Paphos, Cyprus

Paphos is the site of ancient ruins in Cyprus. It is located in the southwest of Cyprus, and modern Paphos is the capital of the district of the same name. The city is divided into modern-day Paphos, on the upper section up the hill, and the lower section, Kato Paphos, with the archaeological sites of Palaepaphos, or Old Paphos.

Old Paphos has been a settlement since the Neolithic period. It is the mythical birthplace of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. Due to this association, Old Paphos became the most important site for the worship of Aphrodite in the ancient world.

During Greco-Roman times, Paphos was a capital city. As a result, there are Roman ruins here including a governor's palace, with exquisite mosaic work. This has become a major tourist attraction for Paphos.

Paphos was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site during the 4th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France, on 1-5 September, 1980.

Photos of Paphos

Tomb of the Kings, Paphos, Cyprus
Author: Sekundenschlaf (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0)

Mosaic in the House of Dionysos, Paphos
Author: Mgiganteus (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0)

World Heritage Site Inscription Details

Location: N 34 45 30 E 32 24 20
Inscription Year: 1980
Type of Site: Cultural
Inscription Criteria: III, VI

Location Map of Paphos

View Paphos, Cyprus in a larger map

Visiting Paphos

Your best bet for reaching Paphos is by charter flight into Paphos Airport (PFO). Tour operators such as First Choice, Thomson and Monarch have regular charter flights to Paphos.

Once you have reached Paphos, then the easiest way to move around is on foot. You can also rent a bike or car to go around. Beware of the heat: in summer from late June to early September it can go up above 33 ° C.

Tourist attractions in Paphos

Paphos Archaeological Park
This is where the major archaeological attractions are located. Among the sights of interest are the House of Dionysos and the House of Theseus. Both have exquisite mosaic work.

Tomb of the Kings
Despite its name, it is the cemetery of high officials and rich citizens of Paphos, not kings. Although most of the graves have since been looted, you can still get an idea of the opulence of ancient Paphos.

Paphos Fort
The fort is located at the tip of the marina. The present structure was built by the Turks in 1586 and was used as fort and prison by different administrators of Paphos.

Return to Cyprus's World Heritage Sites
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