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When you think of Cyprus, usually one of the first places that pops into your head is Paphos. It is by far Cyprus's most popular tourist destination and looking back on its history it is not hard to see why. This article is about Paphos and in particular the culture and history surrounding Paphos.

One of the main reasons Paphos is so popular is because it was once home to the mythical Goddess Aphrodite. When the Goddess mystically appeared out of the sea it obviously caused a lot of interest and thousands of tourists started flocking to the island. It became the Capital of Cyprus but today it is better known as a small harbour town.

Why Visit Paphos Today?

These days nobody really knows if the myth regarding the Goddess Aphrodite are actually true, but because of what she actually represented, some people still like to visit the area. This is especially true with couples as Aphrodite was the Goddess of love and it is thought if you get married in Paphos then you will have a long and happy marriage.

However, the goddess of love is not the only reason why people love to visit the town. There is quite a lot to experience in Paphos including:

- Mosaics
- Churches
- Monastery's
- Tombs
- Baths

It is by far one of the most cultural towns within Cyprus and if you are looking to explore a little history of Cyprus then it is definitely the place for you. The Mosaics of Paphos are said to depict images of Greek mythology. They can be found in noblemen's villas on the floors and they are the finest mosaics within the Eastern Mediterranean. They are certainly worth a look if you are in the area and they are roughly from the 3rd-5th AD.

There are also a number of churches situated within the town and they each offer something slightly different. The Theoskepasti Church is a particularly interesting one as its name means "Veiled by God". It has been given that name as according to local tradition, there was a fog which was sent by God which was sent to protect the church from Arab raids. The church has since been redeveloped and it was rebuilt in 1923. Another interesting church is the Ayia Paraskevi Church. It comes from the Byzantine period and it boasts some beautiful mural paintings.

The Baths of Aphrodite are also extremely beautiful. They are said to be where the Goddess Aphrodite used to take her beauty baths and they are shaded by a picturesque fig tree. There are nature trails that are run in the area so if you are a lover of nature then it would definitely be worth taking part in them.

Overall Paphos town is so much more than a small harbour town to many. It boasts some fantastic scenery and it also has plenty of culture too. It's definitely worth taking time to learn more about Paphos before you visit Cyprus in order to make your stay more enjoyable.