The Wonders of Paphos, Cyprus

Paphos represents the cultural hub of Cyprus. The city boasts with rich cultural heritage and history, visible through the vast range of temples, castles, mosaics, palaces and ancient burial grounds the city is decorated with. Paphos has inhabited since the Neolithic era has been conquered by multiple foreign invaders, all leaving behind traces of their time spent on the island. Apart from the city’s cultural significance, Paphos is a place of beauty accentuated by the multiple unmanned landmarks, timeless villages and golden coastline. Paphos is well-worth your visit.

The Tombs of Kings

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The Tombs of Kings, unlike what the name of the site connotes, was the burial ground of the aristocracy in the past. In Cyprus, the locals refer to the burial ground as the Palaiokastra, meaning the Old Castles. The graves found on site date back to the 3rd century BC, and although it is rather morbid of me to mention, they are indeed a work of art! What impressed me most was the craftsmanship past civilisations put to use to carve sculptured grave rooms in the rocks. There are also signs of crosses and other wall painting depicting scenes of early Christianity.

Paphos Lighthouse

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The famed Lighthouse of the city is known in Greek as the Faros. The impressive and dominating structure is visible from any corner of the city. Tourists visit the Lighthouse on a daily basis to take pictures with the towering structure with a backdrop of the entire city. Although, you will need to climb numerous steps to reach it, once on the top the view before you is compensating and totally worth your effort.

Your experience on the island will not be complete unless you get a taste of some Cypriot local products. The island is famed for its distinct cuisine and traditional goods. One of the most popular Cypriot drinks is Zivania, which is only produced in Cyprus. Zivania is by far the strongest alcoholic drink you will ever taste, so beware! It is made out of distilled grapes where the liquid is then placed in specially designed cauldrons to mature. Zivania was first introduced to the Cypriot culture 700 hundred years ago. Most of it is pure alcohol and drank as a shot. Most accompany the drink with dried fruit or nuts. Locals drink Zivania in winter to warm them up! The elderly are known to have a shot every morning to kill all disease.

Paphos Zoo

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The Paphos Zoo is like no other zoo you have visited. Besides the rare animals and third largest bird collection the zoo houses, it is set in a natural landscape with flowing lakes, small ponds and blossoming gardens. The public can visit a large variety of animals that live in the zoo ranging from ponies to reptiles. The zoo is a real hit with children and adults alike and it is the perfect choice for those travelling with children.

Paphos is home to an array of attractions and special places to visit. Paphos does not disappoint its visitors and satisfies even the most discerning visitors.