Cyprus is a great place to visit, particularly its old capital Paphos. Paphos is deeply connected with the Aphrodite, the goddess of Love and Beauty, and it is easy to see why – it’s a stunning place that has been designated as one of the world's cultural and national treasures by UNESCO. Travel to Paphos is pretty straightforward these days – here’s a quick five step guide to getting there and what to do when you’re there.
Booking a Flight
There are daily flights to Paphos International Airport – cheap flights can be booked easily from sites such as Travelzoo and flights from Gatwick to Paphos by EasyJet are around £160.00.
Accommodation
If you are looking for something a little quirky then The Roman Hotel is for you. This hotel has been made to look like a Greek Palace and, although it could conceivably be deemed as tacky, it is a lot of fun. The rooms have all of the modern conveniences but also have huge mock ancient Greek tapestries painted on the walls. It is 400m from the beach and right next to the shops.
If you are looking for something more upmarket then you could try the 5-star Amathus Beach Hotel. Expect the usual trappings of a luxury hotel with additional extras such as archery, aerobics and paragliding on the facility. Rooms at the Amathus Beach Hotel cost from £114.00 per night - book early as it is very popular.
For a budget hotel try the Hilltop Gardens Hotel Apartments. Here you can book a studio apartment that can hold up to three people for around £35.00 per night. It is located next to the famous catacombs, next to the 'Tomb of the Kings' and the mosaics (see below). However it is a 10-minute drive away from the centre of Paphos. For more information on cheap hotels, take a look at Lastminute.com.
Things to Do
At the Paphos Archaeological Park you can find the ruins of two ancient Roman villas: the House of Dionysus and the House of Theseus. These two villas are most famed for the remains of their beautiful mosaics dating from the 2nd Century AD showing scenes from Greek myth. Nearby are the Tombs of the Kings which, contrary to what you may think, are not the burial place of any kings. The Tombs are in fact the resting place of around 200 aristocrats who died in the city between the 3rd Century BC and the 3rd Century AD. They have been carved out of the natural rock, with Doric pillars supporting the immense roof and are decorated in a number of exquisite frescoes. Another unusual place to visit, also nearby, are the Catacombs of Agai Solomoni. The entrance to the catacombs is marked by a pistachio tree that is supposed to have healing powers; people often tie pieces of clothe to the tree as an offering in the hope that their ailments will be cured. The catacombs are carved in Fabrica Hill and served as an escape route and hiding place for the Romans and were later used as a Chapel by the earlier Crusaders. Entrance is free but you are advised to take a torch along with you if you intend to explore them fully.
Places to Eat
If you are looking for that extra special meal then you might try Artio Brasserie. Artio has an award-winning chef who combines techniques and flavours from all over France, Spain, Italy and Greece. The restaurant owners have been careful to maintain the courtyard of the taverna that was originally on the site, which gives the restaurant a rustic air combined with the new modern air-conditioned interior. The menu is varied - they even serve Sunday Roasts! For something more authentic you may consider Paphos' oldest taverna Demokritos. As well as serving excellent food this restaurant has Greek and Cypriot dancers to entertain in the evening. This restaurant's specialities are a 20 dish 'meze' (a collection of appetisers); 'tava' which is a traditional lamb stew cooked with tomatoes and onions; and 'stifado', a stew made from vinegar, wine, spices and plenty of onion, that comes in either a beef or hare variety. |
