The whole town of Paphos is included in the UNESCO list of cultural and natural treasures of the world heritage. Wherever one goes in Paphos one inevitably stumbles across its fabulous history which dates back millennia to when the legend of Aphrodite who emerged from the seas, flourished in this part of the world attracting visitors from near and far.

Today Paphos is a growing harbour town, but in Hellenic and Roman times it was the capital of Cyprus. It seduces its visitor with its majestic landscape, lovely coastline, historical treasures and delightful villages where tradition is still a way of life. Kept in harmony with nature are divine mediaeval monasteries which peacefully in the Paphos heartland.

Places of interest

Paphos district archaeological Museum
Attractive collection of Cypriot antiquities from the Paphos area, dating from the Neolithic age to 1700 AD.

Byzantine Museum
An attractive collection of objects from the Byzantine period including Byzantine icons from the 7th to 18th centuries, and the oldest icon found yet in Cyprus of the 7th or 8th century.

Ethnographical Museum Interesting private collection of objects from the Neolithic Age to the present day.

Paphos Mediaeval Fort
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 capture the island in the 16th century.

Agai Solomoni Church
Origianlly 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.

Kato Paphos Archaeological Park
The inclusion of the Kato Paphos archaeological area in the World Heritage List in the 1980s ignited the idea of a General Plan whose main aim was the preservation and maintenance of the archaeological remains and to provide information to visitors.
Artifacts from the middle Ages can be found in abundance, not to mention to mosaic floors of four villas of the Roman period are at the pinnacle of these findings. Other important monuments are the Asklipeio, the Odeon, the Agora and the fort of Saranta Kolones.

Tombs of the Kings
Dating back to the 4th century, these vast underground tombs are carved out of solid rock with some being decorated with Doric pillars. High officials rather than Kings were buried here, but the splendor of the tombs gave the locality its name.

The Mosaics of Paphos
The floors of these nobleman’s villas were covered in mosaic tiles dated back to the 3rd and 5th century AD. Indeed they are considered to be the finest in the region The main theme of the mosaics is of Greek mythology.

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.

Saranta Kolones
Built by the Lusignans at the beginning of the early 13th century on the site of a previous Byzantine castle. It was destroyed by an earthquake 1922.

Panagia Limeniotissa Basilica
Built in the early 5th century ad dedicated to ‘Our Lady of the Harbour’, it was almost completely destroyed during the Arab raids.

Panagia Chrysopolitissa Church and early Christian Basilica
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.

Theoskepasti Church
Theoskepasti means ‘Veiled by God’. According to tradition, a fog was sent by God himself to protect the original church during the Arab raids. The modern church was built in 1923.

The Baths
Dating back the Turkish period and functional up until the early ‘50s, the Baths are a stone vaulted building consisting of three main areas: reception, intermediate area, and the main baths. The building had been restored and will be used as a Cultural Centre by the Paphos Municipality.