Paphos Travel Guide (Unanchor) - 3-Day Itinerary: Live like a local!

Paphos Cyprus Travel

Nearby guides Ayia Napa — Protaras Cyprus. Paphos With your kids Lazy beach days Hidden gems. Tourist information office Pafos Address: Gladstonos 3, Pafos Postal Code Tel: Poseidonos 63 A Postal Code Tel: Pafos has something for everyone, whether you are a sun seeker, explorer or someone looking for a relaxing holiday with great scenery. There are so many reasons to visit this beautiful part of Cyprus. Pafos Medieval Castle and Harbour The harbour area of town is a busy bustling centre of activity, here visitors can either sit and enjoy snacks and drinks, or tuck into delicious freshly caught fish at one of the many seafood restaurants.

Here one can also book direct for the many fun water sport activities, also day boat trips etc. Dominating the area is the medieval castle which has been a solid presence here since the 13th century. During its long history it has acted as a protector of the town with men having been stationed there to watch for potential sea faring marauders, it has also been used as a prison and during British rule was the main storage area for salt supplies. Now it performs an important role as a stunning backdrop for the many cultural music, dance, and pop concerts that take place during the summer months.

Pafos Archaeological Park Close to the entrance of the harbour one can access this quite stunning park which houses a truly unique collection of remarkable treasures dating from as far back in time as the 2nd century B. The key monuments on display include the Saranta Kolones or forty columns, the basilica of Chrysopolitissa, the Hellenistic theatre, a magnificent 2nd century Roman Odeon built entirely of perfectly hewn blocks of limestone, and today is still a venue used by visiting theatre companies and musicians. There is also the temple to Askilipios the God of medicine, our jewel in an already well encrusted crown has to be the Pafos mosaics.

Each of the scenes depicted originate from Greek mythology although only the floor art still survives these four villas must have been truly sumptuous palaces. The Tombs of the Kings Just off the Tomb of the Kings road lies a huge area which dates back to BC here was the last resting place for top officials and members of Paphian aristocracy, each would have been laid in burial niches along with jewellery and other artefacts relating to their life etc but these tombs were looted many many years ago leaving behind only an echoing and very powerful sense of stillness and a certain mystery.

The tombs were carved out of solid rock and with frescoed walls, and looming Doric columns line the tombs which have been unearthed. This site is well worth a visit and best examples can be seen if you visit the atrium area. The pillar is there today for pilgrims to view and despite the lashings Paul received, the then Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus after meeting with Paul was indeed converted to the Christian faith. A visit to Pafos Old Town Wear comfortable shoes, a sun hat and bring your camera; you are ready to adventure into the vibrant heart of the old town and meet the locals!

This is a hugely enjoyable outing which is best done on foot, here you can wander the local market where everything is sold from fruit and vegetables, fish and jewellery, scarves, lace to designer labels. Not forgetting to also pop into several places to appreciate our local arts and crafts.

This is a guaranteed sensory adventure one that titillate all of the five senses, from then aromas of fresh herbs, fruits, spices and bees wax candles the opportunity to savour the taste of our award winning wines and local delicacies Read more. Pafos itself is a leading cultural centre of the Mediterranean, with fascinating archaeological sites, museums and more. In the nearby Akamas Peninsula and inland region there are beautiful monasteries, picturesque villages such as Neo Chorio and nature trails.

Further north near the Akamas peninsula and the Baths of Aphrodite lies the resort-town of Polis, overlooking the beautiful Chrysochou Bay with its charming fishing refuge of Latsi. The relatively unspoilt state of the countryside and villages make the area a real delight for the walker and naturalist.

East of Polis you come across such villages as Pomos and Pyrgos that lie on beautiful rocky cliffs and rocky beaches. Rural Pafos is a destination that combines ideal weather conditions, diverse accommodation and catering facilities that are in operation all year round, beautiful country side, historical sights, cultural activities, Byzantine treasures, natural wilderness, picturesque village and more. The region is easily accessible from other local cities with good road network as well as good air connections from many European cities. The long and stormy history of Pafos is as interesting as its scenery.

