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Is a 10 minute drive away, where you can explore the wildlife and swim
at the lonely, sunny beaches.
St George's is a local fishing
village and is situated just outside Coral Bay and offers
some of the best fish restaurants on the island due to
the small fishing harbour, where local fishermen go out
on a daily basis.
The popular resort of Coral Bay
offers everything you need for a perfect holiday. The
resort centre is lined with shops, bars and restaurants
serving a choice of local and international cuisine.
In the day life is based around
the idyllic sandy bay, where the calm shallow waters
makes excellent bathing for children and there is a wide
selection of water-sports available on the beachfront.
For an even bigger choice of restaurants and nightlife,
the cosmopolitan town of Paphos is a fifteen minute drive.
This gloomy underground cavern
was a refuge for persecuted Christians in ancient times.
Local people believe that the tree beside the entrance,
festooned with colourful votive cloths, is holy and can
cure illness. Apostolou Pavlou Avenue.
Open permanently and Admission free.
Suitable for the Family
From the Byzantine history of the country,
the church, which is full of 16th century wall paintings,
is near the traditional square of Polis. When Cyprus was
under Ottoman occupation the church was used as a mosque
from 1571 and was not returned to Christian use until 1974.
Suitable for Adults
This shrine to the 12th-century Cypriot
hermit Saint Neofytos, who carved a sanctuary into the
cliffside is a popular place of pilgrimage. You can climb
a stairway to see a small church in a cave that is decorated
with murals. Near Tala village. Open Apr-Sept daily 0900-1300 & 1400-1800,
Oct-Mar daily 0900-1600.
Admission charge
Pafos is where Aphrodite is said to have
risen from the waves that crash on it's shores. Her birthplace
was a place of pilgrimage for the whole Hellenic world.
Excavations have unearthed the 4th-5th
century mosaics of the Houses of Dionysus, Orpheus, Aion
and the Villa of Theseus - remarkably intact after 16 centuries
of being buried.
The Odeon Theatre, a stone structure
still used for outdoor concerts, plays and games as it
was in ancient times, is also in the region.
Suitable for the Family
Displays finds from the many local historical
sites, such as the tombs of the Kings. These include pottery,
sculpture, coins and jewellery. A set of clay hot-water
bottles shows that the ancient Romans found Cyprus chilly
in winter. Griva Digeni Avenue, Tel: 06-240215. Open Mon-Fri
9-5, Sat & Sun 10-1
Admission charge
Built during the 12th century, on the
foundations of an earlier Byzantine fortification, this
Crusader-era Castle fell down during an earthquake shortly
after it was completed. Saranta Kolonon Street. Open daily
dawn to dusk.
Admission free
Houses a collection of paintings and
religious objects that include important 12th century icons.
Agios Ioannou Street. Tel: 06-231392. Open June-Sept Mon-Fri
0900-1900, Sat 0900-1400; Oct-May Mon-Fri 0900-1700, Sat
0900 to 1400.
Admission charge
40 km northeast of Pafos, turn right
before Stroumpi village. The monastery is also reached
from Kykkos Monastery via the forest. Set in beautiful
surroundings, the monastery, originally founded in the
l2th century AD, is dedicated to 'Our Lady of the Golden
- Pomegranate'.
The monastery, whose present building
dates back to 1770, has a collection of important icons
and treasures. An impressive religious ceremony and celebrations
are held on l5th August. The old winery of the monastery
produces some of the best vintage wine of Cyprus.
Two and three-day cruises to Egypt visiting
the enchanting Pyramids and Cairo Museum. Departing from
Limassol year round.
In the Ethnographical Museum are pieces ranging from neolithic tools
and ancient funerary sculptures, to traditional local costumes and everyday
household objects. 1 Exo Vrysis Street. Tel: 06-232010. Open Mon-Fri
0900-1300 & 1400-1900, Sat 0900-1300, Sun 1000-1300.
Admission charge
The village south-east of Paphos has
a long association with the myth of Aphrodite, the Greek
goddess of love, as this is where she was said to have
had her secret garden. In later times it became a silk-making
centre of the Byzantine Empire after Orthodox monks smuggled
some silk worms out of China.
