There's something truly special about the island of Cyprus that few can define. Yet it has a magnetic lure of mythic aptitude that has been beckoning visitors here for centuries!

Cyprus lies in the Eastern Mediterranean and is a land of stunning natural beauty and rich heritage. The island enjoys glorious summery weather all year round, giving rise to its relaxed outdoor lifestyle. Far reaching sandy beaches and pebble bays bordering clear turquoise waters fringe the island's breath-taking coastline. The magnificent Troodos Mountains' emerald green slopes are flecked with colourful wild flowers in spring and are iced with snowy caps in the few cooler months of the year.

Cyprus is a thriving holiday destination, with modern coastal resorts that provide endless entertainment for holidaymakers and residents alike. In recent years, many have decided to turn their ultimate holiday experience into a way of life by relocating to Cyprus.
The transition is a smooth one as English is widely spoken, Cypriots drive on the left and even the legal system is based on the British one. An added benefit is that Cyprus is a full EU member, making it simple to live and work here.

At first glance, present-day life in Cyprus seems a far cry from the straightforward conventions of yesteryear, with its international shops and facilities, however, many traditions still prevail. Nestled high in vine-clad hillsides are quaint villages, seemingly fixed in ways from years gone by. Age-old crafts including weaving, embroidery, lace making and silversmith are still widely practiced.
Traces of the island's long and intriguing history are still prominent, from ancient castles and amphitheatres to tombs and monasteries. Discoveries about Cyprus' past are constantly being made as new finds are revealed. Recently there has been speculation that Cyprus could be right beside the lost city of Atlantis!

In essence, the attraction to Cyprus is surely the same as it has always been. There are so many different aspects to the island that there really is something for everyone to enjoy! From its temperate climate and dramatic landscape, to its sun-drenched cuisine, friendly people and beguiling antiquity. Often described as 'an island of contrasts', Cyprus is just that, and that's just what makes it so irresistible to so many! Well, perhaps that and a little of the island's own mysterious alchemy.

PAPHOS VILLAGES...

Drinia
Drinia is a village of Paphos and it belongs to the geographical district of Ampelohorion (vine villages) Limassol-Paphos . It is built 25 km on the northeast of the city of Paphos and 552 above the sea surface. The scenery is divided from the streams, Kria Vrisi Kalamion, Avlaka, Kukufon, Halasmeno and Kampouras. The village is road connected with the nearby villages Lasa on the north (in a distance of about 1.5 km)and Milia on the northeast (in a distance about 2km).Nearby villages are Drimou,Fiti,Saint Demetrianos and Simou. With the city of Paphos Drinia is connected through Polemi.

Acheleia
Acheleia is a village of the province of Paphos and it is found in the geographic region of the coastal plain of Paphos, roughly 7 kilometers southeast of the city of Paphos. The village is built at an altitude of 35 meters above sea level. It is found very close to the east side of the watercourse of the river "Ezousas", that is most commonly known as the river of Acheleia. Acheleia is found between the villages that have been benefited from the irrigatory project of Paphos, particularly from the dam of "Asprokremmos" and the drillings made over the length of the river.

Lyssos
Lysos is located about 36 kilometres north-east of Pafos. It is the largest -with regard to territory- village of the Pafos district and covers a range of 9,526 hectares. The village is built at an average altitude of 560 metres and it borders with the Nicosia district in the east. The village's highest point is "Tripylos" (1,362 metres), located in the most eastern section of the village, in the "Stavros tis Psokas" region. The community is crossed by the river of "Stavros tis Psokas" and the river of "Ezousa".

Statos - Ayios Photios
The two villages of the province of Paphos, Agios Photios and Statos, which were at a distance of two kilometers the one from other, during the period 1966-1969, because of the rapid rainfalls, they had some devastating landslips. The government called some special geologists, in order to study the situation and it was found necessary to move the two villages to another point. Then most of the residents of the two communities, decided for the union of the two villages. The locomotion and the union of the two communities became with the consent of the local self-government.

Tremithousa
The village Tremithousa or Trimithousa is located about 4 kilometers northeast of the city of Pafos. Because of the close distance from Pafos the villages is also known as Tremithousa of Pafos. The village is built at an average altitude of 270 meters. Its area has a general inclination from the northeast to the southwest and the altitude ranges from 150 to 500 meters. Tremithousa receives an average annual rainfall of about 520 millimeters; vines of winemaking varieties, vegetables, cereals, forage plants, citrus, almond, and walnut trees, and legumes are cultivated in the region.

