Paphos

About

A stone’s throw from where Aphrodite is said to have been born from sea foam, Paphos was one of the most important settlements on Cyprus, even serving as the island’s capital during the Ptolemeic and Roman eras. But after the city was destroyed by Muslim raiders in 960, it languished until being revitalized by the British occupation in 1878. Today, Paphos is a resort town for sun-lovers with a penchant for history. There are a slew of beaches where you can catch some rays, including Alykes Beach, right downtown, which is surrounded by restaurants, bars, and shops. Or, walk along the harbor to Paphos Fort, a UNESCO-listed bastion, which is watched over by a contemporary statue of Aphrodite, and, in September, the fort serves as the backdrop for the Aphrodite festival. But the standout attraction is undeniably the Kato Paphos Archaeological Park, which boasts some of the most impressive and best-preserved mosaics in the Mediterranean.