Paphos

Aphrodite's Birthplace

The oldest capital of Cyprus today is a small charming town with an attractive little harbour with innumerable archaeological sites to explore. Here, according to legend, Aphrodite the goddess of love and beauty rose from the water. This was her place of worship. Even the town's name is linked to the goddess, for Paphos was the name of the mythological daughter of Venus and Pygmalion. Paphos has an air of holiday charm combined with history and olden day elegance. The upper part of the town, which leads to the shopping area, is characterised by its classical style buildings while the lower part - known as Kato Paphos had a life of its own. This part, down near the sea has its own harbour, fish taverns, souvenir shops and several beautiful hotels with important archaeological sites around them.

Paphos became the capital of Cyprus under the Ptolemy’s and its harbour became a busy thriving port.

Visiting the Town

Start your visit with the museums. There is the Paphos District Archaeological Museum with a collection of Cypriot antiquities from the Paphos area. The Ethnographical Museum exhibits and interesting private collection of objects from the Neolithic Age to the present day, while the Byzantine Museum has a collection of objects from the Byzantine period, including Byzantine icons. Continue with the castles in Kato Paphos. The Medieval Ford was originally built as a Byzantine fort to protect the harbour. The Castle of Saranta Kolones, also near the harbour was built in the first years of the rule of the Lusignans.

The Tombs of the Kings is a wide area containing underground tombs carved out of solid rock dating from the 4th century BC many decorated with Doric pillars. The amazing mosaic floors of the house of Dionyssos are considered among the finest in the Eastern Mediterranean. They mostly depict scenes from Greek Mythology and are beautifully depicted.

End your tour with the Churches! Worth visiting are the churches of Ayia Solomoni, originally a Christian catacomb, St. Paul's Church and the Byzantine Basilica. There are many more famous churches in Paphos, most of which were built in the early Christian years.

Paphos, playground of sun worshippers, golfers and clubbers alike is situated at the southwestern part of the Island. Paphos Town falls into the Paphos district, which is approximately 1,400 km², with a population of about 66,000 . Paphos Town is situated on the coast, but the entire district consists of three parts, namely the coastal plains, the hilly plains, and the mountainous forest stretching through to the Akamas Peninsula in the North western part of the Island.

Paphos is one of the most sought after holiday destinations in Cyprus, with something for everyone. From swimming or diving in the sea, to partying in the town, to trekking in the mountains, to playing golf at internationally recognised golf courses. Not to mention the delicious Cypriot delicacies ranging from the Meze platter starters, to the lamb slow cooked to melting off the bone in clay ovens, finished off by desserts such as Baklava and Galatopoureko, with a bit of plate smashing and table dancing thrown in for good measure.

There is alot more to Paphos of course than just visiting historical sites; you came for the sun of course!

For more info on Paphos>>