In 1962, a farmer plowing stony ground on a tractor accidentally came across a mosaic panel. This happened three hundred meters north of the old harbor of Paphos on a low plateau above the port. Excavations that began here have uncovered the remains of five Roman villas from the 3rd to 2nd century AD. The villas themselves have not survived, but the unique floor mosaics have survived. In 1980, the archaeological sites of Kato Paphos were included by UNESCO in the list of the world cultural heritage, which was the reason for the creation of the city Archaeological Park, which will be the target of our today's excursion.
Before we go on a tour with you, listen to the "important information".
The park is located on open place and occupies a large area, so you will have to walk on it for a long time. We highly recommend planning your visit either in the morning or in the afternoon. The sun burns mercilessly in summer, so not only will it be very hard to walk during the day, but you can also burn out. Take with you sunscreen, water, as well as a good mood and ... a camera.
Those living in the Paphos area know how to get here, and for the rest we will bring GPS coordinates a parking lot, which simply rests against the entrance to the park in its western part.
34.756400 32.410000 - parking near the harbor in Paphos
Well, it's time to start! From the parking place or the bus stop, we will approach the park entrance.
In stories about Cyprus, we often use the services of an "audio guide". Today will be no exception. Let's listen to an introduction to the story of the "origins" of Paphos. Oddly enough, the city of Paphos in Cyprus was at different times in different places - it happens. Listen to the story for now, and we will give a small remark on this matter.
Introduction (listen or download): MP3
Palio Paphos (old Paphos - Palio Paphos - Παλιά Πάφος) is very ancient Paphos, which was located seventeen kilometers from the present. Now on this place is the village of Kuklia.
Neo Paphos (new Paphos - Neo Paphos - Νέα Πάφος) - ancient Paphos, located at the place where we arrived today.
Kato Paphos (lower Paphos - Kato Paphos - Κάτω Πάφος) is the coastal part of modern Paphos, "occupied" mainly by tourists.
Pano Paphos (upper Paphos - Pano Paphos - Πάνω Πάφος) is the business center of the city, as well as the place of residence of the residents of Paphos.
The division into "kato" and "pano" is, in general, conditional.
Let's first get acquainted with what we have to see today and, along the way, orient ourselves on the terrain. As in Kourion, the villas were named after the heroes greek mythologydepicted on the mosaics, and not by the names of their owners. Four villas today - Dionysus, Theseus, Orpheus and Eonaopen to the public. In addition to them, the ancient amphitheater (Odeon), the Agora (forum) and the ruins of the Forty Columns Castle (Saranda Kolones Castle) are also interesting.
Let's take a look at their location on the map.
We see that three villas are located closest to the entrance - right in the direction from the entrance. But for some reason "organized" excursions usually start from the villa of Dionysus, which is located a little to the right. It is easy to distinguish - it is covered with a large canopy. You better decide on the spot where to go first. If you arrived early, you can first explore the open areas, and then move under the roof. But we'll start with Dionysus.
Residence of Dionysus (Villa of Dionysus)
You can include a detailed story about dwelling of Dionysus, and we will give only brief information.
Dionysus's dwelling (listen or download): MP3
Let's start the story with the most ancient mosaic, accidentally discovered here during the erection of a canopy over the main exhibits. It is the oldest and dates back to the 4th century BC, that is, back to the pre-Roman times of Cyprus. The mosaic depicts Scylla - a woman, a dog and a fish all rolled into one. This is how Homer once described it in his Odyssey. While the audio guide proves to us that Scylla (Skilla - according to the guide) was not always a monster, but at first she was a completely normal girl, we will consider a mosaic.
Now let's start examining more "modern" mosaics dating back to the beginning of our era. Many people know the story of the handsome Narcissus, who did not reciprocate to anyone. Even the nymph Echo could not draw his attention to herself. As a result, completely, poor thing, withered away, leaving only her own voice - an echo. Well, Narcissus was rewarded for it from the gods. Seeing somehow his reflection in the water, Narcissus could not take his eyes off his beloved, and died for this occupation. As a result, the gods still took pity on him and posthumously turned the guy into a beautiful flower growing near the water - into a daffodil.
