Sightseeing in Paphos Region - what to see. Complete travel guide

Paphos is well known to fans of luxurious leisure from all over the world. It’s the most sought after resort of Cyprus and the center of luxurious hotels, restaurants and places of entertainment. Charming beaches of Paphos attract thousands of tourists; however, it’s usually less known that resort also has rich cultural heritage. Exploring these unique landmarks allows to understand local culture better and to discover lots of intriguing facts of city’s history.

According to one of the beautiful myths, Paphos is the place of birth of Aphrodite. According to another legend, water from Fontana Amoroza grants everlasting youth. Next to this symbolic sight there are ruins of antique temple of Aphrodite built more than 3,000 of years ago.

Tombs of the Kings is a must visit site for those fond of history. Its underground tombs form an entangled system of twisted tunnels and labyrinths. It's difficult to imagine that these sophisticated buildings were built in ancient times. Nowadays necropolis is partially rebuilt by archeologists; it promises an interesting walk and admiring wall paintings, writings and surviving artifacts. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Scenic Geroskipou village located in Paphos suburban is another point of interest for history fans. There’re numerous historical buildings of various ages survived until nowadays, including Paraskevi Church. This graceful Byzantean basilica was built in 9th century and has managed to retain most of its original elements. Wall paintings and surrounding buildings are important points of interest there. Museum of traditional arts located nearby hosts an impressive collection of handcrafted objects.

There are also unique historical landmarks in the city, including the Monastery of Holy Virgin Kykkos. It was founded late in 11th century and is the one of the oldest buildings in town. Today it retains the unique religious artifact, the Holy Virgin icon, pictured by Saint Luke. This unique relic has being kept within monastery walls for more than a thousand of years, but is not the only one. Gifts shop at the monastery area is another point of tourists' interest. It offers various souvenirs and liquors brewed by monks using ancient recipes.

Nature lovers will surely like Paphos Bird & Animal's Park. It differs much from numerous reserve areas at other resorts. An upscale amphitheater is set up there for main park inhabitants; the park offers daily shows and exhibition performances for its visitors. Along with lots of birds, there are also giraffes, kangaroos, guinea pigs and other exotic animals from all over the world. Scientific expeditions still work in Paphos; they’ve already discovered numerous ancient artifacts. One of the city museums houses the abundant collection of mosaics used in decoration of ancient temples and palaces thousands of years ago.

Paphos is rich in stone and sandy beaches. As a rule, local hotels have comfortable beaches nearby. As the coast is mostly a stone one, it is not very comfortable to swim in some areas. Even luxury hotels can have beaches with quite an uncomfortable rocky way to the beach. Fans of convenience prefer to relax on sandy beaches. One of the best beaches of this type is located in Coral Bay. It is a peaceful and calm place with clean water. Lara Bay is a special place that keeps amazing numerous visitors. This coastal area is a part of a large marine resort. It has got this special status because of the green sea turtles that love to nest there.

Gourmets will be pleased with a choice of traditional Greek taverns that still keep the unforgettable medieval atmosphere. It is a fantastic place to try the most popular national dishes – fish and vegetables cooked on the open fire, various pastries, and gorgeous homemade wine. Foodies shouldn’t forget to try such an interesting signature food as goat cheese that is cooked on nearby farms. Halva and lukum remain the most popular pastries. Local markets are also full of delicious specialties and regional delicacies.