Paphos: The Historical Gem Of Cyprus. A Photoessay.

I’ve been to Paphos twice in two years and I love the place. It has excellent weather almost all throughout the year and it has some spectacular history behind it. This history has given us ruins so precious and well-preserved that the entire city has been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

So where exactly is Paphos and why is it important? Paphos is a coastal city in the southwest of Cyprus. During the Greco-Roman times, the city used to be the capital of the island and today holds some fine mosaics that date back to the 2nd-4th Century AD. It also lies close to the Petra tou Romiou aka Aphrodite’s rock, which according to ancient Greek mythology is the birthplace of Aphrodite (Venus, the Greek Goddess of Love).

During our visit to Cyprus this year, we visited the mosaics at the Paphos Archeological Park, the Tomb of The Kings and St. Paul’s Church where the King of Denmark (1095-1103), Eric the Good is buried. To be honest, the photographs don’t do justice to the place but it’s harder to explain the feeling in words, so here you go.

The weather was cold, the wind was blowing strong and we were freezing, but we carried on

Can you believe this is almost 1900 years old? Clicked inside the House of Aion

Theseus, the mythical founder-king of Athens

Peleus and Three Destinies as depicted by the mosaic

The mosaic of Gea, Mother Earth

The mosaic of a peacock at the House of Dionysus in the park

And this is where the sports happened back in the day. In the background is the Paphos lighthouse.

Clicked when inside one of the tombs at Tomb of the Kings

Used to be a tomb and now it’s a tunnel

One of the many tombs in The Tomb of The Kings complex

The ruins outside this still very strong St.Paul’s Church. The King of Denmark, Eric the Good is buried here. You can also see mosaics on the floor.

And the best one for the last: Aphrodite’s Rock. Truly marvellous. You can stand all day and hear the sea, watch the waves and not get bored

Important tip: 

If you visit the Paphos Archeological Park during the winter, chances are that, like us, you’ll miss out on seeing most of the mosaics as they’re covered to protect them from harsh weather. Best time of year to visit would be April – May.

Entrance Fee for Paphos Archeological Park : €4.50 each

Entrance Fee for Tomb of the Kings: €2.50 each

Entrance Fee for St. Paul’s Church : Free

Read more on points of interest in Paphos here

Read more on St. Paul’s Church here

Have you ever visited Paphos? What were your impressions?