There is another mosaic next to Narcissus. The moment we were there an English-speaking tour came. And their guide was a big black man ... or maybe an Afro-Cypriot. And so he, bending over the mosaic, asked the audience - what is depicted on it? And everyone started to play a guessing game.
I also tried to guess until someone said four seasons, to which the guide said - right! Even then I thought, what does the Limassol hotel of the same name, fashionable among Russians, have to do with it? But having cut into the translation I realized that we are talking about the seasons.
Starting from the top left corner in a clockwise direction, these are summer, spring, autumn and winter. Well, the quest is completed, let's move on. In this house, watch and watch. But now we will show one more photo and will move on. And we will give a link to a more complete photo album at the end of the story.
Having looked at the mosaics in the house of Dionysus, we will move a little back, but not to the entrance, but a little to the right of it. A large space awaits us there, where several villas are presented at once: Eona, Theseusand Orpheus.
Eon's villa will be the first along the way.
She, like Dionysus, is located in a sheltered room. This villa was located just opposite the house of the then Roman proconsul. Probably his neighbor, whose territory we have now come to, was also notable enough. Excavations are still going on here, but you can judge this by the available mosaics. Let's give the floor to our audio guide for clarification. True, the guide believes that we will move first to Orpheus, then Theseus and finally to Eon ... and we will do exactly the opposite.
For our story, I will simply explain that it is here that the filigree mosaics are located - they are made of very small pieces containing a wide range of color shades, thanks to which the masters managed to achieve volume in the image of faces. Try to consider this when you are there. It is difficult to convey such nuances in the photo, but we will try.
The mosaics date back to the beginning of the 4th century AD. - the period of the spread of Christianity in Cyprus. Let's look at one more of the mosaics now and move on.
Further, as we move, we will meet Theseus' dwelling. It is already in open space. It is assumed that this is where the Roman proconsul lived. It's time to remember that the proconsul of Sergius, the Apostle Paul, in the 45th year was able to convert to the Christian faith. But this villa dates from a later period. Having reached its "outskirts", you can capture one of the most "postcard" views of Cyprus, which we have placed on our main page. Let's show almost the same view, but from a different angle. The plane in the shot reminds that there is an airport near Paphos.
Yes, we almost forgot about our audio guide!
And now let's come to one of the main mosaics of the villa, where Theseus is preparing to fight the Minotaur. Let us briefly recall this legend described in Wikipedia.
Minotaur (Μῑνώταυρος, bull of Minos) - according to Greek legend, a monster with a human body and a bull's head, which came from the unnatural love of Pasiphae, the wife of King Minos, to the bull sent by Poseidon. According to legend, she seduced the bull by lying in a wooden cow made for her by Daedalus. (ugh! - my comment) Minos hid him in the labyrinth of Knossos built by Daedalus, where 7 girls and 7 boys sent from Athens every nine years (or 7 children every year) were thrown to him to be devoured.
Theseus, having come to Crete among 14 victims, killed the Minotaur and with the help of Ariadne (the half-sister of the Minotaur - the daughter of Minos and Pasiphae), who gave him a ball of thread, left the labyrinth.Having accomplished the feat, Theseus fled with Ariadne to the island of Naxos (Diya), where, according to one legend, Ariadne was killed by the arrows of Artemis, taught by Dionysus, for she married Theseus in a sacred grove, otherwise, she was abandoned by Theseus and found by Dionysus, who was married her.
But the Cypriot guides prefer another legend based on the story of Peon of Amaphunt, according to which Theseus left Ariadne in Cyprus, where she died during childbirth, and her grave was in the grove of Ariadne-Aphrodite, which is located just in Amaphunt. Sad story in general. By the way, why did I underline the word, guess? Amaphunta or Amathus is the name of one of the ancient city-states in Cyprus, the ruins of which you can wander through, reaching the eastern outskirts of Limassol. And Peon was from there, so he knows better!
Well, now, finally, we are looking at a mosaic dedicated to this significant event: Theseus's preparation for the fight with the Minotaur. The circle on the mosaic symbolizes the Labyrinth. Note that this mosaic is the oldest and dates back to the third century AD.
The following legend teaches us that we must not forget about promises, even if you have accomplished many feats.
