros also sided with shahanshah Xerxes I of Persia against Greece in the second Greco-Persian War (480–479 BC), but, after the battle of Artemisium, the Parian contingent remained inactive at Kythnos as they watched the progression of events. By means of an inscription, Ross was able to identify the site of the temple it lies, as Herodotus suggests, on a low hill beyond the boundary of the town. It was at a temple of Demeter Thesmophoros in Paros that Miltiades received the wound from which he died. But the town offered a vigorous resistance, and the Athenians were obliged to sail away after a siege of 26 days, during which they had wasted the island. In retaliation, the capital was besieged by an Athenian fleet under Miltiades, who demanded a fine of 100 talents. In the first Greco-Persian War (490 BC), Paros sided with the Persians and sent a trireme to Marathon to support them. Shortly before the Persian War, Paros seems to have been a dependency of Naxos. As late as 385 BC the Parians, in conjunction with Dionysius of Syracuse, founded a colony on the Illyrian island of Pharos ( Hvar). In the former colony, which was planned in the 15th or 18th Olympiad, the poet Archilochus, a native of Paros, is said to have taken part. It sent out colonies to Thasos and Parium on the Hellespont. The island later received from Athens a colony of Ionians under whom it attained a high degree of prosperity. Ancient names of the island are said to have been Plateia (or Pactia), Demetrias, Strongyle (meaning round, due to the round shape of the island), Hyria, Hyleessa, Minoa and Cabarnis. The story that Paros of Parrhasia colonized the island with Arcadians is an etymological fiction of the type that abounds in Greek legends. Portes Island – west of the town of ParosĪ windmill in Marpissa is of the traditional Cyclades design.The constant strong wind in the strait between Paros and Naxos makes it a favoured windsurfing location. Paros has numerous beaches including Golden Beach (Chrissí Aktí) near Drios on the east coast, at Pounda, Logaras, Piso Livadi, Naousa Bay, Parikia and Agia Irini.

In addition a dozen smaller islets surround Paros. A car-carrying shuttle-ferry operates all day (to and from Pounda, 5 km (3 mi) south of Parikia). At its narrowest, the channel between the two islands is less than 2 km (1 mi) wide. To the west of Paros lies its smaller sister island Antiparos. The island is composed of marble, though gneiss and mica- schist are to be found in a few places. The island is of a round, plump-pear shape, formed by a single mountain (724 m (2,375 ft)) sloping evenly down on all sides to a maritime plain, which is broadest on the north-east and south-west sides. is 21 km (13 mi), and its greatest breadth 16 km (10 mi). Within this hotel is a folk museum with all kinds of objects from everyday life of the residents of Lefkes.Paros' geographic co-ordinates are 37° N. Rooms are available for rent and there is also a hotel, called Lefkes Village, in the village. Outside the village are several monasteries that are open to visitors, such as the Monastery of Aghios Ioannis Kaparos (17th century) and the Monastery of Agia Kyriaki. Other major attractions include the war memorial in the village square, windmills, a traditional café, and local woven and sculptured crafts. The most famous church is the Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) with rare Byzantine icons. The village has several beautiful churches, some dating from the 17th century. All terraces are decorated with flowers, and the village is surrounded by pine, eucalyptus and olive trees. Narrow alleys are paved with stones and it has a picturesque village square. It is a cozy village, with historic mansions. Five hundred inhabitants make Lefkes their home. Lefkes is a picturesque mountain village on the Greek island of Paros, located in a valley, surrounded by low hills, ten kilometers (6 mi) southeast of Parikia.

Lefkes paros