| The capital of the west and positively
teeming with history is Paphos, site of the island's second international
airport. The resort town (Kato Pafos) has as its focal point a charming
fishing harbour by Paphos Fort, lined with open-air cafes and tavernas
that serve a tempting menu of the day's
It was on Paphos shoreline that the mythological
Goddess Aphrodite was born, a legend that spawned a massive wave of
cult worship from neighbouring countries that lasted several centuries.
The large rock that juts from the sea is known as 'Petra tou Romiou'
- The Venus Rock - while the Baths of Aphrodite at Polis also echoes
her apparent penchant for the island. At Palaepaphos, Kouklia lie the
remains of the Goddess' earliest Sanctuary.
Another 'first' for Paphos was its early
recognition of Christianity. While under Roman rule in 45 A.D., it
was here that Saint Paul converted the first ruler to the faith. |
| The legacy from its remarkable history
adds up to nothing less than an open museum, so much so that UNESCO simply
added the whole town to its World Cultural Heritage List. Among the treasures
iiiK-arlhed, are the remarkable mosaics in the Houses of Dionysos, Theseus
and Aion, beautifully preserved after 16 centuries under the soil. Then
there are the mysterious vaults and caves, the Tombs of the Kings, the
Pillar to which Saint Paul was allegedly tied and whipped, the ancient
Odeon Theatre and other places of interest including the Byzantine Museum
and the its Archaeological Museum. |
