Pafos has more than just the beach to explore and the ancient Greeks just knew that! This is the reason they discovered the sacred city well inland, overseeing the brilliant Med from the cape at Kouklia. Modern Pafos is nestled peacefully besides the coast that dates back to more or less 2,400 years and worth exploring with a Cyprus passport.
Majority of travellers that land in Pafos do so to experience the amazing combination of sea, sand and sun. Talking about sun, Cyprus certainly gets a lot of that as almost 326 days a year are bright and sunny.
And as you explore the island, it wouldn’t be without tripping over a historic or ancient ruin. Do remember that Pafos isn’t anything like Protaras and Agia Napa but a proper Mediterranean city boasting grocers’ shops and entire courtyards of potted geraniums.
A cultivated Pafos
Bearing a history that has remained intact or uninterrupted for more than 3,000 years, Pafos was indeed an obvious selection for the European City of Culture 2017. Enthusiastic performers and participants have been gathering on the stage of the ancient amphitheatre ever since 2nd century BC and a hallmark for fertility worship ever since the Neolithic era. It isn’t any coincidence Greeks chose this particular coastal stretch as birthplace of Aphrodite.
The real “Tale of two cities”
The Greek’s culture of splitting the towns in two goes back to approximately 500 B.C. It happened when Herodotus and Plato wrote about the metropolises division in analogous communities namely; Kato which is the lower part of the coast and an Ano, the upper part inland.
With a Cyprus passport, you’ll also have a chance to relive the days when ancient Mediterranean teemed with the battleships of quarrelling empires so it pretty much made sense to have fled somewhere in the hills. The tradition is still kept alive during various celebrations!
The magnificent mosaics
Archaeological ruins are the focal subject for both tourists and locals in Pafos being considered treasures of the Greece and Roman. There’re arcades of columns, an ancient underfoot and thermal baths but, the primary attraction is located underneath all this.
he House of Dionysus is among the most probable sites that’s in actual a Roman villa with lush and lavish mosaics been on the cover page of a super famous home magazine; if there were such a thing back in 200 AD!
The neatly elaborated floor decorations take everything from the illustrations of Dionysus to high-spirited wine, the Minotaur, Achilles, Theseus and Poseidon among the neighbouring villa mosaics. This is yet another best experience in Pafos with a Cyprus passport.
If only rulers of ancient Pafos would’ve lived peacefully and well, they surely would’ve died in luxury. Tombs of the Kings are another excellent tourist site worth exploring which is more or less two-kilometres north of Kato Pafos archaeological site. The amazing mausoleums are carved into a rocky crag that followed the same Egyptian tradition of constructing tombs and make them a part of their grand lifestyle.
Say hello to Aphrodite
Since ancient times, all those visiting Cyprus found Aphrodite quite impressive and recognised worldwide as Greek Goddess of Love. While the history behind Aphrodite is another thing, this spot is undeniably pretty and a must-see with ancient ruins, the museum and amazing displays. When here, might as well take a souvenir back home!
Another meze
So much to see and do but the best way to wind up your journey is digging into the culture of Ktima right at the essential Mediterranean Kiniras Garden Restaurant. It’s situated in a hall of a traditional stone townhouse, shaded by trees and rather a family spot. The surrounding itself is amazing with water and statues; not to forget the food which is truly delectable.
Conclusion
Experience all this and beyond in the amazing Pafos with a Cyprus passport!
