Pafos Harbour, Cyprus

Paphos Castle, originally built as a Byzantine fort to protect the harbour and rebuilt by the Lusignans in the thirteenth century, then dismantled in 1570 by the Venetians, who found themselves unable to defend it against the Ottomans, who in their turn restored and strengthened it after they captured the island. Saranta Kolones, Kato Paphos, near the harbour, is a castle built in the first years of the rule of the Lusignans (beginning of the twelfth century) maybe on the site of a previous Byzantine Castle. It was destroyed in the earthquake of 1222.

The legacy from its remarkable history adds up to nothing less than an open museum, so much so that UNESCO simply added the whole town to its World Cultural Heritage List. Among the treasures unearthed, are the remarkable mosaics in the Houses of Dionysos, Theseus and Aion, beautifully preserved after 16 centuries under the soil. Then there are the mysterious vaults and caves, the Tombs of the Kings, the Pillar to which Saint Paul was allegedly tied and whipped, the ancient Odeon Theatre and other places of interest including the Byzantine Museum and the District Archaeological Museum, with its attractive collection of Cypriot antiquities from the Paphos area, dating from the Neolithic Age to 1700 AD. Near Odeon, there are the remains of the ancient city walls, the Roman Agora and a building dedicated to Asclepius, god of medicine.

The mosaic floors of these elite villas dating from the third to the fifth century are among the finest in the Eastern Mediterranean. They mainly depict scenes from Greek mythology.


From Wikipedia



The harbour by night with the fort in the background -







A view from clear across the harbour -




A postcard view of the coast with the Pafos Lighthouse -




We walked all along this coast, right from our hotel, way up at the top of this postcard, past the lighthouse, around a long curve of the shore and finally arrived at the harbour where the fort is.

 

This is the view of the harbour and fort when you come along the seafront pathway / promanade from the north.

I was standing on the top steps of a very small amphitheather.

The moat-type basin that the fort is standing in, is never empty nor never full. At least, we never saw it either way, but looking at the water marks on the wall, it must be full at times.

 

Lovely pics, Sis .... did you take the night shots or was that part of the Wikipedia thing? If yours, be nice in the Winter Comp .... :wink:

Nice putting the postcard pic in too ... like the coastline ... so flat in contrast to our cliffs.

Thanks for sharing. :luv:

 

beautiful photos ,looks like a lovely place for holidays
well done to you Kedi-Gato

 

Thanks Sis and Kathy.

I took both of the night shots.

 

I just love these travelogs at this time the year.
Thankyou for sharing your happy moments.
robert

 

Hi Kedi Gato,


I wonder-how long did it take you to find somewhere to park? LOL If it`s the same as I remember it`s a nightmare. My favourite part of Pafos is the Tombs of the Kings, very atmospheric

 

You're welcome, capney, glad you enjoyed it.

Claire - there was no parking problem as there is a big parking lot, right next to the museum. How long ago were you there then? Come to think of it, this parking lot was there two years ago when we were there on a day trip. We had a car for 1 week, the other two weeks we went by bus, they ran frequently, about every 15 -20 minutes.

Yes, the Tombs of the Kings was fantastic. I took lots of pics and I'll be putting some up later on. Am still busy sorting out everything out, took about 2,500 pics in the 3 weeks, but have deleted a lot already.

 

Oh Happy Days Kedi................I remember it well

 

The last time I was there was the summer holidays of the year before last, and I distinctly remember the last time we were in Pafos harbour-it was so hot I just didn`t want to get out of the air con car we had. It is amazing how hot it gets there-much hotter than Latsi.



Richard the Lionheart was married there too-for anyone who didn`t know.


Sunset in Cyprus is one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen.

I have some pics of it, I`ll find them and post them.

 

Claire said,

did you see the wedding Claire?:lollol:

 

Lolli, we were in Northern Cyprus in August two years ago and it was around 38/42c all the time, yes you could say it was hot!!
I have been told it is a beautiful place in spring when it is covered in wild flowers, will have to go again, Kedi's pics keep telling me to.

 

As always, lovely pics and interesting article kedi, thanks for sharing!

 

It certainly is, went once in March and all along the roadside are 5ft drifts of yellow flowers-never did find out what they were called.

As you will know they have houses built on huge sheer hillsides and all down those are the trailing flowers that do so well in such a sunny place-and the smells.............to die for.


In summer I think it just looks barren and arid and basically scruffy-but that`s all the concrete development they have had to endure and I never liked going, until that first March we spent there. If you think it`s beautiful in Summer then you will fall deeply in love with it in Early spring.


Mainland Spain is exactly the same.

 

So, after hearing all this, I think we will have to go again in the Spring one time. It sounds absolutely beautiful, Claire.

We found Latsi nice too, and you do get that lovely sea breeze up there. That whole coast was so peaceful, not at all built-up and over-run with tourists like on the south coast.

Next time, we'd like to visit the Turkish part of the island. I've seen some lovely pictures of it and I'm sure Strongy could tell us a lot about it and show some pics too.