Must-seeUNESCO
Kato Paphos Archaeological Park
Roman mosaics and the first UNESCO site in Cyprus
The story
Kato Paphos stands on the site of the ancient city of Nea Paphos. Written sources say it was founded at the end of the fourth century BC by Nikokles, the last king of Palaepaphos. Under the Ptolemies the city became the capital of all Cyprus, and it remained so under the Romans, until the earthquakes of the fourth century AD. In the park you can see rich Roman houses with mosaic floors, from the late second to the early fifth century AD: the House of Dionysus, the House of Aion, the House of Orpheus and the Villa of Theseus. Many scenes come from Greek myths. Here too are the odeon, the agora and the Byzantine fortress called Forty Columns. In 1980 Nea Paphos and Palaepaphos, at Kouklia, became the first sites in Cyprus on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The UNESCO site “Paphos” (Kato Paphos and Kouklia) was the first in Cyprus, inscribed in 1980; it is famous for the Roman mosaics of the Houses of Dionysus and Aion and the Villa of Theseus. In 2017 Paphos was a European Capital of Culture.
Visiting
The ticket office is on Apostolou Pavlou Avenue, near the harbor. According to the Department of Antiquities website: open daily, in winter (September 16 – April 15) from 8:30 to 17:00, in summer (April 16 – September 15) from 8:30 to 19:30, last ticket at 19:00; admission €4.50. Hours may differ on holidays, so check before you go.
Sources
- Department of Antiquities, Cyprus: Nea Pafos (Kato Pafos), archaeological site
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Paphos (No. 79, inscribed 1980)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Cyprus, properties inscribed (Paphos 1980, Painted Churches 1985, Choirokoitia 1998)
- Pafos Municipality: announcement by the European Capital of Culture Pafos 2017 Ltd organisation
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