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Paphos
Tourist information - Paphos
Paphos is a town in southwestern Cyprus on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. 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 the 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 lined 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 Pafos 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.
Papghos is steeped with Greek mythology, and is the legendary birth of Afrodite, Goddess of love, on her shores brought fame and worshippers there to follow the cult of the Goddess. Landmarks associated with Afrodite are the chunky, rugged rocks of her beautiful birthshore known as the Afrodite Rocks or "Petra tou Romiou", the evocative sanctuary of Afrodite at Kouklia Village, one-time shrine and scene of pagan festivals for thousands, the Baths of Afrodite at Polis, supposed source of fertility 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 Paphos 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 a 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 Governor Sergius Paulus, was converted to Christianity by St Paul in 45 AD.
But Pafos history dates back a great deal further. In fact the whole area abounds in historical and archaeological treasures.
Paphos is the center of a fruit-growing and an important agricultural area. Tourism is also important to the economy, with visitors to the coast and archaeological sites. A historic Turkish fort guards the harbor, which serves fishing and sport boats. Other notable features include 19th-century British colonial buildings, an archaeological museum, amphitheater, mosque, and bath.
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