In Prehistoric Times, Antiparos was united with Paros, from which it was later separated due to geological upheavals. Remains of the land, which sank, are the islets that are all around it. In two of them (Saliagos and Despotiko) the archaeological research brought to light Neolithic Age relics, among the oldest discovered in the Cyclades area. As can be seen from the findings of the excavations, the inhabitants of the islet of Saliagas had founded around 4000 BC. a settlement, which occupied almost the entire island, they lived in stone houses and engaged in animal husbandry and fishing.
In ancient times the island was called Oliaros, which suggests that Phoenicians settled here. Throughout antiquity it followed the fortunes of Paros. The 13th c. it was renamed and took the name Antiparos. During the Byzantine Era, it suffered from pirate raids, which continued throughout the Medieval Era, which contributed to the desolation of the island. In the middle of the 15th century the Venetian Lorentano, who had married Maria Sommaripa, who had taken Antiparos as a dowry, in an attempt to exploit the island with new crops, built the castle to offer security to the inhabitants he wanted to settle. Pirate raids, however, continued to plague the island in the following years.
It is a historical place of global interest. Monuments and symbols tell us about the figures who lived on the island, creators of the unique Cycladic culture. West of Antiparos are small islands of great archaeological interest, Despotiko, Tsimintiri, Strongylos, Diplos, Kavouras, Rheumatonisi, Kokkinos and Mavros Toulos.

Editor: Fotini Anastasopoulou