Brief Introduction of Pafos.

Playground of the Gods. It was on Pafos coastline that the mythological Goddess Aphrodite was born.
A legend that spawned massive wave of cult worship from neighboring countries that lasted several centuries.
The large rock that juts from the sea is known as  "Petra Tou Romiou"-" The Venus Rock" Another "first" for Pafos was its early recognition of  Christianity. While under The Roman Rule in 45A.D.,
it was here that Saint Paul converted the first ruler to the faith. Pafos has a charming fishing harbour by Pafos Fort, with cafes and tavernas that serve a tempting menu of the days catch.

PLACES OF INTEREST - PAFOS.

PAFOS MOSAICS.
Villas of the wealthy people from the 3rd to the 5th AD Beautiful mosaic floors - designs and figures taken from the Greek Mythology.

PAFOS DISTRICT ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
Great collection of items from all periods. Remarkable items are a collection of ceramics from Chalcolithic age (3800-2500BC).

BYZANTINE MUSEUM.
Collection of icons and frescoes - based in the bishops palace.

ETHNOGRAPHICAL MUSEUM
Interesting private collection of items from the Neolithic Age until today.

PAFOS MEDIAEVAL FORT.
The original building was a Byzantine fort to protectthe harbour. Rebuilt by the Louzinians in the 13th century. The Turks made it more powerful when they conquered the island.

TOMBS OF THE KINGS.
Burial place of the wealthy citizens of Pafos.

GEROSKIPOU - FOLK ART MUSEUMM.
Collection of items of Cypriot folkloric art.

SANCTUARY OF APHRODITE - PALAIPAFOS MUSEUM.
In the village of Kouklia-14 km.east of Pafos. One of the City-Kingdom of Cyprus. The ruins of the Temples
of Aphrodite goes back to 12th century BC

LEMBA.
Experimental archaeological site. Ruins from the Chalcolithic Age. Lemba houses the art school.

PANAYIA.
Birthplace of Archbishop Makarios.

PHYTI.
Lace village.

MONASTERIES AND CHURCHES.

CHRYSOLOYIATISSA
Founded in 1152 and rebuilt in 1770 and restored in 1967.
Makes its own range of wines using home-grown grapes.

AGIOS NEOFYTOS
Famous for its 'Encleistra', 'Enclosure’, carved out of the mountain by the hermit himself.
Byzantine frescoes of the 12th and 15th centuries.

AGIA PARASKEVI
Remarkable five domed Byzantine church. Built before 843. Decorated in the 10th - 12th century.

CHRYSOPOUTISSA
The church was built in the 13th century on top of the ruins of the biggest Byzantine Basilica of Cyprus.
In the outside yard is St. Paul's Pillar  where he was tied and whipped.

AGIA MONI MONASTERY
Founded in 300 AD. Basilica first built in the 6th century Rebuilt in 1638 and renovated 1990.
 

Brief introduction of Limassol.

Heart of the vine country. The second largest city of Cyprus. Important touristy and commercial centre.
It is in between to two ancient cities kingdoms, Amathus to the East and Kourion to the West. Known as Niapolis since the first Byzantine times. The new city of Limassol is the centre of the wine industry and the main port of Cyprus. Limassol is a lively cosmopolitan seaside town and holds the island's two top festivals - The Carnival and the Wine Festival in September, where wine flows freely for everyone to enjoy.
In the Middle Ages Limassol hosted the marriage of Richard the Lion heart with Berengaria of Navarre
whom he crowned Queen of England.
Thereafter the Crusaders made their headquarters at the Square Keep west of the city, known as Kolossi Mediaeval Castle, where they fostered the making of wines particularly the sweet dessert wine,'Commanderia' - the oldest named wine in the world.

Today Limassol is a busy shopping centre. It has countless restaurants and tavern as and a brilliant nightlife
to suit all tastes. In the neighbourhood of Limassol are the placid Germasogeia dam and the Salt Lake at Akrotiri, home of thousands of migrating birds in winter and stopover point for millions.

PLACES OF INTEREST - LIMASSOL.

MUSEUMS: MEDIAEVAL LIMASSOL MUSEUM (FORT OF LIMASSOL).
14th century fort where Richard the Lion heart got married with Berengaria of Navarre.
 

DISTRICT ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM.

The museum has an interesting collection of antiquities from the Neolithic until the Roman Age found in the area of Limassol.
 

FOLKLORIC ART MUSEUM.

     Rich collection of Cypriot folkloric art of the 19th and beginning 20th century.
 

MUNICIPAL GALLERY OF LIMASSOL.

        Works of famous Cypriot artists.

 

OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST IN THE DISTRICT OF LIMASSOL -

KOLOSSI -MEDIAEVAL CASTLE.
Original building out the 13th century. The final form in the 15th century. Headquarters of the Crusaders.

KOURION.
Ancient city Kingdom. Impressive archaeological site with the Ellino Roman Theatre of the 2nd. century Be.

            APOLLO SANCTUARY.
Important place of worship of Apollo Iladys - God of the forest - protector of Kourion.

AMATHUS.
East of Limassol One of the ancient city Kingdoms of Cyprus Important place of worship of Aphrodite Astarti.

For Larnaca, Nicosia And Troodos please click here.