Galene

Region

Kissonerga

The village sits just above the junction between the main Kato Pafos to Coral Bay coast road and the Coral Bay and the old road to Pafos.

Kissonerga is a small, friendly and very beautiful village situated a short distance from the sea and surrounded by banana plantations. In the village you will find all the facilities you may need during your stay. There are supermarkets, restaurants and folk taverns, bars, kiosks, a bank and a pharmacy. The traditional relaxed way of life sits comfortably and in close proximity with modern 5* luxury hotel developments and a developing tourist culture. Older women are still wearing the traditional black garb and men sitting outside the local coffee shops playing back gammon while the younger generation goes by in the latest fashions.





The village has an ancient and rich history, as does many of the surrounding villages and the island in general. There is the local archaeological site at Lemba village just 2 km from Kissonerga and the old and new churches in all the local villages are richly decorated with gold, icons and some painted walls.

		Lemba village can be singled out as one with particular historic significance. In its pretty setting near the sea, Lemba's link with prehistory is the site of a chalcolithic settlement. Today the faithful reconstruction of several dwellings, gives an insight into chalcolithic life on the island.

It is hard to believe that this tranquil area is but a five minute drive away from the bustling resort of Kato Paphos with its plethora of restaurants, antiquities and busy night life. Less than 5 min drive in the other direction is the resort of Coral Bay with more restaurants and shops and most importantly with it child friendly sandy shallow beaches. If you don't wish to drive there is a bus stop 300 m from the villa on a frequent bus route that serves both resorts and all the areas in between

Coral Bay
The popular resort of Coral Bay is less than 5 minutes away and it offers everything you need for a perfect holiday. The resort centre is lined with shops, bars and restaurants serving a choice of local and international cuisine.

In the day, life is based around the idyllic sandy bay, where the calm shallow waters makes excellent bathing for children and there is a wide selection of water-sports available on the beachfront.

Kato Paphos
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.



Unavoidably, sooner or later, the children in the group will have had enough of culture, nature and "old ruins", and a day at Aphrodite's massive water park (a few minutes drive away) will get everybody excited for days before and thrilled and content for days after. Of course you can join in as well (if you dare!).