Enter another world, where idols and temples, deities and goddesses make up the fabric of everyday life of Paphos where Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, is said to have risen from the crystal waters, where now stands today the well known Aphrodite’s Rock; Petra tou Romiou.
Later periods of history have also left their traces. The Tombs of the Kings, in Kato Paphos, is a monumental honeycomb structure carved into sheer rock whose vaults held the tombs of Ptolemy period nobles. Nearby, the stone pillar where St. Paul , according to tradition, was bound and beaten for preaching Christianity thrusts heavenward. The Chrysorrogiatissa Monastery was founded in the 12th century A.D. and is dedicated to “Our Lady of the Golden Pomegranate.” The neighboring monastery of Agios Neophytos contains some of the world’s finest Byzantine frescoes and icons as well as an interesting Byzantine museum.
The town of Paphos is included in the official UNESCO list of cultural and natural treasures of world heritage and has made it a world-renowned tourist destination..
Travelling northwest of Paphos you will come across Polis and Latchi and the Baths of Aphrodite provided which the ancients with a dramatic setting for outdoor bathing. The Fontana Amorosa, or fountain of love, still bubbles forth nearby.
Returning to the 20th century, enjoy a cool drink, a steaming Cypriot coffee, or a fishermen’s fresh catch in one of the tavernas that dot the scenic harborside in the town of Paphos . Hotels for every taste and budget can be found in the town and the surrounding area. Use them as your home base for discovering this rich region.
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