Leaving for the battle with the Minotaur, Theseus raised black sails on his ship. But he agreed with his father, Tsar Aegeus, that in case of victory he would return back on a ship with white sails. And after killing the Minotaur and saying goodbye to Ariadne Theseus went to return tripforgetting to change sails. King Aegeus, noticing a ship with black sails, was convinced of the death of his son and committed suicide by throwing himself into the sea. According to legend, this is why the sea was named Aegean.
A little further away there is another mosaic dedicated to the birth of the famous Achilles. Let the audio guide tell about her for now, and we will briefly recall one more legend, now about Achilles.
Birth of Achilles (listen or download): MP3
Here is a small Wikipedia information about Achilles and about the versions that his mother got up to him in childhood.
From the marriages of the Olympian gods with mortals, heroes were born. They were endowed with tremendous strength and superhuman capabilities, but did not possess immortality. The heroes were supposed to fulfill the will of the gods on earth, to bring order and justice into people's lives. With the help of their divine parents, they performed all kinds of feats. Heroes were highly revered, legends about them were passed down from generation to generation.
Legends unanimously call Achilles the son of a mortal - Peleus, king of the Myrmidons, but his mother, the sea goddess Thetis, belongs to the host of immortals. The earliest versions of the birth of Achilles mention the furnace of Hephaestus, where Thetis, wishing to deify Achilles (and make him immortal), laid her son, holding his heel. According to another ancient legend, which Homer does not mention, the mother of Achilles, Thetis, wanting to test whether her son is mortal or immortal, wanted to dip the newborn Achilles in boiling water, just as she did with her former children, but Peleus opposed this. Later legends tell that Thetis, wanting to make her son immortal, plunged him into the waters of the Styx or, according to another version, into fire, so that only the heel for which she held him remained vulnerable; hence the proverb that is still used today - "Achilles' heel" - to indicate someone's weak side.
You can see the rest of the mosaics of Theseus' house for yourself or, in extreme cases, in our photo album, but for now let's move on ... but not far. A little closer to the sea is the villa of Orpheus.
Several mosaics can be found here too.
Saranda Colones castle
We leave this place of three villas and go out again onto the road that led us from the entrance to the park to the dwelling of Dionysus, which we visited in the first place.
We reach the fork. If we go to the left, then we will get to Dionysus again, and if we go to the right, then according to the sign we are waiting for the ruins of the castle of the Forty Columns. We turn off and go. In a little over two hundred meters, the territory on which this castle was located will open, and the remains of which we have to explore today.
The fortress was built in the 7th century by the Byzantines. For the construction of its walls, fragments of earlier ancient structures were used, including basalt columns - hence its name.
In 1191 this castle, like the harbor fortress, capitulated to Richard the Lionheart. At the beginning of the 13th century, the crusaders fortified the fortress, but soon it was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1222. Only two graceful openwork arches and powerful basements have survived, from which one can judge the original layout of the castle.
The castle had at its base the shape of a square with a side length of over 10 meters with square towers in each corner. The main entrance passed through the fifth tower on east sideshaped like a horseshoe. Along the perimeter, the castle was surrounded by walls of three meters thick with eight towers, and around there was a moat through which it was thrown wooden bridge to enter the fortress. Let's take a look at the plan of the fortress and at the photo taken from the air in order to better imagine where we will be walking now.
Well, now you can leisurely wander around the castle and look at its hidden corners.
You will see the rest of the photos in our photo album, but for now let's move on.
Odeon and Agora
We return again to the road where we met the pointer, and move in the direction indicated by the Odeon sign. In two hundred and fifty meters we will approach the edge of the Agora. Actually, this is just a piece of land on which excavations are still underway. We had to retreat to the edge of the square to capture them together.
Agora in those days was the name of the market square. Even now in Greek the word agora (αγορά) means a place of trade, for example "psaragora" (Ψαραγορά) is nothing more than a "fish store". Now let's go to the Odeon or, in other words, to the ancient amphitheater.
The Odeon was built in the Hellenistic era from hewn blocks of limestone and rebuilt during the reign of the Roman emperor Augustus. It acquired its modern appearance in the 3rd century. In ancient times, they had a roof that protected spectators from sun and rain.