Tala
The village Tala is found in the district of Pafos, at a distance of 8 kilometres north of the city of Pafos, within a magical natural environment. In regards to transportation, the village connects to the monastery of "Agios Neofytos" in the northeast (about 2 kilometres), which is within its administrative boundaries. In the south it connects with the village Emba (about 4 kilometres) and from there on with the city of Pafos. The village is built at an average altitude of 280 meters. It has a general tilt from the northeast to the southwest and the altitude ranges from 150 to 600 meters.

Pomos
The community of Pomos finds itself 60 kilometres of the north-easterly city of Paphos, in the geographic region of Tillyria. The village is built next to the sea, in medium altitude of 10 meters. Roughly two and a half kilometres in the south-eastern side of the village the altitude reaches the 600 meters (locality Hill Top), and also in a distance of roughly 5 kilometres of southerly-eastern Pomos, very near to its administrative limits, Lorovounos is found, at an altitude of 670 meters. The village of Pomos accepts a medium annual rainfall of around 440 millimetres of water and in its region they are cultivated citrus fruits, bananas, almond trees, avocado, walnut trees, olive trees, few vegetables and pistachio-nuts.

Kouklia
Kouklia is a village of the district of Pafos and lies at a distance of about 16 kilometres from the city of Pafos. It is built at an average altitude of 85 meters in the coastal plain of Pafos, north of the central highway of Limassol - Pafos, where -according to mythology -the goddess of Beauty and Love, Aphrodite, emerged. Kouklia receives an average annual rainfall of about 420 millimetres; grapevines (wine-making and table grape varieties), bananas, all sorts of citrus fruits, avocados, apricot, kiwis, olives, locust beans, legumes, peanuts, and a large variety of vegetables are cultivated upon its fertile land.

Mandria
The village Mandria is a Turkish/cypriot village of the province of Paphos, roughly 13 kilometers southeasterly of the city of Paphos. The village Mandria is built in the coastal plain of Paphos, at an average altitude of 22 meters. The landscape of village has a very small bent towards the sea that washes its southern department. At the Eastern borders of the village flows the river Xeros where afterwards, the dam of Asprokremmos was manufactured. The village Mandria accepts a medium annual rainfall of about 430 millimeters. At the village they are cultivated the citrus fruits mainly lemons, oranges and "klementinia"), the vines of table varieties, fruit trees (bananas, avocado and pear-trees), pistachio-nut, the beans, the cereals, the plants used as animal food and a few olives. Is cultivated also a big variety of vegetables, that includes potatoes, carrots, watermelons, melons, onions, beetroots, peas, cucumbers, tomatoes and other.

Akamas
It is the westernmost part of Cyprus, which includes the peninsula and the forest that bear the same name. Because of its singular physiognomy, it is considered as a distinct small district or region of Cyprus. A large part of the area is identified with the Akamas forest. South and east of its borders there is Lara and the privately owned land of the villages Inia, Drousia, Fasli, Androlikou, and Neo Chorio. During previous times many Magnesium mines operated in the region of Akamas. The visitor can today discover quite a few of the mines' galleries, being abandoned.

Nikoklia
The community of Nikoklia is situated 17 kilometres south-east of Pafos and it is the first village to be found on the road toward the mountain resorts of Cyprus and toward Troodos. The distances were much reduced with the construction of the new Limassol - Pafos & Nikoklia - Troodos road. Transport from Nikoklia to Limassol takes about 25 minutes whereas going to Troodos takes about an hour. It is a 5 minute drive from the airport of Pafos. It is built at an average altitude of 80 meters,in a beautiful, natural landscape in the west bank of the Diarizos River.

Konia
The village Konia is located at a distance of 3 km east of the city of Pafos and at an average altitude of 190 meters. It neighbours with the villages Anavargos in the NW, Armou in the NE, Marathounta in the East, and Geroskipou in the South. According to one version, the village took its name from the word "konnos" that means "argil" (potter's clay), something however that is not valid because the tracts of loamy land in the village's region are very few. According to a second version, the name came from the word "konos" because there are cone-like hills in the village -though this is not actually the case since the cone-shaped hills are located in the east, north-east, and north and at a distance of two and more kilometres from the village.

Aphrodite's Rock

Tombs of the Kings

Paphos Medieval Castle

Paphos Light House and Curium Theatre

Baths of Aphrodite