Now a busy suburb of Paphos, it is noted
for a slew of pottery workshops along the main street,
and shops selling Cypriot Delight (more commonly known
in other countries as Turkish Delight).
Geroskipou's tourist district runs along
the seafront from Paphos, and is really an extension of
the bigger town's hotels and beach zone. There's also a
Museum of Folk Art and the old, 5-domed Agia Paraskevi
Church.
View the yachts on an afternoon stroll
Situated in the bay of Larnaca, the Marina
is an official Port of Entry, and has berthing facilities
for 450 yachts of various sizes and beauty.
Suitable for the Family
Upper Paphos, also known as Ktima, is
a popular shopping area - the town's market is here. In
summer, though, it can get very hot. The two sections of
this small park make a nice shady spot to take a break
from too much sun, while fountains help to cool the air.
Off Gladstonos Street and Georgiou Griva Digeni Avenue.
Ruins of Paphos's Greek theatre from
the 2nd century AD, at the heart of an archaeological zone
that includes the not easily recognisable remains of the
ancient city's Agora (marketplace) and a temple to Asclepius,
the god of healing.
Open permanently. Admission free.
On the west of Troodos 1,5 km from Chrysorrogiatissa
Monastery. The birthplace of Archbishop Makarios III, first
President of Cyprus. The house where he was born has been
converted into a museum. 37 km north of Pafos, Polis is
Chrysochou lies where there once stood the ancient city-kingdom
of Marion, an important commercial centre in the Classical
and Hellenistic times.
With lots of display tanks, the aquarium
puts on a fine underwater show of marine life from the
world's oceans and rivers. Stars of the show are sharks,
crocodiles and piranhas, but less dangerous and more colourful
creatures also have a place. Dionysou Street, Kato Paphos.
Tel: 06-253920. Open daily 1000-2000.
Admission charge.
Filled with colourful fishing boats and
tour boats, the harbour is lined with tavernas which-although
not the best in Paphos - are popular and atmospheric.
You can still see the ancient breakwaters
inside which Greek and Roman vessels once sheltered.
Built by the Ottomans, the fort stands
on the harbour mole, on the site of earlier castles dating
back to ancient times. Paphos Harbour. Open summer daily
0900-1930, winter daily 0900-1700.
Admission charge.
Located near the harbour, in a cluster
of buildings from the Roman period, these mosaics are a
major historical treasure. The House of Dionysus has scenes
from pagan mythology; the House of Orpheus has a mosaic
showing Orpheus playing his lyre; the Villa of Theseus
is named after a mosaic showing Theseus battling with the
Minotaur, and may have been the Roman governor's palace;
and the House of Aion has superb mosaics of Greek deities.
Behind Paphos Harbour. Tel: 06-240217. Open summer daily
0800-1930, winter daily 0800-1700.
Admission charge.
The paved square with its cafes, bars and restaurants is now a gathering
place full of life from morning until night throughout the year. Latsi
is the picturesque harbour of Polis, selling fresh fish and old stone
carob warehouses have been converted into fish taverns and places of
interest.
Suitable for Family.
Dating from the 3rd century BC to the
3rd century AD, this is a complex of rock-cut tombs beside
the sea, in which the leading citizens of Paphos (rather
than kings) were buried.
Carved steps lead down to the burial
chambers and archaeologists are still uncovering more graves.
Tombs of the Kings (Tafon ton Vasileion) Road.
Tel: 06-240295. Open summer daily 0800-1930,
winter daily 0800-1700.
Admission charge
Biggest Water Park in Cyprus. Water-world Water
Park claims it is the biggest and best water park in Cyprus and Europe.
Situated in AYIA NAPA, they guarantee that there will be something for
both adults and children, including the family adventure, Apollo's plunge,
the earth shattering Poseidon’s wave pool, the relaxing Aphrodite’s
baths and the biggest chess board in the world 'Pythagoras chess' and
not forgetting the amazing 'drop to Atlantis' this should keep adults
and children going for hours. Try their web site on: www.waterworldwaterpark.com
Suitable for the Family
Owners Tip: Car Hire is readily
available in Cyprus and often cheaper if booked at the
time of securing flights!
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