Today the amphitheater has been partially restored. Half of the 25 rows of the amphitheater have been restored and a badly destroyed stage has been opened, near which many fragments of the columns that adorn it have been found. In the summer months, as in Kourion, here under open air musical and theatrical performances are regularly held. So you have a chance to visit the Odeon, which acts as a modern theater.
Near the Odeon there are the ruins of the Asklepion, erected at one time in honor of the god of healing Asclepius.
Well, this is where the educational part of our excursion is almost over. If you have strength left, you can reach the wall that once surrounded the city. We also came up.
You may have noticed that in the last pictures something loomed in your eyes. Yes, this is a Paphos lighthouse. Let's come up, especially since you can climb a little on it in order to take a few pictures from the "top".
The Paphos Lighthouse is the youngest building in the area. It was built by the British "only" in 1888. The lighthouse helped the ships navigate when entering the port of Paphos. It is one of the five lighthouses in Cyprus, but the most famous of them. The lighthouse tower is 20 meters high, plus it stands on a dais. Therefore, it turns out that the lantern itself shines at a height of 36 meters above sea level, which makes it very visible from the water. The lighthouse continues to carry out its functions today, flashing in the evening with an interval of 20 seconds.
Our walk in the park ends. Well, if it drags on until the evening, then you can watch very beautiful sunsets here! :)
the most important attraction, pathos mosaics, ruins of ancient castles, odeon, agora
Archaeological park
Paphos Archaeological Park by the City Harbor - Open Air Museum
(English Kato Pafos Archaeological Park, Greek Το αρχαιολογικό πάρκο της Κάτω Πάφου) is the most important landmark of the city and part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. In 1980, archaeological sites in the park were included in the list world heritage UNESCO.
The status under the protection of an international organization gave an incentive for the preservation of archaeological excavations, the demonstration of the found finds to tourists and archeology lovers and the provision of information support.
Sights of the Archaeological Park
In the park, you can find monuments from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages. But most of the finds belong to the times of the Roman rule. The most significant archaeological sites are Roman buildings (House of Dionysus, House of Theseus, House of Aeon and House of Orpheus), where you can see the Paphos mosaics - mosaic floors skillfully laid out with colored stone from the 2nd-5th centuries AD. It is believed that in the Eastern Mediterranean these are the finest finds of mosaic floors depicting scenes from Greek mythology. Ancient buildings, the first of which was discovered by a Cypriot peasant in 1962, belonged to noble townspeople. By the name of the house, it is easy to understand to which character of ancient myths the building is dedicated. In the House of Dionysus - the image of the god of winemaking, and in the House of Theseus - the hero of Greek myths Theseus, where he is in a battle with the Minotaur.
While walking in the Paphos Archaeological Park, you can find other Roman buildings. This is an ancient theater (odeon) of the 2nd century AD. built of hewn limestone blocks. Here and now you can see musical and theatrical performances. Nearby are the ruins of an ancient sanatorium (asklepion) and an ancient market - agora.
The ruins of the Forty Columns castle of the 13th century, which six centuries ago was a Byzantine fortress and protected the approaches to the city from the raids of the Arab conquerors, can be seen on the right side of the main entrance to the archaeological park. Distinctive feature the castle has a large number of columns, various fragments of which can be seen among the ruins of the defensive structure.
The ruins of the early Christian basilica of Limenotissa, which was erected around the 5th century AD, are also interesting. In the era of early Christianity, it consisted of three naves, separated by marble columns. The floors were tiled with colored mosaics. Initially, the building was destroyed in the 7th century by the Arabs, and later the newly rebuilt basilica was destroyed by an earthquake in 1159.
Latest news from the Archaeological Park
In the harbor of Paphos, opposite the entrance to the Archaeological Park, a new landmark was installed - a pillar with a clock. This work by the architect Kostas Kutsuftidis has already been dubbed "Paphos Big Ben" in the local media. The philanthropist Sotiris Khadzhiminas suggested setting the clock a quarter of a century ago, but then the local authorities did not support the idea. It is also planned to install a bench for lovers next to the clock.
