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Paphos - Places of Interest
Aphrodites Rock
Aphrodite’s Rock (Petra tou Romiou) On the
south coast of the island, on one of the
most beautiful beaches, lies “Petra tou
Romiou” as it’s known in Cyprus, the
location where Aphrodite, the goddess of
beauty and love, was said to have emerged
from the sea. Aphrodite’s Rock is a massive
chunk of stone that marks the spot, her
birthplace was a place of pilgrimage for the
entire Hellenic world. The Petra Tou Romiou
is a scenic place, located off the old
Pafos-Lemesos road. It's a popular tourist
spot, for its breathtaking view of the sea,
and more famously the birth place of
Aphrodite. Legend has it that this is the
Rock from which Aphrodite mythically arose
from the foams in the sea. |
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Coral Bay
Coral Bay is famed for having one of the
most beautiful sandy beaches on the island,
and with its sparkling clear waters, safe
swimming and sport facilities, it’s not
surprising that it’s a favourite with
tourists and locals alike. Close by you can
find shops, supermarkets, and also
restaurants and taverns some of which serve
fresh fish and Cyprus delicacies. |
Lara Bay and Latchi
Lara Bay is a beautiful remote area with one
of the best beaches on the island although
the dirt track is quite poor, and it’s
advisable to go with a jeep type vehicle,
it's worth it because here some of the
finest scenery on the island can be found.
Famed for its turtle hatchery where
loggerhead and greenback turtles lay their
eggs, one of the few places in the
Mediterranean where they can still be found,
Lara is also home to the Mediterranean monk
seal, another very rare species. Beyond the
turtle hatchery, the most beautiful beaches
with white sand and clear waters can be
found, but the water can suddenly get deep
and wavy, so swimmers should be careful. The
ideal way to reach the beautiful bay is to
go on a boat trip from Paphos to Lara or by
road on a jeep safari.
Latchi is a small fishing village located on
the northern coast of the island. Before
becoming known as a tourist area, it was a
sponge diving area, until sponge supplies
ran out. On Latchi's pebble beach many
tourists and locals alike get their suntan
and enjoy a swim but swimmers should be
careful because the water suddenly deepens,
though this is perfect for water sports and
scuba diving which are very popular in this
area. There are many coffee shops and
traditional little tavernas that specialise
in seafood close to the beach. |
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Paphos Castle
Paphos Castle was originally built as a
Byzantine fort to protect its famous
picturesque harbour, in the 13th century it
was rebuilt by the Lusignans and then
dismantled by the Venetians in 1570, who
were unable to defend it against the
Ottomans, who then restored and strengthened
it after capturing the island,. Since 1935
it has been declared an ancient monument and
is now considered as one of the hallmarks of
the Paphos region. Just in front of the
Castle, on the square, many cultural events
take place, and during September each year
the Paphos Aphrodite Festival takes place,
which presents a different opera each year
by famous artists and they use the castle as
a background. |
Paphos Old Town
Paphos, town is on the south-western side of
Cyprus. Paphos is the centre of a
fruit-growing and agricultural area.Paphos
town is strongly connected to Greek
mythology and its history. Paphos was the
capital of Cyprus under the Ptolemy's,
successors of Alexander the Great, when its
harbour was a thriving port, and remained
Cyprus's first city for more than seven
centuries under Roman rule. It's said that
Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love and beauty,
rose from the waves and crashed on its
shores. Paphos is not only one of the most
popular seaside resorts in Cyprus, it is
also a charmingly beautiful little town.
Playing an active role in the cultural,
political and social life of Cyprus, Paphos
has a population of about 47,000 and is the
island’s fourth largest town. As the resort
lies on a rocky hill, the lower area of Kato
Paphos is better recommended for those with
walking difficulties. Paphos is a very
cultural area, and there is plenty to see
and do, including impressive old ruins and
many cultural heritage sites of interest. |
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Tombs of The Kings
The Tombs of the Kings is spread over a vast
area containing impressive underground tombs
that date back to the 4th century BC. The
Tombs are carved out of solid rock, some
being decorated with Doric pillars. Although
being tombs of high officials rather than
Kings, it was named Tombs of the Kings for
the magnificence of the tombs!
The tombs are cut into the native rock, and
at times imitated the houses of the living.
Part of the importance of the tombs lies in
the Paphian habit of including Rhodian
amphorae among the offerings in the burial
chamber. Through the manufacturing stamps
placed on the handles of these amphorae, it
is possible to give them a date and, through
them, the other material from the same
burial. |
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Other Places Of Interest |
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Ayia Solomoni Church, Kato Paphos, St. Paul
Street.
Originally a Christian catacomb retaining
some of the 12th century frescoes. A sacred
tree at the entrance is believed to cure the
ailments of those who hang a personal
offering on its branches.
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Byzantine Museum 26, 25th March
Street. Tel: 26932092.
An interesting collection of objects from
the Byzantine period, including Byzantine
icons from the 12th to 18th century.
Ethnographical Museum1 Exo Vrisy. Tel:
(26)232010. Interesting private collection
of objects from the Neolithic Age to the
present day.
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District Archaeological Museum Griva
Dighenis Street. Tel: (26)240215.
Attractive collection of Cypriot antiquities
from the Paphos area, dating from the
Neolithic Age to 1700 AD.
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Panayia Chrysopolitissa Church and Byzantine
Basil Kato Paphos
Built in the 13th century, over the ruins of
the largest early Byzantine basilica on the
island. Within the compound, one can see St.
Paul's Pillar, where according to tradition
Saint Paul was flogged before the Roman
Governor Sergius Paulus was converted to
Christianity.
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Paphos Mediaeval Fort Kato Paphos.
Originally a Byzantine fort built to protect
the harbour; it was rebuilt by the Lusignans
in the 13th century, dismantled by the
Venetians in 1570, and rebuilt by the
Ottomans after they captured the island in
the 16th century.
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Paphos Odeon
A small 2nd century odeon built entirely of
well-hewn limestone blocks, it is now used
in the summer for musical and theatrical
performances. Nearby are the remains of the
ancient city walls, the Roman Agora and a
building dedicated to Asklipeios, god of
medicine.
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Saranta Kolones Kato Paphos.
This castle was built by the Lusignans at
the beginning of 13th century on the site of
a previous Byzantine Castle. It was
destroyed by an earthquake in 1222.
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The Mosaics of Paphos Kato Paphos. Tel:
(26)240217.
House of Dionysos, House of Theseus, House
of Aion and House of Orpheus. The mosaic
floors of these 3rd and 5th century AD
noblemenA•s villas, are considered among the
finest in the Eastern Mediterranean. They
mostly depict scenes from Greek mythology.
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Tombs of the Kings Kato Paphos. Tel:
26240295.
Spread over a vast area, these impressive
underground tombs date back to the 4th
century BC. They are carved out of solid
rock with some being decorated with Doric
pillars. High officials rather than Kings
were buried here, but the magnificence of
the tombs gave the locality its name.
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