Paphos, on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, lures visitors with its wealth of ipping a cocktail and gazing history. But, as one out over one of the most picturesque harbours in Cyprus, you could be forgiven for thinking life local reveals, ventures doesn't get much better than this. In view is a major Paphos (locally Pafos) landmark, a mediae• beyond tourist hotspots val castle that silhouettes against the blue sky. We also offer rich rewards. are in Kato (lower) Paphos, a district full of art gal• leries, tavernas and archaeological treasures, which helped earn Paphos UNESCO World Heritage List status in its entirety. KATO PAPHOS Tourist To-Dos The area's famous mosaics top the to-do lists of most holidaymakers in Paphos — with good reason. Dating from as early as AD 200 (give or take), the intricate and colourful floor mosaics are some of the oldest ever found. The House of Dionysus, the Roman-period villa of a nobleman, displays scenes from mythology (particularly fea• turing Dionysus, the god of wine) and everyday life, while the compositions in the House of Theseus and the House of Aion depict battles. Within the same complex, visitors can wander amongst the granite columns, standing archways and crumbling walls that remain from the once- imposing Saranta Kolones Fortress. The mediaeval Paphos Castle on the harbour is a definite list-topper. Built in the 13th century during the island's Lusignan era, the maze of vaulted rooms and cells begs to be explored. A stone staircase leads to a rooftop courtyard. The view of the harbour and coastline is spectacular from here and well worth the climb. Local Picks Kato Paphos boasts a sandy stretch of munici• pal beach off Poseidonos Avenue where you can sunbathe, swim or take a break with a lunch of freshly cooked souvlaki (skewered pork or chicken) in a taverna. This is also a good starting point for a water tour of the coast. Choose from shiny luxury cruisers or glass-bottomed boats for viewing marine life and a shipwreck that lies off Paphos' shore. You may even catch sight of a loggerhead or green turtle on its way to the nesting site and turtle sanctuary at Lara Beach. Once back on dry land, browse one of the area's many art galleries showcasing paintings, drawings INTERVAL WORLD • Summer 2012 29 and sculptures by local artists. Agia through the ages. A mix of Chalcolithic CORAL BAY & Kyriaki, a 12th-century stone church, is tools, first century-BC coins, Venetian THE COAST ROAD enchanting and just a few minutes' walk mirrors and outdoor bread ovens, as well Tourist To-Dos from the seafront. as traditional costumes worn just a few Tombs of the Kings Road, known locally decades ago, brings Paphos' history alive. as the Coast Road since it hugs the shore, heads north out of Paphos to I-N P o Local Picks the picturesque district of Coral Bay. Tourist To-Dos Paphos Town Hall, the city library and Along here you'll find the Tombs of the several schools are housed in neoclassi• Elegant and busy sums up Pano (upper) Kings, a huge necropolis dating from cal buildings that are typical of Pano Paphos. Perched on a clifftop overlooking the Hellenistic and Roman periods, Paphos. Built in 1955, the Town Hall the sea, Pano Paphos is the commercial which contains some 100 rock-cut stands on the edge of the municipal gar• and governmental hub of the city. At its tombs. (The name of the site refers to dens, where locals congregate on heart is the Bishop's Palace, an elaborate its magnificence — noblemen rather Sunday mornings to chat. building that's home to the bishop of than royalty were actually buried here.) Paphos. It's also connected to the fas• A short stroll from here leads to The tombs, some of which have Doric- cinating Byzantine Museum, which Archiepiskopou Makariou III Avenue, style columns at the entrance, are presents an array of attractive exhibits, which, together with Gladstonos, is well-preserved and key to Paphos' including religious icons that depict where to head if upscale shopping is on UNESCO World Heritage designation. saints, each with the head circled in your agenda. Here you'll find boutiques Farther along is Lempa. This unas• gold. They are beautiful, and you can't selling labels including Gucci and suming village is home to one of the help but admire the skill of the artists. Prada. In contrast, visit the bustling earliest-known settlements on the island One icon, the Agia Marina, dates back Laiki Geitonia market for traditional of Cyprus, and is a popular excursion to the eighth or ninth century and is crafts, such as basketry and embroidery from Paphos' centre. Excavations reveal generally regarded as the oldest on from the villages, souvenirs and fresh that a community