Paphos is situated on the west coast of Cyprus it boasts a picturesque little
harbour with charming open-air fish restaurants lined up along the quayside.
Paphos had 3 main tourist areas – Kato Paphos, Tomb of the Kings and Coral
Bay. Paphos it self is spread over a large area which contains many beautiful
Cypriot villages.
The whole area is connected with the goddess Aphrodite, Paphos is known as
the “Playground of Aphrodite” and the “Aphrodite’s Rock”, birthplace of the
Goddess, juts out of the sea 16 miles east of the Paphos. The Legend says that if
you swim around the rock three times, at midnight, with a full moon, you will be
blessed with youth and eternally beautiful! Baths of Aphrodite are located the
north of Paphos.
Paphos is steeped in history, the whole area is rich in historical and archaeological
treasures. The most fascinating are the famous mosaics found in the house of
Dionysus, beautifully preserved after 16 centuries under the soil. Paphos has a
forgotten elegance that combines well with the holiday atmosphere. The main tourist area is known as Kato Paphos, (“lower” Paphos), has a fantastic holiday
feel. Kato Paphos has a public beach, the harbour, fish taverns, souvenir shops
and modern hotels with important archaeological sites around them.
A large real-style burial ground of catacombs and mysterious vaults dating back
to the third century BC are to be found in another popular tourist area know as
the Tomb of the Kings.
Another popular site is the St. Paul’s Pillar which dates back to 13th century AD and was destroyed by the
Ottoman Turks in 1570. It has been rebuilt, knocked down and then rearranged to
form a Roman Fort, a castle, a Turkish tower and even a British warehouse for
salt. legend says that the saint was tied and whipped for preaching the Christian
religion.
Coral Bay is lovely up market resort with a beautiful blue flag golden sandy beach
and sheltered bay which is now overlooked by the brand new 6 star “Thalassa
Hotel”. Coral main stretch boast lovely tavern and shops.