PANAGIA PARAPORTIANI CHURCH

It's the postcard, par excellence, of the island, unmissable and unmissable. Everyone is looking for this very special church (Η εκκλησία Παναγία Παραπορτιανή στη Μύκονο). Everyone takes photos there, and it's best to arrive early to take advantage of a clear horizon, away from the clouds and especially the curious! But what an amazing church!

This beautiful asymmetrical Byzantine building, begun in 1425, is a true masterpiece of popular architecture. It's a must-see: it's hard to resist this immaculate, whitewashed church with its improbable curves in the Kastro district. Tourists inevitably linger here, scrutinizing the edifice from every angle and watching its shape change with the different lights of the day. And just as well, it's right in the center of the port. You'll come back again and again, because you'll never see exactly the same shapes or reflections twice. That's part of its charm. It stands a stone's throw from Little Venice, so simple yet so sophisticated. And so it should be: the Panagia Paraportiani church is one of a kind, even if, on closer inspection, there are actually five of them: the Panagia Paraportiani church is actually made up of five different chapels, one of which is slightly elevated. There's no traditional Greek blue or gold dome here: the church is topped by a bell tower and dome, entirely whitewashed. The church was built on a hill fortified by the Venetians, of which some remnants of the ramparts still remain, and offers great photographic opportunities: as a subject, of course, but also as a promontory facing the sea, as it offers a breathtaking view of the Aegean. Knowing that "Panagia Paraportiani" literally means "Our Lady of the Side Gate", it's clear that this is a visit not to be refused on the island of Mykonos - and not to be forgotten either... Finally, Panagia Paraportiani is not just a collection of beautiful stones: it remains the most important of the 400 churches and chapels on the island. Built by an anonymous craftsman in the ^17th or ^18th century, it boasts typical architecture and a blend of popular Byzantine and Western elements.