Founded in the 4th century BC, Paphos was the capital of Cyprus for nearly eight hundred years. In the Roman times Paphos was commercially very important, however frequent earthquakes, the most damaging being in 4AD resulted in the capital being moved to Consantia.

Paphos is now the fourth largest town on the island and a thriving tourist resort.

Enter another world, where idols and temples, graves and goddesses make up the fabric of everyday life.Pafos is where Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, is said to have risen from the waves that crash on its shores.

Petra tou Romiou, or 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. Aphrodite's presence seems to have drawn other divinities and notable mortals as well.

Excavations have unearthed the spectacular 3rd -5th century-mosaics of the Houses of Dionysus, Orpheus, and Aion, and the Villa of Theseus - buried for sixteen centuries and yet remarkably intact. Their grace of line and subtlety of color will surely inspire elevated feelings in those who see them.

Also in this region is the Odeon Theater, a stone structure still used as it was in ancient times for outdoor concerts, plays, and games.

Small wonder then that the whole Tomb of the Kings town of Pafos is included in the official UNESCO list of cultural and natural treasures of world heritage.

Past Polis and Latsi, the Baths of Aphrodite provided the ancients with a dramatic setting for outdoor bathing. The Fontana Amorosa, or fountain of love, still bubbles forth nearby.

Later periods of history have also left their traces. The Tombs of the Kings, in Kato Pafos, is a monumental honeycomb structure carved into sheer rock whose vaults held the tombs of Ptolemy period nobles.

Nearby, the stone pillar where St. Paul, according to tradition, was bound and beaten for preaching Christianity thrusts heavenward.

The neighboring monastery of Agios Neofytos contains some of the world's finest Byzantine frescoes and icons as well as an interesting Byzantine museum.

Archaeological discoveries in the Pafos region are continual, making it a highlight for those tracing civilization's roots in Cyprus. For a glimpse of the artifacts and masterworks found in the area, visit the District Archeological Museum.