The natural beauties, the rich flora, the fertile land, the picturesque mountain and hill villages, the living legends, the traditional products, the folk art and handicraft and above all the simple, warm and hospitable people. Spring and summer are ideal times of the year to visit archaeological sites, relax in the countryside, experience unique cultural events such as fairs associated with local products, taste traditional food with seasonal produce, or explore nature. Pafos is a paradise for nature lovers, birdwatchers and botanist.

In addition this time of the year is perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and a whole range of water sports from scuba diving to sailing. I must admit that this time around our trek was as fascinating and full of discoveries as it was long. So, shall we get started?! The open-air archaeological museum on the ancient site of Nea Paphos impresses visitors with both its size and sheer abundance of impressive monuments dating back to different eras.

Directly opposite the main entrance to the Museum are the Houses of Orpheus, Theseus and Aeon, all famed for their mosaics. This is where we were met by Erica Charalambous, a famous choreographer, art director, cultural activist, and local resident and history buff, who accompanied us on our walk and gave us a wonderful tour of the local attractions and shared curious facts about past and modern-day Paphos.

Some of them were built earlier, some later The park is so huge that we advise you to set aside an entire free day to explore this unique place. The reason it is so extensive is because the bay area saw buildings being built, teared down, and replaced with new ones from different eras over many centuries. Excavations and archaeological digs have been undertaken here since the s and continue to this day. The open-air historical and cultural artefacts are cordoned off but there are raised platforms allowing you access and the chance to take a closer look. This means they are open to enjoy while still bring preserved for future generations.

In the Roman era, Paphos became the capital of Cyprus. We plotted a route starting from the main entrance and immediately headed for the pavilion in the ancient walls, where a lot of people had gathered. It was destroyed and was restored again in Later, it was rebuilt by the Turkish invaders in the late 16th century. Right now, there is a pavilion about the birds of Cyprus, their diversity and natural habitats, landscapes, migration routes. It details thousands of different species including those from the North and Russia. There is also an exhibition of traditional ceramics and mosaics from different Cypriot villages.

Their designs always feature images of birds In the 70s and 80s, there was an art gallery in the walls. By the way, we recommend visiting this cafe-style restaurant. It serves European, Mediterranean and Greek cuisine and breakfasts, brunches and lunches. This is the most famous. The 2nd Century villa stands out for its mosaic paintings on the floor and mythological compositions. In the past, it was the private villa of a Roman nobleman or rich Paphos resident.

You can see evidence of earlier mosaics, which means there was once another house here that was destroyed by an earthquake: The mosaics with Zeus: It is framed with a geometric pattern along its perimeter. It is a stone mosaic— the stones used were collected in Cyprus itself from Troodos and the coast , as well as from the East Phoenicia or from Greece. After the fall of the Mycenaean civilization, a lot of its inhabitants migrated to Cyprus.

Paphos Cyprus Travel – Safe Destinations

The Cypriot colours of mosaic stones are pink, green, black and white. The peacock is another favourite and world-famous image and it is another example of a large mosaic. The mosaics adorning the floors here are similar to the ones we saw in the House of Dionysus also 2nd century but here we are treated to complex geometric ornamentation and mythological scenes. It dates back to the 4th century. The mosaic depicts five mythological scenes: The mosaics in this house date back to the 3rd century.

There are three scenes from Greek mythology that are worth taking a closer look at: The altar niche has been preserved. The ruins of this building, which dates back to the early 3rd century, are to the north of the House of Orpheus. It also has mosaics depicting the four seasons.

Upon exiting, we climbed up a wooden platform around the unique like everything here mosaics depicting muses.

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Do you know what I like about the culture of Ancient Greece? Their gods and goddesses were just like us humans and often made the same mistakes as mere mortals: Commenting on the present day, Erica lamented the fact that area around the Archaeological Park and harbour are increasing popular and are being developed as a tourist hot spot with no regard for the cultural heritage.

