Taking a break from Nicosia, we spent the weekend in Paphos, a smaller shore city on the western coast of Cyprus. Paphos is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the island, with high rise resorts lining the beaches. First, we toured the Kourion archaeological site, which boasted an ancient Greek amphitheater next to a traditional bathhouse. During an economic depression in the ancient era a wealthy individual offered his bathhouse to the public as a sign of support. This house was preserved to this day with the pipes and pools still able to be seen. Following that site, we made a quick stop to Aphrodite’s rock. It is said that during a clash of the titans a piece of Uranus fell into the sea and Aphrodite arose from the seafoam. Regardless of if this is true, this location featured magnificent cliffs hanging over the sea.
Once we arrived in Paphos we toured the Paphos Mosaics. This ancient Roman villa has an array of mosaics preserved from the 3rd century A.D. Once a luxury house, it is now an UNESCO world heritage site with floor mosaics depicting scenes of mythology, animals, and intricate designs. Once done with our cultural excursions we were given a free day Sunday to enjoy Paphos’s clear water beaches. This was a wonderful weekend out of Nicosia.
