The goddess of love, Aphrodite was born out of surf on the seaside of Paphos. At least that is what the Greek mythology claims. Remains of the ancient times can be seen there on every corner. Paphos was founded most probably in the beginning of the 14th century B.C. Two centuries later the sanctuary of Aphrodite was built there and her cult has been always very strong in Cyprus.
The great number of historic buildings made the city get enlisted on the UNESCO world heritage list. One of the places where you can feel the best the vibe from the past are the Royal Tombs – the ancient complex of around 100 underground tombs carved out in solid stone. On walls there are preserved fragments of frescos showing life of citizens of Paphos of that time. The name is misleading – it wasn’t the place of final rest of kings, but of local aristocrats and deputies ruling the island.
If you want to go for holidays in September, get ready for wine festivals. Both in Paphos and near town, there are organized a few days parties, during which you can taste wines from local plantations. Of course it is also a great opportunity to buy some original gifts.
When you get hungry, choose an eatery where they serve meze. It is east composed of a few dishes, but in smaller portions. Thanks to that you can try many local snacks at once and choose your favourite one. On plates there are served different type of meats, seafood, salads, fruits. Ask for meze in Sidayes at Tasou Markou Avenu. Whereas if you step by Ristorante Bacco at Queen Verenikis, order mutton – it is very popular meat, local cooks have reached perfection in preparing it.
What to eat while sightseeing? Look out for grapevine plantations in home gardens. For a small fare, and sometimes just for a smile, you can get a bunch of grapes, freshly picked off. Grown in the Cyprian sun they taste like nowhere else!
