By Nicolas Bard

Gaius is a small, seaside settlement of Paxos, in the southern part of the island, and is the central port and seat of the Municipality of Paxos.

Its port is well protected from two smaller islands: the island of Panagiain which a church and monastery is located, just opposite the new port of Paxos, and island of Agios Nikolaoswhich is a short distance from Gaius, creating a waterway between them, like a fjord, which looks like a meniscus. For this reason, the northern part of the port was named ‘Manecus“

At the port of this picturesque settlement there is also a Marina, where small fishing boats and many tourist boats from around the world find shelter, which during the tourist season go regularly to Antipaxos, but also to beaches around the island. In the northernmost part of the port, in Manchesco, they approach larger ships, as it is deeper.

In Gaius there are four churches worth visiting. The Church of the Ascension, in the “Piazza” in the port and a short distance to the south the church of Agioi Anargyroi, and very close to the east side the church of the Holy Trinity and on the borders of the settlement the church of the Holy Apostles, which states that it is the tomb of Saint Gaius. According to tradition, the settlement of Gaius was named after Saint Gaius, a disciple of St. Paul from Corinth, who died in Paxos and buried in Gaius under the Holy Step of the Church of the Holy Apostles.

Since 1996 in Gaios there has been the Paxos Folklore Museum, which is housed in a neoclassical building of 1905, a bequest of Andreas Syngrou. In the Museum there is a remarkable number of exhibits from prehistoric times to World War II, and among them you will see the resolution of the Ionian Parliament of 1864 on the Union of the Ionian Islands with the Greek state, the historical book “Paxos and Antipaxos” by Austrian 1884 Paxos room, with objects of the early 20th century.

Gaius fascinates him visitor from the very first look! The colorful houses, typical specimens of Ionian architecture, the cobbled cans with bougainvilleas and historical churches, combined with the lush landscape and deep blue of the Ionian Sea, create a painting setting. The rhythms there are slower. Take some time and make a porch in the port, drink your coffee overlooking the opposite islands and stare at the boats that are constantly coming to the port of the settlement. There are a few who, enchanted by the beauty of the island, decided to leave life in the big city, and move there permanently.

If you are in Gaius, it is worth visiting the pine and uninhabited islet of St. Nicholaswhere the walls of a castle built by the Venetians in the 15th century are still well -preserved in the designs of Leonardo da Vinci, which are even kept. Today in Venice Libraries. In the even smaller island of Panagia is located, built on an early Christian temple, the Monastery of Panagia Vellianites, which many faithful visit every 15th of August, and there is one of the largest festivals in the whole Ionian Islands!

Paxos exude a intimacy that starts you from the beginning, while the warm smile and hospitality of the locals will make you feel like you are home!

Before you leave there, It is not understood not to try rooster pasticles, sofrito, bourdet, savory and patelwhich are some of the island’s typical dishes, and get top quality olive oil, from the island’s olive grove, and local wine.