Paphos History

Paphos culture, as with the rest of Cyprus, is amongst the oldest in the Mediterranean. By 3700 BC, the island was a crossroads between East and West. Paphos fell successively under Assyrian, Egyptian, Persian, Greek, and Roman control. For 800 years, beginning in 364 AD, Cyprus was governed from Byzantium.

During the crusades in the 12th century, following brief possession by King Richard the Lion Heart of England, the island fell under Frankish rule. It was ceded to the Venetian Republic in 1489 and conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1571.

In 1878, Turkey leased Cyprus to Britain. On the outbreak of World War I, when hostilities broke out between the allies and Turkey, Britain annexed Cyprus. The island won its independence from the United Kingdom after a five year revolt against colonial rule.

Numerous archaeological sites and buildings in Paphos region testify to this rich history.

Since the events of 1974, Paphos, with its coastal position, has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Cyprus. Today, Paphos is a cosmopolitan area with residents from Western and Eastern Europe and Asia living alongside the Cypriot population.

Cyprus’ entry to the EU in 2004 has precipitated many changes on an economic and political level. Among these is the eligibility of EU citizens to cast their votes at local elections and European polls. Residents with EU status are also able work and to run businesses in most sectors.

As far as media is concerned, the region is served not only by lintv but by a number of English language publications which include several lintv partner magazines.

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