The coordinates of the entrance to the Paphos Archaeological Park: 34 ° 45 "22" N 32 ° 24 "30.2" E
What you need to travel to Cyprus in Paphos
- Visa a preliminary one must be obtained -
- Insurance for those traveling abroad, you can calculate -
- Flights look to Paphos airport (nearest airport, go 20 minutes to tourist center) or to Larnaca airport (distance 135 km, drive to Paphos 1 h 30 min) -
- Hotels Paphos and all the information on them (available rooms, prices, reviews) tourists usually look -
- Apartments at a discount I usually look for -
- Tours to Paphos see -
- Transfer to the hotel is not needed if you are flying on a tour. As a rule, this service is included in the tour price. If this is not the case, then order a transfer in advance via the Internet. It is very convenient and cheaper than taking a taxi from the airport. You will be met at the airport and taken directly to your doorstep -
- Rent a Car is a very popular way to travel around the island. You can rent a car in advance, and when you arrive, you can leave the airport by car. Therefore, if you have the rights, then you can see the prices for car rental -
- Tours from local residents with unusual routes see -
- Adapter for Cypriot outlets, which are used by tourists, you can buy in any store, and how it looks like -
- Everything for relaxation in Cyprus (useful things, fashion accessories, goods for sports and recreation, gadgets) you can see -
Paphos Archaeological Park (Αρχαιoλογικό Πάρκο Πάφου / Paphos Archaeological Park) is one of the most important sights of Paphos, representing excavations of objects of several eras, located in the open air in the area of \u200b\u200bKato Paphos, near the Harbor and.
The complex of the Archaeological Park includes: the ruins of the Forty Columns Castle, four villas (House of Dionysus, House of Aeon, House of Theseus and House of Orpheus), in which mosaic floors have been preserved, as well as the agora, odeon, asclepion and the latest construction of the park - a lighthouse. Excavations in the park are ongoing.
In 1980, the entire area of \u200b\u200b"Old" Paphos, which includes the archaeological park, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its outstanding ancient remains.
Entrance to Paphos Archaeological Park
The central entrance to the complex is near the Harbor, near the Harbor bus station. Walking along the embankments of Kato Paphos, it is simply impossible to pass by this impressive park.
The entire complex of the park is surrounded by a fence (netting), from the northeast side there was a hole in the fence, through which you can also enter the park completely free of charge.
The main entrance to the complex
The ticket office is also located here. Ticket prices: 4.50 Euro - adult, 2.25 Euro - people over 65 years old. There are toilets near the entrance. Park opening hours: from 08:30 to 19:30, ticket sales until 19:00.
At the entrance you will be given a map of the archeological monuments of Kato Paphos, on which, among other things, the objects of the Archaeological Park are marked.
Time required to visit the park - at least 2 hours, ideally around 3-4 hours.
Paphos Archaeological Park sites
After entering the park, a vast open area and a staircase leading upstairs opens in front of us.
Climbing the stairs, he finds himself near the visitor center. The center sells souvenirs, and you can watch a documentary about the archaeological site on the screen.
The paths in the park are mostly covered with small stones, comfortable shoes are needed. There is very little shadow in the park, so on a hot sunny day it is better to bring a hat and a supply of drinking water, wear closed clothes or apply sunscreen generously to exposed areas of the body. Water in the park is sold only in one place, in vending machines near the house of Dionysus, at a price of 0.50 Euro per bottle. Here you can also buy chocolates, chips and other snacks from vending machines. Chocolate bar - 1 Euro, chips, croissants and biscuits - 1.50 Euro each.
House of Aeon
From inform. center, passing through the park, we get to the House of Aion, part of which is located in the room. It was once a fairly large villa, but currently only three rooms have been excavated.
In the building, you can see the central part of the house, which apparently served as a kind of dining-living room. In this place, the mosaic floor is made in the form of drawings with scenes from ancient legends and tales.
It is the floor from the House of Aeon that is considered one of the most exceptional works of ancient Roman art, if not the only work of its kind in Paphos. This house dates from around the middle of the 4th century AD. and is named after the god shown in the middle of the mosaic - "House of Aeon".
Two smaller rooms had geometric mosaics with simpler patterns.
Also in the house of Eon is part of the restored wall of the villa.
Theseus' house
Near the house of Aeon are the remains of the House of Theseus, the largest of the houses in the Archaeological Park.
Theseus' house was built in the second half of the 2nd century over the ruins of earlier houses and was used until the 7th century.
