LINKS - ABOUT PAPHOS (click on links to go back to main links page)

The charming west coast town of Paphos focusses around an attractive little harbour whose picturesque open air fish restaurants line a quayside of bright fishing boats and pleasure craft.

With a population of just 28,000 Paphos nestles in the lee of hte Western Troodos Mountains , which add another dimension to this area of scenic beauty. The recent addition of its own international airport nearby has opened up the Paphos area, and the resort is graced with some luxury hotels along the coastline.

Paphos has an air of holiday charm combined with history, and olden-day elegance is lent to the town by its classical style buildings in the upper part of town which leads to the shopping area. The lower part of the town - known as Kato Paphos has a life of its own albeit so close by, down near the sea, home of the harbour, the fish tavernas, souvenir shops and several beautiful hotels with important archaeological sites around them.

Paphos is entwined with Greek mythology, and the legendary birth of Aphrodite on her shores brought fame and worshippers there to follow the cult of the Goddess. Landmarks assorciated with Aphrodite are the chunky, rugged rocks of her beautiful birthshore known as the Aphrodite Rocks or the "Petra tou Romiou", the evocative sanctuary of Aphrodite at Kouklia Village, one-time shrine and scene of pagan festivals for thousands, the Baths of Aphrodite at Polis , Supposed source of fertiltiy and the Fountain of Love, or Fontana Amorosa, a few miles further into the Akamas Peninsula .

Even the town's name is linked to the Goddess, for Pafos was the name of the mythological daughter of Venus and Pygmalion.

Paphos became the capital of Cyprus under the successors of Alexander the Great - the Ptolemies and in those days its harbour was busy, thriving port. It continued as the island's first city for more than seven centuries, retaining its importance under Roman rule. Its most famous Governer Sergius Paulus, was converted to Christianity by St Paul in 45 AD.

But Paphos history dates back a great deal further. In fact the whole area abounds in historical and archealogical treasures.

Source : http://www.kypros.org/Cyprus/paphos.html