At the heart of the southwest coast of Cyprus is the stunning city of Paphos, an area with a history that’s rooted in Greek myths and legends as it’s said that Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, was born in Old Paphos. In modern times you might not find any Greek goddesses here but among the tourist-filled hotels and busy family restaurants, there is still a strong historic, traditional and cultural side of Paphos to be found, and it is very much worth seeking out during your Cyprus holiday.
In fact, Paphos has been awarded the title of the European Capital of Culture for 2017, an award that compliments the entire region’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This makes it a great time to visit Paphos on cheap holidays to Cyprus with Jet2holidays as you’ll be able to enjoy the region at its best, and see why it was deemed worthy of such wonderful accolades.
Around the coastline there are countless intriguing places to visit including the well-preserved mosaics in the Houses of Dionysos, Theseus and Aion, the Tombs of the Kings, the remains of the ancient city walls and also Paphos Castle, a Byzantine fort that was erected to protect the harbour from many potential invaders. You can spend many days taking a trip into Paphos’ past, which provides a stark contrast to the colourful hotels and lurid bars and clubs that now line the coast.
Venture into the Villages
That’s unless you take a trip into one of Paphos’ traditional villages like Emba, which is just north of Paphos and features winding streets lined with typically Mediterranean white houses, as well as lemon, orange and nectarine groves, the tending of which is a way of life for many of Emba’s residents. Chloraka village is the next community along from Emba, and also happens to be close by to the Tombs of the Kings, so when you’re done sightseeing take a wander through Chloraka’s streets and along the coastal path, which offers the most breath-taking views over the coastline.
Of course while you’re visiting a traditional village near Paphos, you should stop to sample some of the local flavours, as well as enjoy some great Cypriot hospitality in one of the restaurants. One of the best ways to try Cypriot cuisine is to dine on meze, which are small dishes of goat’s cheese, olives, dips like taramasalata and meat and fish dishes that are just made to be shared, and you’ll definitely find yourself ordering many more.
