Paphos & Pissouri

Paphos district, which takes up the whole of the western end of Cyprus, is probably the most varied and attractive region on the island. Most visitors gravitate towards the gorgeous sweep of coast south of Paphos town and south-east towards Pissouri, close to Aphrodite’s Rock, where legend has it the goddess of love and beauty first rose from the sea to make Cyprus her home. Paphos town itself is split into two parts. In Kato Paphos (Lower Paphos), among the hotels, bars, restaurants and souvenir shops, are a number of fascinating historical sites, including the 16th-century castle, frequently used as a backdrop for concerts, plays and operas, and an unmissable archaeological park, home to a series of Roman mosaics, each more impressive than the next. Ktima Paphos (Upper Paphos), three kilometres north, is more sedate and atmospheric, with its old Turkish Quarter and fine views towards the harbour.