Pafos Monuments
MAA-Paleokastro settlement
The settlement is of enormous importance in Cyprus as it is the place where Hellenism originated on the island. Paleokastro meaning ‘the old castle’ is an area which accommodated the first ancient Mycenaean Greeks who emigrated in Cyprus around 1200 BC following the fall of the Mycenaean Kingdoms in the mainland Greece.
Operating period: All year round
Entrance fee: €1.28
Pafos Medieval Castle
Pafos Medieval Castle located next to the harbour in Kato Pafos was originally a byzantine fort built to protect the harbour. It was built by the Lusignans in the 13th century, dismantled by the Venetians in 1570 and rebuilt by the Ottomans after they captured the island in the 16th century. During its long history the castle was also used as prison cells and as storage for salt when the island was a British Colony. It was declared an ancient monument in 1935. Many cultural events take place in front of the castle and during the Aphrodite festival in September the castle is venue for thrilling operas with artists of worldwide fame.
Address: Harbour area, Kato Pafos
Operating hours:
Daily: 08.00 - 17.00 (November - March)
Daily: 08.00 - 18.00 (April - May, September - October)
Daily: 08.00 - 19.30 (June - August)
Operating period: All year round
Entrance fee: €1.70
Tombs of the Kings
Tombs of the Kings are spread over a vast area close to the sea in the north western necropolis of Pafos. This impressive underground tomb, which probably belong to the Pafian aristocracy, date back to the 4th century BC. They are carved out of solid rock and some of them are decorated with Doric pillars. The magnificent of the tombs gave the locality its name. About 100 tombs have been uncovered for oublic view. The best are situated in the majestic atrium area.
Accreditation: UNESCO World Heritage
Address: Tafoi ton Vasileon, ‘Tomb of the Kings area’, Kato Pafos
Operating hours:
Daily: 08.00 - 17.00 (November - March)
Daily: 08.00 - 18.00 (April - May, September - October)
Daily: 08.00 - 19.30 (June - August)
Operating period: All year round
Entrance fee: €1.71
Pafos Mosaics
Pafos Mosaics are located near the harbour in Kato Pafos. The mosaics were discovered by a farmer in 1962 while farming his land. The mosaic floors dating from the 3rd to the 5th century AD are considered among the finest in the Eastern Mediterranean and are acclaimed as some of the best examples of Roman floor mosaics discovered to date. The scenes are mainly from the Greek mythology. The visitor can see the House of Dionysos, Theseus, Aion, Orpheus and Four Seasons. These five separate houses would have made up a Roman noble’s villa. A guide available at the ticket office has details on all five houses. Nearby the mosaics the visitor can see the remains of the Saranta Kolones ‘forty columns’ castle, a modern day lighthouse, the ancient agora, and an ancient theatre.
Region: near the harbour, Kato Pafos
Accreditation: UNESCO World Heritage
Address: Kyriakou Nikolaou, Kato Pafos
Tel: +357 26 306 217
Operating hours:
Daily: 08.00 - 17.00 (November - March)
Daily: 08.00 - 18.00 (April - May, September - October)
Daily: 08.00 - 19.30 (June - August)
Operating Period: All year round
Entrance fee: €3.40
St Paul’s Pillar
St Paul together with apostle Varnavas, the founder of the Church of Cyprus, visited Pafos, where the Apostle converted the Roma governor to Christianity.
The Sanctuary of Aphrodite, Palaipafos Museum, Medieval Manor
Palaipafos or Old Pafos (Paphos) was one of the most celebrated pilgrimage centers of the ancient Greek world and a former city - kingdom of Cyprus. Here stood the famous sanctuary of Aphrodite, the place where the most sensual goddess of the island was worshipped, the most ancient remains of which date back to the 12th century BC. The glorious days of the sanctuary lasted until the 3rd to the 4th centuries when the palace was renowned throughout the ancient world not only as a palace of fabulous wealth but also as one of the great religious centres of the Greek and Roman world. The museum, housed in a impressive Lusignan Manor, exhibits many interesting findings from the area including artifacts, collected from the cult of Aphrodite. Excavations continue on the site of the sanctuary, the city and the necropolis.
Accreditation: UNESCO World Heritage
Address: Kouklia village, Pafos
Tel: +357 26 432 155
Operating hours:
Monday - Wednesday, Friday - Sunday: 08.00 - 16.00
Thursday: 08.00 - 17.00
Operating Period: All year round
Entrance fee: €3.40
