|
Beaches
Coral Bay
Is famed for having one of
the most beautiful sandy beaches on the island,and with its
sparkling clear waters, safe swimming and sport facilities, it’s not
surprising that it’s a favourite with tourists and locals alike.
Close by you can find shops, supermarkets, and also restaurants and
tavernas which serve fresh fish and Cypriot
delicacies.
Lara Bay
North of Paphos in the
Alcanas Peninsula is a beautiful remote area with one of the best
beaches on the island. Access is by a dirt track which is quite
poor, and its advisable to go with a 4 wheel drive type
vehicle. It is worth the effort because those who do will
find some of the finest scenery on the island. Famed for its
turtle hatchery where loggerhead and greenback turtles lay their
eggs, one of the few places in the Mediterranean where they can
still be found. Lara is also home to the Mediterranean monk seal,
another very rare species. Beyond the turtle hatchery, the most
beautiful beaches with white sand and clear waters can be found, but
the water can suddenly get deep and wavy, so swimmers should be
careful.
Latchi
Is
a small fishing village located on the northern coast of the island.
Before becoming known as a tourist area, it was a sponge diving
area, until sponge supplies ran out. On Latchi’s pebble
beach tourists and locals can enjoy a swim but swimmers should
be careful because the water suddenly deepens. This makes it
perfect for the water sports and scuba diving for which it
is very popular. There are many coffee shops and traditional
little tavernas that specialise in seafood close to the beach.
Heritage and
Culture
Paphos
Mosaics
The mosaics are one of
the most historic sites on the island, located near the harbour in
Kato Paphos, they are considered among the finest mosaics in the
Eastern Mediterranean. Showing
mainly scenes from Greek mythology. They date from the 2nd
to the 5th century AD and are still in excellent condition
today.
Tombs of the
Kings
Spread over a vast area are
impressive underground tombs that date back to the 4th century BC.
The Tombs are carved out of solid rock, some being decorated with
Doric Pillars. Although being tombs of high officials rather
than Kings, it was named Tombs of the Kings for the
magnificence of the tombs.
Paphos Castle
The castle was originally built as a Byzantine
fort to protect its famous picturesque harbour. In the 13th century
it was rebuilt by the Lusignans and then dismantled by the Venetians
in 1570, who were unable to defend it against the Ottomans, who then
restored and strengthened it after capturing the island. Since 1935
it has been declared an ancient monument and is now considered as
one of the hallmarks of the Paphos region. Just in front of the
Castle, on the square, many cultural events take place, and during
September each year the Paphos Aphrodite Festival takes place, which
presents a different opera each by famous artists who use the
building as scenery.
Aphrodite’s
Rock
(Petra tou Romiou) On the south coast of the
island, on one of the most beautiful beaches, lies “Petra tou Romiou” as it’s known in
Cyprus, the location
where Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love, was said to have
emerged from the sea. Aphrodite’s Rock is a massive chunk of stone
that marks the spot, her birthplace was a place of pilgrimage for
the entire Hellenic world.
Attractions
Aphrodite
Waterpark
With
the largest number of facilities and attractions in Cyprus, the
biggest family rafting ride in Europe and virtually guranteed
sunshine for every one of its opening days, it's no wonder that
Paphos Aphrodite Waterpark attracts over 100,000 visitors each year.
Young or old, swimmer or not, there's something here for everyone
and everyone's here for fun! - A cool way to spend a hot day - At
the Paphos Aphrodite Waterpark.
Snake George Reptile Park
The park is an ongoing
conservation project for the snakes and other reptiles of
Cyprus that are rapidly
dwindling in numbers. The owner of the park ‘Snake George’ has been
actively educating the Cypriots along with other nationalities on
the benefits of snakes and their role in the
environment.
Paphos Bird Park
The Bird park started with Mr Christos
Christoforou's love of birds & wildlife. The Park was originally
going to be for Mr Christoforou's private use to house his enormous
private collection of birds, but he decided to open the Park to
the public, so that they may also enjoy the splendours of his
private collection. It is a unique park in Cyprus. Mr Christoforou's
other aim was to educate the local community about the importance of
caring and conserving all bird and animal life. The Park took 3
years to complete and it was finally open to the public in
September 2003.
As Mr Christoforou is commited to
education he is constantly upgrading & adding new features to
the Park. In May 2004 the Amphitheatre opened which holds
350 guests; The Amphitheatre's main purpose is to hold educational
talks & programs about the various wildlife in the Park as
well as showing wildlife documentaries. There are also have daily
Parrot and Owl shows which will educate the public as to how
agile and clever these birds are.
Pahpos
Aquarium
The aquarium is located in
the heart of downtown Paphos and gives visitors the chance to admire
the impressive array of colourful fish from oceans, seas and rivers
around the world and provides an extraordinary undersea setting. The
fish are divided into 72 spacious, environmentally friendly tanks,
which even includes a tank
with crocodiles. | 
