Paxos, the baby of the Ionian Islands, is a cluster of small islands
and rocky islets, the largest of which are Paxi and Antipaxos .They are located
7 miles south of
Corfu,
at a distance of 8 miles from the coast of
Epirus
in nort-western Greece and 12 miles from the town of
Parga.
Both Paxos and
Antipaxos
have a lizard-like, long and narrow shape. The islands cover an area of 19 square
kilometres and 3 square kilometers respectively.
Paxos is an island of endless olive groves and Antipaxos one large
vineyard. The eastern coastlines of the island are smooth, while the west coasts
are bold and abrupt with remarkable natural formations: caves, arches, dome-shaped
forms, sheer cliffs etc. The capital of Paxos is
Gaios,
a picturesque village build around a port which is protected by two small islands,
Agios Nikolaos and
Panagitsa.
At the northern tip of the island sits beautiful
Lakka,
whilst on the east coast nestles the charming village of
Loggos.
Today, Paxos has a permanent population of approximately 2,300 inhabitants and
during the summer months, the island welcomes more than 200,000 visitors.
The inhabitants of Paxos are warm and extremely hospitable people
who possess a love for tradition yet embrace all developments of contemporary
Europe. As a result the islands have been declared Cultural Village of Europe
for the year 2004, an institution which aims to make know and preserve village
life across Europe. As part of the celebrations in honour of being the Cultural
Village of Europe, Paxos will be the hosting of many cultural events and pan-European
meetings during 2004.
