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Paphos Holidays, Hotels & Travel Guide
Travel guide to hotels & holidays in Paphos
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Paphos Holidays Overview
A guide to holidays in Paphos - The city of Paphos on the southwest coast of
Cyprus was the capital of the island in Roman times, and dates from
1400 BC. Legend has it that the city is built on the spot where the
Greek Goddess of Love, Aphrodite, was born. The city also has many
connections to and relics from early Christianity. Over the
centuries it has survived numerous foreign incursions and raids,
and even a devastating earthquake in the 4th century AD. It lost
out to Larnaca as a major port in the Middle Ages and experienced a
decline during the British colonial period when development of this
part of the island came to a standstill. Today, however, Paphos is
reviving on the strength of tourism and government investment in
infrastructure such as dams, roads and airport. Private initiatives
have also resulted in a boom in the construction of hotels,
apartments and villas. The city has become a popular seaside resort
with a population of 39,500. The Ktima section of the city is the
main residential area, while Kato Paphos is the playground of
holidaymakers, built around the medieval port with its numerous
luxury hotels, tavernas and entertainment
venues.
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Paphos
holidays - Top Places To Go
1. Tombs of the Kings
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What is it? There are actually no kings buried here.
Rather the site known as the Tombs of the Kings, one mile (two km)
northwest of Paphos harbour towards Coral Bay, was the final
resting place of about 100 Ptolemaic aristocrats who lived and died
in the city between 3 BC and 3 AD. The tombs are impressive, carved
out of solid rock, some featuring Doric pillars and frescoed walls.
Archaeological excavations are ongoing at the site, which also
features a church known as Paleoekklisia, which sports traces of
Byzantine frescoes.
Hours of Operation: Daily 8am to 5pm (November to March), 8am to 6pm
(April to May and September to October), 8am to 7.30pm (June to
August)
Phone:(26) 306 295 |
2. The Mosaics of Paphos
Kyriakou Nikolaou Street
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What is it? The striking mosaic floors in a series of
ancient Roman noblemen's villas, dating from the third to fifth
century AD, are a must-see for visitors to Paphos. The site where
the villas are still being excavated can be found about 300 metres
from the Paphos harbour. The mosaics featuring mythological scenes
are visible in the houses of Dionysus, Orpheus and Aion, and the
Villa of Theseus. All were made of small cubes of marble and stone,
called tesserae, with glass paste added to widen the range of
colour. In the House of Dionysus, for example, 5,985 square feet
(556 sq metres) of floor space in 14 rooms are covered with the
gorgeous mosaics.
Hours of Operation: Daily 8am to 5pm (September to May), 8am to 7.30pm
(June to August)
Phone:(26) 306 217 |
3. Catacombs
Agio Pavlou Street
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What is it? A large pistachio tree marks the entrance to
the underground catacombs of Agia Solomoni in Kato Paphos. The tree
is a strange sight, festooned as it usually is with pieces of cloth
tied onto it by the faithful as offerings, in the hope that this
sacred tree will cure various ailments. The catacombs themselves
were carved into Fabrica hill, below the ancient Roman city wall,
in the 4th century BC, and later became chapels for the early
Christians. The underground chapels feature some interesting
frescoes and graffiti left by 13th-century Crusaders, and there are
numerous legends and stories attached to the patron saint Ayia
Solomoni. Visitors are advised to take a torch along to explore the
catacombs.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
Paphos
holidays - Top Events
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