Pafos :: Cyprus

Pafos History

Pafos became the capital of Cyprus under the successors of Alexander the Great - the Ptolemies and in those days its harbor 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 treasure.
Capital of the west and positively teaming with history is Pafos, site of the island's second international airport. The resort town has as its focal point a charming fishing harbor by Pafos Fort, lined with open-air cafés and taverns that serve a tempting menu of the day's catch.

Aphrodite’s Rock (Petra tou Romiou) On the south coast of the island, on one of the most beautiful beaches, lies “Petra tou Romiou” as it’s known in Cyprus, the location where Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love, was said to have emerged from the sea. Aphrodite’s Rock is a massive chunk of stone that marks the spot, her birthplace was a place of pilgrimage for the entire Hellenic world.

The legacy from its remarkable history adds up to nothing less than an open museum, so much so that UNESCO simply added the whole town to its World Cultural Heritage List. Among the treasures iiiK-arlhed, are the remarkable mosaics in the Houses of Dionysos, Theseus and Aion, beautifully preserved after 16 centuries under the soil. Then there are the mysterious vaults and caves, the Tombs of the Kings, the Pillar to which Saint Paul was allegedly tied and whipped, the ancient Odeon Theatre and other places of interest including the Byzantine Museum and the its Archaeological Museum.