| |
|
|
Paphos/Pafos
The birthplace of Aphrodite, Paphos is steeped in a wealth of history, culture
and mythology. It was at Petrou tou Romiou(also known as Aphrodite's Rock)
where it is said that the Goddess of Love and Beauty rose from the waves
and onto the shore of the island. No wonder that Aphrodite settled down
in Paphos and not another part of the island, for its beauty will make you
understand why she came here.
Situated on the South-West coast of the island, Paphos enjoys the healthiest
climate all year round. Paphos itself is split in to two main areas. The
old town has an abundance of shops selling all types of local products from
lace to Cyprus's well known drink Zivania. You can also relax in one of
the many cafes and enjoy a Cypriot coffee or a sweet whilst the world passes
you by. Down by the harbour, or Kato Paphos, you will delight in the quaint
fishing harbour with it boats and quayside restaurants, souvenir shops and
many archeological sites. Here you can also take a trip on a glass bottom
boat and view the underwater world whilst keeping your feet dry.
For the more adventurous, you can learn how to scuba dive by qualified instructors
and explore the beautiful colours of the fish and reeds. There are many
other watersports you can enjoy, such as water and jet skiing or fly like
a bird and rise into the sky as you travel upwards with paragliding. If
you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, there are many nature trails
that you can explorer, or enjoy the scenery as you gently ride on horseback.
During the winter you can even glide the ski slopes of the Troodos Mountains.
It was not only Aphrodite who fell in love with Paphos, many others followed
in her footsteps. The successors of Alexander the Great, The Ptolemies,
made Paphos the capital of Cyprus and in those days its harbour was a busy,
thriving port. It remained the capital city for seven centuries and was
a very influential port under the rulership of the Romans, with its most
famous Governor Sergius Paulus who was converted to Christianity by St.
Paul in 45AD.
There are so many archeological places of interest to explore in Paphos
that we cannot list them all here! There is the Tomb of the Kings, dating
back to the 4th century BC, whilst not far away is St. Paul's pillar. A
trip to the harbour would not be complete without a visit to the Mosaics,
where even the Gods Dionysus, Theseus and Aion saw the great opportunity
of Paphos, invested in houses and settled down. Here, careful excavation
has revealed wonderful works of art from the 3rd century AD depicting scenes
from Greek Mythology and are considered the finest in the Eastern Mediterranean!
Overlooking the mosaics is Paphos Castle which was originally built as a
Byzantine fort to protect the harbour. At Agios Neophytos monastery you
can find some of the finest Byzantine frescos dating from the 12th to the
15th century. At Koulkia Village is Palapaphos, or Old Paphos, where you
can find the ruins of the famous Temple of Aphrodite dating back to the
12th century B.C.
The beauty of Paphos has and will remain a high priority and conservation
measures remain in place to ensure that this does not change. The Akamas
National Park region has been developed in such a way so that visitors can
enjoy its beauty without losing it character with 'green tourism' playing
an important role'by identifying and encouraging local crafts and skills,
the restoration of village buildings and developing them into small scale
craft centres, guest houses and tavernas.
From the day that Aphrodite made Paphos her home, many more have followed
and realized the excellent opportunities that can be found here. This is
why so many people choose Paphos, enjoy the lifestyle other have had before
them and make history themselves.
Other
Areas of Cyprus
 Nicosia
Larnaca
Famagusta
Paralimni
& Protaras
Lemessos/Limassol
|
|
| Featured
Property |
| |
Exclusive
- Off-plan development of
luxury bungalows and villas in Innia Village
- Polis - Paphos - Cyprus
This development of 6 luxury bungalows and
2 villas is situated on the outskirts of Innia,
one of the most traditional and beautiful
villages in the Paphos area
View
property |
|
|
|
|
Click Here to Explore
Cyprus.
Our Latest Cyprus Newsletter
partners
Investment Property In Cyprus - Partner Programme
Overseas property ownership jumps
45%
Over the last two years the number of overseas property owners
has increased by a staggering 45%, with 250,000 more households
now owning an overseas property than in June 2004.
|