I spend time there because of my love of archaeology: Make sure you go there! Therefore, if you go up to the top of Troodos today, you can find fossils of shells and ancient marine life that could only be found on the sea floor We thanked Erica, said goodbye and parted ways in order to continue our exploration of the town on our own. Monday — Sunday, This is a medieval building dating back to the 13th century, which over the years served as a fort, a prison, and later a salt warehouse. The nearby Byzantine fortress of Saranta Kolones which translates as Forty Columns in the Archaeological Park preceded it and was built as the main defence from Arab raids in the early 7th century.

It was later destroyed by an earthquake in In , during the Cyprus-Genoese war, the castle was under siege. After capturing Cyprus, the Ottomans restored the fort in at the order of the governor, Ahmed Bey.

Under British rule, the castle was used as a warehouse until These days, it is a venue for festivals, concerts, operas annually in early September , and exhibitions. There is a large anchor on the embankment, which has been crocheted with brightly coloured yarn in varying patterns as part of an intercommunal project by the women of Cyprus called Peace 2 Peace.

Greek and Turkish knitters from both parts of the island came together to work on the project. It is free to enter. Its prices are fair from euros and up so everyone has the chance to buy a unique souvenir made from wood, glass, ceramics, some jewellery, or traditional sweets and local food. On the day we visited Paphos, the world's largest cruise liner Harmony of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International came to port though it had to maintain a fair distance away because it is so enormous.

It was soon to set sail. We looked at each other and parted like ships in the night, each setting off to do our own thing The Kato Paphos harbour embankment is an extremely popular place both for locals and tourists. As can be expected from a tourist hotspot, food and drinks are not very cheap here. However, there are options to choose from: The project was designed by Costas Koutsoftides and his according to his design, each clock face represents one of the antique houses in the neighbouring Archaeological Park.

This ensemble was sponsored by Cypriot patron Sotiris Hadjiminas and dedicated to his late wife. He received 40 lashes. The Proconsul later converted to Christianity. Pilgrims consider this memorable place one of the most famous. The column is in the grounds of Panagia Chrysopolitissa Church, an early Christian church dating back to the 5th century. There is also a sign that marks the place where the King of Denmark Eric the Great arrived and then died in Paphos in His death occurred while he was on his way to the Holy Land and he was buried in the basilica. Panagia Chrysopolitissa translates as: Over the years it has undergone numerous changes.

For example, at the turn of the 19th century, the bell tower was added. It was built by the Diocese of Paphos on the site of the ruins of the largest early-Byzantine basilica on Cyprus with 7th aisles naves. Only 5 survived they were built at the end of the 4th century and the floors were covered with colourful mosaics, some of which have survived to this day.

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These days, you can also see the ruins of granite columns. There was an atrium with a fountain in the centre. In about , a Gothic church was built to the northwest of the Chrysopolitissa basilica. According to historians, it belonged to the Franciscan order. It was a three-nave building with Renaissance statues from the 15th century.

When Cyprus was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in , the church was turned into a mosque and later destroyed by an earthquake. It was only in that the Metropolitan of Paphos, Chrysostomos, returned the Chrysopolitissa to the Catholics some years later. Alongside Catholic and Lutheran services, the church also holds Maronite masses. Some Orthodox festivals and feasts are still held here too. There are no frescoes inside but there are ancient, darkened icons and an iconostasis with three carved doves hovering above.

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Church-goers are requested to adhere to the same rules as in other faiths: Winter September 16th — April 15th: It is a remarkable place with an enormous tree with its branches spread over the foundations underground. The branches are adorned with ribbons left by those who believe that they can be healed of disease by doing so. The catacombs are not very well lit, its slopes are very steep and vaults very low, and the stone steps inside may unexpectedly break or crumble.

Solomon chapel 11th century that was carved into limestone was originally part of the catacombs, which some archaeologists ascribe to the Hellenistic period. There is also a source of holy water, which is believed to heal the eyes. So, what was here in ancient times before the chapel was built?