.jpg) CYPRUS
Where golf overlooks Aphrodite's birth place
 - What to see
Due to its innumerable ancient sites coiled up by a
lovely coastline, Paphos is called "the Gods' play garden" and is included in
the official UNESCO list of cultural and natural treasures of the world's heritage. It is
a small charming harbour town, on the west of the island, which has been, during certain
times in antiquity, the capital of Cyprus, has a history which goes back literally
thousands of years, and has always attracted visitors from the rest of the island and
abroad.
First of all, this is the birthplace and centre of
worship of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love and Beauty and the whole area retains some
of this magic. The two main places are the "Petra tou Romiou" at 18 kms
east on the coast where the goddess rose from the sea and the "bath of Aphrodite"
in a cave located in a spectacular landscape on the opposite side of Paphos at about 48
kms in the Akamas peninsula. Both places are worth a visit for the wild and
splendid beauty of the coast lines and their environment.
In the city, in front of the harbour, the most important
place is the antique roman town where archaeologists have already discovered
amazing mosaic floors from the 3rd century AD in the house of noblemen called
Dionysos, Theseus and Aion, the last discovery. They are depict scenes from Greek
mythology and are considered among the finest in the Mediterranean. Nearby is the Odeon
theatre, a typical roman hemicycle.
At a few miles north, along the coast are the Tombs
of the Kings. It is a wide area containing underground tombs carved out of solid rock
dating to 4th century BC, many decorated with Doric pillars.
Paphos has also a number of Byzantine churches and monasteries, three museums and the
surrounding area has charming villages in its mountains, where life has gone unchanged
over the years, where the customs and traditions of the country have been kept alive
because that is how it has always been. And in the heartland, are famous monasteries such
as Ayios Neophytos and Chrysoroyiatissa with modern day pilgrims.
Out of the city, the Kourion theatre overlooking
the seashore near Limassol at less than one hour highway drive is worth a visit: in the
dawn of the day, the colours of the old stones are changing as the sun goes down and the
large view over the seashore and the unlimited beach is unforgettable.
The Troodos mountains are also worth a visit but
it needs a full day. Going to the pick point of the Mount Olympus (1952m) and
tiny villages which, especially in summer, offer a cool retreat from the hustle and bustle
of the beaches. In winter the same mountains offer the option of alpine style holiday.
Other favoured summer retreats in the mountains are the
villages of Prodhromos, Pedhoulas and Platres known for there fruit
trees and vines. Superb monasteries can be seen here and there but, the most famous and
richest monastery in Cyprus is the Kikkho Monastery at 20 km west of Pedhoulas
village. Founded in 1100 and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it possesses one of the three
surviving icons ascribed to St. Luke. The icon, covered in silver gilt and enclosed in a
shrine of tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl, stands at the front of the iconostasis. Don't
forget to wear shirts and long pants or robes.
Last but not least, the charming Nicosia (Lefkosia
in Greek), the capital, is alas the European's only militarily divided city. Till the
Turkish invasion in 1974, the "Green Line"separates Greek Cypriot from Turkish
Cypriot and meanders through the old streets of Nicosia while Turkish armed soldiers
patrol all along the line. But even that major inconvenient, much of the charm and beauty
of modern Nicosia is to be found in the old city, with its labyrinthine alleyways and
elegant courtyard houses. The original gates (Porte Domenico, Porte del Providore…)
are in excellent condition and the statue of Aphrodite or the mosaic of Leda and the swan
can be seen at the museum.
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Odeon theatre nearby the Paphos fishing harbour
Tombs of the Kings,
old churches like Kakopetria
or Kourion roman theatre are witnesses of the antique Cyprian civilization
Mosaic of Leda and swan
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