lived here in circular the island. On display, too, are produce. While exploring the market houses in Neolithic times. Reconstructed antique books, embroideries and area, look out for the minaret of the homes give visitors a taste of life other Byzantine art. Cami Kebir; this mosque, together with thousands of years ago. Pano Paphos is also home to the the Turkish baths (known as loutra) Continuing on for 8 kilometres city's Ethnographical Museum, where nearby, are reminders of when Paphos (5 miles) or so, you'll come to Coral Bay you can get a glimpse of life in Paphos was home to a large Turkish population. Scenic with turquoise sea lapping its When touring Paphos Castle, After a day of exploring, CENTRE, BOTTOM: An ancient love of art is obvious in the don't neglect a climb to the grab an outdoor table Monks still live at peaceful House of Theseus, where floors were rooftop courtyard; you'll be and indulge in some Agios Neofytos, which traces its decorated with intricate mosaics rewarded by stunning vistas. amazing Cypriot fare. roots back to the 12th century. depicting scenes from mythology. The picturesque bay at Agios Georgios is a Columns rise up from the courtyard of Agia Kyriaki, perfect spot for fishing. If your timing is right, including St Paul's Pillar, where it's said the saint was Mediterranean you might score a fresh catch for dinner. lashed for preaching Christianity in Roman times. Sea •Polis Chrysochous award-winning beaches, and five-star dedicated to Aphrodite was built here, Cedar hotels dotting its coastline, in antiquity and it became a celebrated place of pil• hara Beach CYPRUS the area was home to Bronze Age man. grimage. An interesting museum tells Laona-Akamas , Agios wine region The Maa-Palaeokastro settlement, which the story of Palaipafos. 'Georgios Tombs of the Kings can be found just off the seafront, is an - (Coast) Road impressive archaeological site with some Local Picks Lempa of the world's finest examples of The Laona-Akamas wine region is PANO PAPHOS phos Mycenaean Cyclopean architecture. A growing in popularity amongst tourists. Kouklia small museum is open daily. Stretching north from Paphos towards 'Poseidonos # yAvenue Polis Chrysochous, the marked Laona- Local Picks Akamas Wine Route takes you on a Most visitors only follow the Coast journey through a number of quaint, Road as far as Coral Bay. But keep going, unspoilt villages. It is a wonderful way faStFACTS past the Pafos Bird and Animal Park — to see idyllic countryside dotted with RESORT DIRECTORY: lntervalWorld.com a secluded area of natural habitat that's vineyards. Included in the numerous or page 268 home to a large collection of fascinating grape varieties grown here are the red CLIMATE: Sunny autumn days in this creatures and also worth a visit — and mavro and the white semillon. subtropical Mediterranean climate bring high you will come to a headland overlook• Cedar Valley is one of the least temperatures ranging from 22°C to 29°C (72°F ing the bay. A short descent brings you known, but most beautiful areas of to 84°F); evenings are cooler with lows out to Agios Georgios, one of the Cyprus, and can be found north-east of averaging 13°C to 18°C (55°F to 65°F). Paphos region's quietest and prettiest Paphos. If it's tranquillity you seek, you DON'T MISS: A meze, or a selection of small harbours, and where, if you are lucky, will surely find it here. Nearby, hidden dishes, in a village taverna is the best way to you may see fishermen unloading their amongst the cedars, are quiet villages sample Cypriot cuisine. catches. You can stop awhile (there's a and peaceful abbeys. Look out for signs restaurant), or retrace your steps and to the 12th-century Chrysorrogiatissa CURRENCY: Euro continue on to the secluded and stun• Monastery, which is famous for its rare SALES TAX: VAT is 15%! ning Avakas Gorge — known locally icons and religious manuscripts. TIPPING: A10% service charge is often for its challenging hiking trails. When heading back to the city cen• applied automatically to restaurant bills; tre, stop off awhile at Agios Neofytos — tipping taxi drivers and porters is welcomed, it's well signposted. With its 12th- but not obligatory. E century rock-cut enclosure, said to have INTERVAL TRAVEL: lntervalWorld.com Tourist To-Dos been hand-carved out of the mountain or 0844 701 1111 The charming villages that surround by the hermit Neofytos, this monastery CAR HIRE: Recommended Paphos make lovely day-trip destina• where monks still reside is my favourite vislTOR"iNFbR"MATlON: tions, too. Palaipafos is an ancient site in place on the island for its richly planted Cyprus Tourism Organisation the village of Kouklia, south-east of landscape and its sense of serenity.