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Paphos, Cyprus: A busy place

To the world it is an archaeological treasure chest.

It is the historic heart of the city of Paphos, a busy port and resort on the west coast of Cyprus.

In Greek mythology, the goddess Aphrodite was born near Paphos. The city derives its very name from the mythological daughter of Pygmalion, a king of Cyprus, and a woman, Galatea, who was brought to life by Aphrodite from a statue that Pygmalion had carved and subsequently fallen in love with.

Once the capital of Cyprus and for seven centuries its largest city, Paphos (Cypriot spelling: Pafos) has been named a World Heritage Site by the United Nations. It earned that distinction because of its extensive and endangered antiquities that intertwine with Greek, Roman, Byzantine, pagan and early Christian influences.

With three major museums, two castles, and three noteworthy churches (among many others), Paphos is one of the most important crossroads of culture in the Mediterranean Sea. Especially interesting there are the 4th-century B.C. “Tombs of the Kings,” the 2nd-century A.D. Odeon, and the broad expanse of mosaic floors at the houses of 3rd-century A.D. noblemen Dionysos, Theseus and Aion.

The mosaics depict scenes from Greek mythology and have been meticulously cleaned, preserved and presented.

For all its history, Paphos is not a stodgy town known only for its ruins. Its lively harbor is filled with marinas, open air seafood markets and restaurants, night clubs and shops. Beachfront resort hotels line nearby shores, and traditional Cypriot tavernas may be found all over the picturesque city.

Paphos is also the base for tours of the ecologically sensitive and geologically spectacular Akama Peninsula and of the scenic Troodos Mountains of western Cyprus.