Once the capital of the powerful island state of Cyprus, Paphos takes centre stage in Europe again in 2017 as City of Culture. Legend has it that Aphrodite, Greek Goddess of Love, Beauty, Pleasure and Fertility was born of the sea foam at Paphos, her cult and temple of huge importance in ancient Kypros. The Romans named her Venus, and they too, left their spectacular UNESCO protected mark for all the world to see in the Paphos Archaeological Park. Modern Paphos is best known as a sunshine destination, but there’s much more planned for 2017 when Paphos becomes an “Open-Air Factory of Culture” that promises to blur the distinctions between visiting tourists and local people.
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