Paphos Πάφος, Cyprus

Theoskepasti Church, Paphos, Cyprus
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TheoskepastiChurch1.jpg
Author: MarineCoastal engineer
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Paphos (Greek: Πάφος, Turkish: Baf) is a coastal city in southwestern Cyprus. It comprises Old Paphos, the ancient town, and New Paphos, the currently inhabited city. The city has the second largest airport in the country. Its old town has been recognized as a World Heritage Site.

Paphos has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. It was the center of the cult of Aphrodite as well as other pre-Hellenic fertility deities. There is an Aphrodite temple here built by the Myceneans in the 12th century BC. According to Greek belief, Aphrodite landed here as she emerged from the sea. The worship of Aphrodite is believed to have been introduced here by the Phoenicians, and her cult has been established before the time of Homer, which is around 700 BC.

According to the Bible, Paul - then known as Saul, arrived at Salamis, along with Barnabas and other Biblical teachers. They traveled the southern coastline of Cyprus, eventually reaching Paphos. It was there that Sault was called Paul.

Lighthouse in Paphos
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Latarn_pafos.jpg
Author: Piotr Matyja
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Old Paphos was abandoned during the Byzantine era, when repeated raids by Arabs forced the inhabitants to move inland, establishing a new settlement of New Paphos or Nea Paphos. New Paphos developed to become the present-day town.

Visiting Paphos

Paphos International Airport (PFO) is the second largest airport in Cyprus. It receives flights from Aalborg, Aarhus, Amsterdam, Athens, Belgrade, Birmingham, Bristol, Brussels, Budapest, Cairo, Cardiff, Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Helsinki, Katowice, Leeds/Bradford, London-Gatwick, London-Luton, Luxembourg, Lyon, Manchester, Moscow, Munich, Newcastle, Nuremberg, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Prague, Saint Petersburg, Stockholm, Tallinn, Warsaw and Yekaterinburg, among others.

Paphos can be (and is best) explored on foot. There are many historic sites within walking distance.

Tomb of the Kings, Paphos
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cipro-Paphos04.jpg
Author: dolanh
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Places of Interest in Paphos

Agia Kyriaki
A 12th century stone church, also called Our Lady of the Golden City (Chrysopolitissa), erected over the ruins of an earlier Byzantine-era basilica.
Agios Theodoros (St Theodore's Cathedral)
The oldest church in Old Paphos, built in 1896 forthe Orthodox community. There is a square here with a memorial to the Turkish massacre that claimed the life of the Bishop of Paphos.
Agora
Covered market building with stalls selling sweets and souvenirs.
Aquarium of Paphos
Paphos aquarium has a wide collection of marine life, particularly those from the Mediterranean Sea but also from other parts of the world.
Archaeological Museum
Museum exhibiting a wide collection of artifacts spanning thousands of years, from the Neolithic period to the Bronze Age, as well as the Hellenic, Roman, Byzantine and medieval periods.
Beaches
There are a few pleasant beaches in Paphos. They include the municipal beach near the center of New Paphos as well as others along the coastline.
Bishop's Palace and Byzantine Museum
This 1910 building houses the residence of the Bishop of Paphos, with a section housing the Byzantine Museum, which showcases a collection of icons, including the oldest in Cyprus.
Catacombs of Agia Solomoni and Fabrica Hill
A subterranean church dedicated to Solomoni, whose children were tortured in her presence. She is now regarded as a saint by the Cypriots.
Ethnographic Museum
A private museum displaying a collection of items that range from traditional costumes to kitchen utensils.
Geological Exhibition
Center with a private colleciton of rocks and minerals from around Cyprus.
Grand Mosque (Cami Kebir)
This is a reminder of the past Turkish presence in the city. The building which originated during the Byzantine period, was once a church before it was made a mosque.
Loutra
A dome-covered building that has served different purposes, as a church, a Turkish bath, the municipal museum and a coffee shop.
Tomb of the Kings
A system of caves and rock tombs where the local rulers were buried. The necropolis has been in use from the 3rd century BC to the 3rd century AD.
Town Hall
Neo-Classical building beside the Municipal Garden, a popular place for weddings.

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