Attractions in Pafos

Archaeological sites and attractions in Pafos are full of myths and legends and none so famous as those of Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love and beauty.

Pafos is the smaller of the cities of Cyprus and as well as being the birthplace of Aphrodite, Pafos also contains an amazing amount of archaeological treasures and is listed as an official UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Petra tou Romiou (Rock of Aphrodite & Rock of the Greek)
  Number one of the most popular attractions in Pafos! This is where Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty rose from the foam of the sea. How the rock came to be here goes something like this. Folk-hero Digenis Aakritas hurled a large rock (petra) at the Saracens during a battle. The rock landed by the sea in Pafos and the rock became known as Petra Tou Romio (rock of the Greek).

• Aphrodite's Baths
  Akamas Peninsula, near Polis - 48km north of Pafos
  The legend of Aphrodite lives on in this grotto where the baths Aphrodite used to bathe in are located.
  

• Panagia Chrysopolutisse Church and Early Christian Basilica - Kato Pafos
  Built in the 13th century over the ruins of the largest early Byzantine Basilica on the island. St Paul's Pillar marks the point where Saint Paul was flogged before the Roman Governor converted to Christianity.
  

• Agia Solomoni Church - Leoforos Agiou Pavlou, Kato Pafos
  The church contains 12th century frescoes and was originally a Christian catacomb. According to local traditions, the tree at the entrance is a sacred tree which cures the disease of those who hang a personal offering on its branches.
  

• Roman Mosaics - Kato Paphos near the harbour
  Tel: 26940217
  Attractions in Pafos such as the renovated Greco-Roman Theatre which was built in the 2nd century BC are truly amazing. The floors of the Roman villa are covered with spectacular mosaics illustrating Greek mythological scenes. They are known by the house the floor is situated in. For example there's the House of Dionysos, House of Theseus and the more recently excavated House of Aion.
  

• Pafos District Archaeological Museum
  Leoforos Grivas Dighenis, Tel: 26940215: Open: Monday - Friday: 9.00am - 5.00pm/Saturday 10.00am -1.00pm
  Admission (Cyprus) £.0.75
  This museum illustrates just how old Pafos is with a very interesting collection of archaeological treasures dating back to the Neolithic Age.
  

• Tombs of the Kings
  

  Kato Pafos Tel: 26940295
  Another popular attraction are the underground tombs carved out of solid rock, some with Doric Pillars and dating back to the 4th century BC. This is where the nobility of the area are said to have been buried.
  

• Medieval Fort - Kato Pafos - Harbor
  www.pafc.com.cy
  One of the major attractions in Pafos is the lovely harbor which is the setting for the three day Opera event which takes place at the beginning of September every year. Originally built to protect the harbor, the Byzantine fort was rebuilt by the Lusignans in the 13th century. Dismantled by the Venetians in 1570 and rebuilt after the Ottoman conquest of the island in the 16th century.
  

• Ancient Pafos Odeon
  This ia a small 2nd century Odeon built of limestone blocks and now used for Pafos drama and musical performances during the summer. Just a stones throw away are the ancient city walls and the Roman Agora (Market).
  

• Byzantine Museum
  Pafos Bishopric, Andreas Ioannou 5 Tel: 26931393
  Open: Monday - Friday 9.00am-5.00pm/Saturday 9.00am -1.00pm
  Admission Cyprus £1
  The museum houses some of the most beautiful religious icons from Cyprus churches and is dedicated to the Byzantine period of the Greek Orthodox Church. It also contains the oldest icon found in Cyprus dating back to the 7th century.
  

• Ethnographical Museum
  Exo Vrisi 1 Tel: 26932010
  Monday-Friday 9am-5pm/Saturday 9am-1pm (Admission Cyprus £0.50)
  The museum is dedicated to how people used to live in Cyprus and contains everyday things like a workroom with creatively carved chests and pottery plus a bedroom and kitchen.
  

• Saranta Kolones - Kato Pafos (near the harbour)
  Built by the Lusignans at the beginning of 13th century on the site of a previous Byzantine Castle, it was unfortunately destroyed by an earthquake in 1222.