Apparently, this villa was once the residence of a Roman proconsul. In the center of the building was courtyard, on four sides of which there were rooms, some of which were intended for official functions, and the other for private use and ancillary visits.
Until now, only the southern half of the villa has been fully excavated, where you can see the remains of walls and columns, as well as mosaics.
The most striking part of Theseus' house is the remains of the so-called 36 rooms, on the floor of which you can see floor mosaics, presumably 3-4 centuries. It is thanks to the drawings of this mosaic, depicting Theseus and the Minotaur, that the villa got its name - "Theseus' House".
Remains of mosaic room No. 40
Mosaic piece of room no. 76
House of Orpheus
The ruins of Theseus' house are bordered by the ruins of the house of Orpheus.
The House of Orpheus dates back to 2-3 centuries. It is, perhaps, by far the most inconspicuous of the houses in the park, since only small sections of wall remains and stones can be seen in the house.
According to sources, in the house of Orpheus there are mosaics of the third century AD, which have three mythological representations: “Orpheus and his Lyra”, “Hercules and Leo Nemeus” and “Amazon”, but they are not currently visible to the public.
House of Dionysus
From the house of Orpheus we go along the paths and go out to the alley leading to the house of Dionysus.
There are vending machines for drinks and snacks in a small stone building to the right of the closed part of Dionysus' house.
Some of the remains of the House of Dionysos are in the open air, while the other and the most valuable, the one with the most mosaics, is in private. Presumably, the house was built at the end of the 2nd century and was destroyed and abandoned after earthquakes in the 4th century AD.
In the closed room of the house of Dionysus, mosaic floors, presumably 2-3 centuries old, can be seen, decorated with mythological, vintage and hunting scenes. The house is named after the god Dionysus, who is depicted in several mosaics.
Photo of the remains of the house of Dionysus, located in the open air
Paphos lighthouse
Moving north from the house of Dionysus, we come out to the latest and most restored attraction of the park - the Paphos lighthouse.
There is a small observation deck near the lighthouse, which offers views of the Mediterranean Sea, the eponymous sea and the surrounding area.
Odeon and Asklepion
Near the lighthouse, just to the east, there are the remains of the Odeon - an amphitheater of the second century, next to which there are also the remains of the Temple of Asclepius (Asklepion) - in fact, a former medical hospital.
Agora
Odeon and Asclepius, opposite the odeon and asclepius, is a desert area with some remains - this, most likely, central part Agora or Forum of the city of Nea Paphos is a large city square, rectangular in shape and lined with stone slabs.
The territory of the Paphos Archaeological Park behind the lighthouse
Behind the lighthouse, to the north of that, there is a vast territory of the park, where excavations are underway and the remains of an underground complex and an early Christian basilica are located. Unfortunately, the ruins behind the lighthouse do not have identification marks and it is very difficult to understand what they are.
Forty Columns Castle
From the ruins of the northern part of the park, we head towards the last of the objects - the ruined Forty Columns castle.
Saranta Colones Castle or Castle Saranta Colones is believed to have been built at the end of the 7th century as a Byzantine fort to protect the port and city of Nea Paphos from Arab raids, and then, after the Frankish conquest of Cyprus, somewhere in In the 1200s, it was rebuilt into the Lusignan castle, which was destroyed by the earthquake of 1223 and was never rebuilt.
The building was a compact fortress, surrounded by a massive external solid wall with eight towers and a moat that surrounded the castle. The castle was accessed through a wooden bridge over the moat.
The name of the castle "Forty Columns" comes from the large number of granite columns that were found in this place, probably they were once part of the ancient agora.
Who is looking for discounts on multiple booking systems
Archaeological Park Kato Paphos is an open-air museum in Cyprus, included in all guides and official tours as a "must go". Travelers come to see the ruins ancient city Nea Paphos and well-preserved ancient Roman mosaics, accidentally discovered in the early 1960s during agricultural plowing. Excavation and research of cultural layers continues to this day, while the historical buildings are open to visitors all year round. Access will only end on Easter, Christmas and New Year's Eve.
The opening hours of the park depend on the season. November to March: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm; April, May, September, October: 8:00 - 18:00; in summer (June to August): 8:00 - 19:30. Admission costs 4.5 euros, children under 16 are admitted free. The ticket office is located on the harbor side.
