Map of Paphos

PAFOS DISTRICT

General Background

Pafos district lies in the western part of Cyprus, occuping an area of 1395,9 sq km with a population of 88.276 inhabitants (Census of 2011). Its area constitutes about 15,1% of the total area of the island, while its population represents 10,24% of the population of the free part of Cyprus. Pafos town, the fourth most populous town of Cyprus, after Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaka, has a population of 32.892 persons (Pafos Municipality). The most populated settlements within Pafos district are: Geroskipou (7.427), Empa (4.855), Chlorakas (5.356), Pegeia (3.953), Polis (2.018), Tala (2.695), Kisonerga (2.004) and Mesogi (1.689).

Map Of Paphos Hotels

Pafos, however, has a large number of small villages most of which, particularly those situated on hills and mountains, show marked depopulation, while as many as 35 are currently abandoned. Agriculture was for a long time the main economic activity of the countryside. Dams have recently being constructed in Argaka-Makounta, Agia Marina, Mavrokolympos, Pomos, Asprokremmos and Evretou which encouraged the irrigation of 5.084 ha in Pafos coastal area and 4.310 in the Chrysochou coastal plain and valley. Fishing has been encouraged by the extensive coastal area of Pafos, as a result of which four fishing shelters at Pafos, Agios Georgios (Pegeia), Latsi and Pomos have been established. Many Cypriots visit Pafos for a fish meal. Pafos together with Limassol are the two main vine producing areas of Cyprus.

Map Of Paphos Old Town

There is a SODAP winery at Pafos, while the KEO winery is no longer operating. Local wineries, producing excellent wines, lie at certain settlements, among which Chrysorrogiatissa monastery, with a long tradition dating back to 1760 built (Monte Rogia Winery). Pekris Wines Ltd, is a private winery, founded in 1986, producing wines from grapes grown in Polemi and Panagia area. The Vouni-Panagia Winery, founded in 1987, produces wines from grapes of Panagia village. Tourism in Pafos is a recent development, initiated by the 1974 Turkish invasion and the occupation of the two basic tourist areas of Cyprus, Famagusta and Kyrenia. No doubt, the particular characteristics of Pafos, soon or later, would generate the tourist activity experienced in recent years in Cyprus. Four tourist areas have already been established in Pafos: (a)

Map Of Paphos Airport

Pafos town extending to Geroskipou, south-east, and Chlorakas-Kisonerga to the north (b) Polis extending to Latsi and Neo Chorio to the west (c) Coral Bay (d) Tala. Minor centers are being developed in Drouseia, Agios Georgios (Pegeia), and Tsada.
Pafos has an interesting rural architecture, a very attractive and picturesque landscape, as well as tracts of unspoilt nature. Its cultural treasures are almost unique, while its archaeological sites and historic monuments are included in the World Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO, since 1980.

Map of Paphos – Michelin Paphos map

THE TOWN OF PAFOS

Aphrodite of Pafos (Greco-Roman period) (Photo, courtesy of the Dept. of Antiquities)

Pafos, the westernmost town of Cyprus, is centrally situated in the Pafos plain. The city has been known by various names throughout the centuries, such as Nea Pafos, Erythrae, Klavdia, Sevasti, Flavia, Palaea and recently Ktima, though in 1971, following a Ministerial Council decision, its name was changed to Pafos. According to tradition, Pafos was founded by Agapinor, a hero of the Trojan war from Arkadia. The archaeological spade, however, has yet to uncover anything dating from before the 4th century B.C. hence the formulation of the hypothesis that Pafos was founded by Nikokles, one of her kings. During the Hellenistic period, the kingdoms of Cyprus, as is well known, were dissolved, and Cyprus was wholly incorporated into the Ptolemaic kingdom. The most significant event of the period was the selection of Pafos as the capital of the island. During the Roman period, Pafos continued as the capital of Cyprus, and a large number of Romans settled there. In 15 B.C. the city was razed by an earthquake, and was rebuilt with the help of Emperor Octavian Augustus. It is in Pafos that the apostles Paul and Varnavas preached Christianity in 45 A.D. Sergius Paulus was the first Roman governor to embrace Christianity, and the island itself was the first Roman province with a Christian governor.

During the Byzantine period and after the division of the Roman Empire into western and eastern demesnes, the island, as could be expected, came under the eastern domain, later to become known as the Byzantine Empire. During this period Pafos ceased to be the capital of Cyprus, being replaced by Salamis, an occurrence which deprived Pafos of substantial benefits. In addition, it is during this period that Pafos was subjected to numerous attacks and raids by the Arabs, especially those of the 7th century A.D. The Pafos fort, aimed primarily at repelling Arab raids, was also built during this period. During the Frankish period, the Pafos port was used as a stop for east-west traffic, while the Pafos fort was still considered quite strong. The seat of the Orthodox See was transferred to Arsinoe (Polis Chrysochou), with Pafos becoming the seat of the Latin bishop.

Map Of Paphos Archaeological Park

During the Frankish period, Ktima, the new name by which Pafos became known, appears, according to Mas Latrie, to have been a royal estate. The only elements concerning the Venetian period is that the Pafos fort was not only abandoned, but was also destroyed so that it would not fall to Turkish hands. During the Ottoman occupancy of the island, Pafos, as well as the whole of Cyprus, fell into decline and many foreign visitors describe it as “a deserted city”. The period was characterised by heavy taxation, under-development, persecutions, bad administration and, mainly, by total indifference on the part of the conqueror. However, during this period, following the ouster of the Latin Church and the reactivation of the Orthodox Church, Pafos once again became the seat of the Pafos bishop.

During the Colonial period, which began in 1878, Pafos was recognised as the capital of one of six districts. Despite its link-up to Limassol and Nicosia through two coastal roads, the width of these carriageways was inadequate, something which was put right following the establishment of the Cyprus Republic. Even though, during the colonial period, Pafos was one of the main towns of Cyprus, it lacked in facilities and services. It was never able to keep its populace, which abandoned the city in search of other, newer and more profitable opportunities in the other cities, primarily

Limassol and Nicosia.