Inside Paros Agnanti Hotel: A Cycladic Getaway

When privacy meets modern luxury in Paros. 

In the summer of 2018, our Jetset Times team arrived in the Cyclades – a group of Greek islands – each conveyed a different leisure reputation, each enhanced a distinct vacation experience. While the partygoers flocked to Mykonos for endless shots and festive crowds, Santorini welcomed romantic honeymooners gazing at an iconic sunset. Just as Naxos ascended to be a foodie’s hidden dream, Paros was and still is, where European families indulged in 30+ beaches that both adults and children could freely soak up the sun, reveled in the warmth of the Aegean Sea. When we arrived in Paros Agnanti, a welcome drink of colorful orange juice and ouzo – a local dry anise-flavored aperitif – presaged that relaxation was settling in. We were embarking on a much needed laze, the kind that we didn’t even know we needed.

In Greek, agnanti translates to “a place from which to gaze,” which paralleled our experience inside the Art Suite. Newly renovated with contemporary interior design, the suite came with a private terrace, garden, a swimming pool and a jacuzzi that overlooked the gulf of Parikia – Paros’ main port, noted by small cobblestone roads, ancient churches and traditional Cycladic houses covered in blue and white. The Art Suite lived up to its name through a main glass wall adorned by a piece of modern art that separated the bedroom and an open shower grounded by a bed of neutral rocks and pebbles. Built on different levels, the architect of the suite aimed to accentuate the sense of float. As did the swimming pool – casted above the public terrace – where we found ourselves bathing away the stress of everyday life and relished on an ideal present.

Since the time we stayed at the hotel, Paros Agnanti had been gutted and reconstructed as a stylish Greek island escape. The rooms now embody natural aesthetics with ivory walls, sandy drapes, beige tables and chairs to connote earthy sensibility, igniting Cyclades’ breeze and calm. Although most rooms are highlighted by sea views, the luxurious travelers should opt for suites with an outdoor hot tub or a private infinity pool especially when they can each accommodate 3-4 people. Rooms that offer private terraces can indulge in Paros’ signature bougainvillea – the cascading magenta flower symbolizing peace and free trade between countries.

In the morning, we woke up to fresh cheese, yogurt, fresh fruit and eggs served in the hotel’s panoramic dining area. For us though, endless pots of coffee was simply a treat all on its own. For some, maybe a game or two at the hotel’s tennis and basketball courts were the perfect activities to burn off calories. We, however, decided that spending much of the day at the hotel’s public pool while sipping on cocktails would reinforce the concept of a Greek island getaway. For a couple of single girls, even the sound of children learning how to swim paired well with our serene reality.

Once dusk settled, we ordered a taxi which led us into Naoussa. After a mere fifteen-minute ride, we arrived in a village known for its vibrant nightlife. As we stumbled upon an obscure stranger (and a story too grotesque to retell,) indulged in a delicious dinner on an outdoor terrace and watched a sports game at a crowded bar; all we wanted was a cab ride back to the hotel. At times, this seemed to be the key to great travels: when a hotel is truly a home away from home, it also becomes a safe harbor. As we laid our tired bodies on the beds, we were thankful that Paros Agnanti kept us from unwanted danger, what could’ve been an alarming situation back in the village.

During the day, we also stopped by a church on a hill. Paros, not only renowned for its pristine beaches but also chapels and churches that embellished every corner, showcased religious monuments mostly from the 16th to 17th centuries. Panagia Ekantontapiliani, or Our Lady of the Hundred Gates, was a fine example of a Byzantine sanctuary that housed thousands of pilgrims who arrived to honor the Virgin. The Longovarda monastery was not only the largest monastery on the island, but also delivered a tranquil view from the hilltop. These were just a few out of numerous ancient temples that distinguished Paros from other Cyclades, they beautifully wove Greek history into a holiday paradise.

By the time we left Paros, we needed one more pint of local beer in midst of white cobblestone alleys and hanging bougainvilleas. If agnanti meant “a place from which to gaze,” then we wanted to cherish every last moment of an unforgettable Grecian bliss.

Wendy Hung

CEO, FOUNDER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As the founder of Jetset Times, Wendy is an avid traveler and fluent in five languages. When she's not traveling, Wendy calls Paris and Taipei home. Her favorite countries so far from her travels have been: Bhutan, Iran, and St. Bart's because they were all so different!