The complex is spread over an area of \u200b\u200b80 hectares, which is comparable in size to a dozen football fields. Even a cursory examination of the main objects of the excursion route will take 2-3 hours, so you should take care of comfortable shoes, and in the summer - about hats, sunglasses and clothes that cover your shoulders. Trees do not grow on a vast territory, and there will be nowhere to hide from the scorching rays of the sun. At the entrance doors, do not forget to grab a schematic map in Russian, which also indicates the location of the catacombs of St. Solomon and the "Tombs of the Kings" outside the park. To visit the necropolis, you need to buy separate ticket for 2.5 euros. Directional guidance is facilitated by signs.
There are free toilets, benches and gazebos for relaxation, vending machines selling snacks, chocolate, cola and bottled drinking water. Near the buildings there are information boards with descriptions of attractions in English and Greek, part of the text is duplicated in Braille.
Observation decks with galleries allow you to take panoramic photos and assess the scale of New Paphos from above. The layout of the quarters with water supply and sewer pipe systems testifies to the developed urban infrastructure.
Before an independent visit, it will not be superfluous to download an audio guide. Those who are not familiar with history and mythology should not neglect the services of a guide, since without appropriate explanations, a monument of world culture will seem like a pile of stones. Ready-made excursions with transfers are offered in all hotels and tourist offices.
sights
The park-museum, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, includes buildings from different eras and civilizations: Hellas and Ancient Rome, Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire. The ancient Germanic tribes - the Franks, and the crusaders of the early Middle Ages also left their mark.
Tourists can see acropolis with agora (market square), columns and wall fragments temple of Asclepius, theater, castle Saranta Kolones and mosaics in 4 villas of wealthy citizens: these are the houses of Dionysus, Theseus, Eon and Orpheus. The names are assigned by the names of the main characters of mythological subjects, captured on the floor mosaic canvases. The oldest artifact dates back to the 4th century. BC e. and depicts Scylla - a monster from the Greek epic, described in Homer's poem "The Odyssey".
Pebbles, marble and colored glass were used to create drawings and ornaments. The filigree work of the masters is amazing. Fine detailing and harmonious color combinations give the faces of the gods spatial volume and expressiveness. In addition to compositions on the theme of myths and legends, there are also scenes from everyday life... The found examples of decorative art indicate that great attention was paid to beauty and aesthetics in the interior design of public places and living quarters.
The Odeon, erected by the Hellenes and redesigned during the reign of the Roman emperor Augustus, served as a venue for theatrical performances... The roof protected the public from sun and rain. At the moment, the stage and half of the rows of the amphitheater, where spectators gather again, have been restored. During the high season, performances are staged, music and dance groups perform, concerts and festivals are organized.
From the Basilica of Panagia Limeniotissa, only fragments of foundation slabs, columns and mosaic floors with geometric patterns have survived. You can also go down to the quarries, where limestone was mined for centuries, and the corridors and caves carved out in the undergrounds later served as a refuge for the first Christians who were persecuted.
The dominant feature of the park is an active 20 m high lighthouse, built by the British in 1888 on a hill for the safe mooring of British merchant ships and warships. In the dark, the spotlight on the white tower beeps every 15 seconds.
How to get to Kato Paphos
There is no railway connection on the island, but the bus network is well developed. The journey costs 2 euros, the ticket is purchased from the driver. The desired stop is called Kato Paphos, this is the central city bus station. The nearest beach to the archaeological complex - Alykes - is about a kilometer walk.
The main bus route in Paphos is number 615, it runs from Geroskipou Public Beach along the picturesque coast to Coral Bay beach... The interval of movement is approximately 15 minutes, transport runs from 6:00 am to midnight. From the tourist sector it will also be possible to get there by buses No. 603, 611, 631.
Intercity bus Karavella Station is 3 km from the park. Upon arrival from Nicosia, Larnaca or Limassol, you need to change to routes No. 610 or No. 618. From the airport, take bus No. 612, from the city center - bus No. 610.
Drivers who have rented a car can use the free parking.
For quick and comfortable movement, the taxi call mobile applications are useful: Taxidi, nTAXI, IGOGO (available in Russian, it is better to authorize from a local SIM card). There are no international aggregators like Uber in Cyprus.
