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Cyprus,
the island where, according to legend, Aphrodite, the
ancient Greek goddess of beauty and love, was born,
is an idyllic tourist destination.
It
is a land whose history and culture goes back 11.000
years so there is something for everyone - Neolithic
settlements, ancient burial chambers, Greco-Roman temples
and amphitheatres, Roman villas with mosaic floors,
old Christian basilicas, Byzantine churches and monasteries
with beautiful wall-paintings, mediaeval castles, Islamic
monuments, to name but a few.
The
tourist industry began to grow in Cyprus in 1960
with Independence. Cyprus has since become one of the
main tourist centres of the Mediterranean with tourism
as the mainstay of the island’s economy.
Once
the Roman Capital of Cyprus, Pafos boasts
many attractions both historic and modern. On the west
coast of the Island it is a very popular holiday resort
and the main tourist area is to be found near the harbor
in Kato Paphos.
The
harbor is an ideal place for a stroll; cafes and restaurants
line the route to the Byzantine fort. The fort was built
to protect the area from riding pirates.
The
historical sights are many and varied here: The Tombs
of the Kings are 3rd century burial chambers carved
from solid rock and there is also the 2nd century Odeon,
which is still used for musical and theatrical performances
today. One of the most impressive sights in Pafos is
the perfectly preserved mosaic floors depicting scenes
from Greek mythology in the House of Dionysos.
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