VIII of XII · The Twelve Islands
Paros
The lamp stone
From this stone came the Venus de Milo. From the sea of the Pearl Islands, the pearl of queens.
Chapter I
The myth
He took off his crown, ordered the flutes silenced, and finished the rite without music.
The marble of Paros was the finest in the ancient world. It was quarried from underground galleries by the light of oil lamps, which is why it was called lychnites, the lamp stone. The Venus de Milo is carved from this marble.
Paros also holds a myth of silence: King Minos was offering a sacrifice on the island when news reached him of his son’s death. He took off his crown, ordered the flutes silenced, and finished the rite without music. From then on, on Paros, that rite was held in silence.
Chapter II
On Contadora
1969Richard Burton buys La Peregrina for Elizabeth Taylor
In the sixteenth century, in the waters of this archipelago, an enormous teardrop-shaped pearl turned up. They named it La Peregrina. It traveled to Spain, Philip II gave it to Mary Tudor, and for centuries it was worn by queens. In 1969, Richard Burton bought it for Elizabeth Taylor.
And Elizabeth Taylor swam off the beaches of Contadora, the island where the pearls were counted. The stone of Paros became a goddess; the pearl of the Pearl Islands, a jewel of queens. Both hold the light.
Continue in the story of Contadora: La Peregrina, 16th century
Chapter III
Your ritual
As evening falls, raise a toast in silence, without music, as in the old rite of Paros. Watch the last of the sun turn to mother-of-pearl on the water.
The room
Pale stone and linen
Pale stone, handmade ceramics, natural linen. A room to touch with your hands: noble, honest materials that hold the light, like marble.
Reference images: the photo shoot on Contadora will replace them. The room details (size, beds, view and capacity) will be published with the real data.
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VIII · Paros
The lamp stone. Choose your dates and we will show you direct availability, with no middlemen.
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