Paphos Archaeological Park: video
Paphos Archaeological Park (Paphos, Cyprus): detailed description, address and photo. Opportunities for sports and recreation, infrastructure, cafes and restaurants in the park. Reviews of tourists.
- Last Minute Tours to Cyprus
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Kato Paphos - coastal zone Paphos, its historical part, where the most attractions are collected. This is a real open-air museum, in which ancient temples, villas, ruins of a fortress and other architectural monuments, many of which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, coexist. The buildings of this old quarter come from different eras and cultures, ranging from the 2nd century BC. e. and up to the Middle Ages, among them there are representatives of the ancient empires of Rome, Greece, Byzantium, the Ottoman Empire. Ancient Roman villas 3-5 centuries BC e. with mosaic floors occupy an honorable place in the rich collection of architectural monuments of ancient Paphos.
Discovery history
As a rule, finds of ancient structures happen during construction or cultivation of the land. The discovery of the treasures of Kato Paphos also happened thanks to the luck of a simple farmer. A local farmer, while plowing his field near the city harbor, found a fragment of an old mosaic, which turned out to be the decoration of the floor covering of an ancient Roman villa. Hundreds of archaeologists immediately rushed here, and soon they dug up a whole ancient city with streets, houses, temples, bridges, market, theater and other buildings surrounded by a fortress wall. Although work is still ongoing, the objects of the historic complex are open to tourists.
Ancient Odeon
Villas
The most valuable part of this architectural collection are the ruins of villas from the 3-5th century AD. e. These wealthy houses were named after the gods and heroes of Ancient Rome (Dionysus, Hercules, Aeon and Theseus) and preserved their mosaic images with scenes from ancient legends. Individual mosaics are assembled from very small elements, which makes them very voluminous and realistic. Local guides fill the excursion with ancient Greek and Roman legends, for a while reviving the images of their characters.
The oldest in this city-museum is the Villa of Dionysus, built in the 4th century BC. e. even before the arrival of the Romans in Cyprus. There are many recognizable characters on the floor mosaics: the monster Scylla, described by Homer in the Odyssey, the handsome Narcissus admiring his reflection in the water, the 4 seasons and other heroes and deities.
The villa, where the Roman proconsul Theseus supposedly lived, looks like a postcard - several dilapidated columns rise against the blue sky.
The mosaic on the floor of the house tells about the battle of the ancient Greek hero Theseus with the half-bull Minotaur, which took place in a labyrinth, from which the hero could then get out with the help of his beloved - Ariadne.
Ancient city buildings
The ruins of several ancient capital structures are located nearby. The once majestic castle-fortress Saranda Kolones was built by the Byzantines in the 7th century on 40 basalt columns, which is why it was so named. In the 12th century, the fortress was captured by the crusaders, but then it was not damaged. It was destroyed by an earthquake that struck the city in the 13th century, after which only arches and part of the basement remained of the building.
Near the Agora market square is the ancient Odeon amphitheater. Built in the 3rd century AD BC, it was covered, but over time, the upper part of the structure collapsed. Now the temple of art has been partially restored; it hosts concerts and open-air performances.
The Paphos lighthouse is much younger than its neighbors - it was built in 1888 by the British and is considered the most famous operating lighthouse in Cyprus. Its searchlight rises above the sea at a height of more than 30 m, and the surroundings are clearly visible from the observation deck.
The tour of Kato Paphos takes several hours, so it is best to schedule it in the morning or evening to avoid the heat of the day. A wide-brimmed hat, closed shoes and a supply of water will help you feel comfortable during such a long hike.
At the entrance to the territory of the archaeological park, you are given a map on which all interesting objects are marked. In the pavilion you can watch a documentary film about the progress of archaeological work, and then go on a photo hunt for the treasures of the ancient world.
Practical information
Address: Paphos, Paphos Archaeological Park. GPS coordinates: 34.756453,32.4072714. Web site .
Opening hours: daily from 8:00 to 17:00 (November-March), from 8:00 to 18:00 (April-May, September-October), 8: 00-19: 30 (June-August). The ticket price for the museum is 4.5 EUR. The prices on the page are for October 2018.
