A touch of History in Paphos
Paphos has long been a famed tourist resort attracting holidaymakers to its sandy-golden beaches. What most visitors fail to recognise, until they actually visit the coastal city, is that Paphos boasts with fascinating historic landmarks and ancient sites. In fact, Paphos’ story began during the Neolithic period and this is the place where the Greek Goddess of Love and Beauty, Aphrodite, rose from the sea foam.
All visitors feel amazed by the sight of ancient fortresses, tombs, palaces, castles and mosaics that unveil before their eyes when in Paphos!
Let’s take a trip through history…
The Tombs of the Kings, also known as ‘Palaiokastra’ meaning Old Castles, is one of the most significant historic sites on the island. This archaeological site is a massive underground graveyard; where the tombs found there date back to the 4th-3rd century BC. The tombs are considered beautiful art pieces that have been sculptured in actual rock. High-ranked officials and local aristocracy was buried in these grounds.
The Odeon is an ancient amphitheatre located in Paphos Archaeological Park. Built entirely out of limestone in the 2nd century, the amazing Odeon seats well over 1000 spectators! The now fully renovated amphitheatre hosts events such as theatre performances and musicals during the summer. The Paphos Archaeological Park is also home to other amazing ancient landmarks such as the House of Dionysos and the House of Theseus, famed for their amazing mosaic floors.
The Paphos Lighthouse is truly a gem. Locals refer to the lighthouse as ‘Faros.’ The towering lighthouse can be seen from any part of the city, making it a perfect spot for all those seeking to take amazing pictures of the entire city from up above. It is simply breathtaking up there! The climb to the top of the lighthouse is well-worth the effort once you set your eyes on the stunning views ahead.
Paphos is mesmerising! Come and see for yourselves!