Kouklia
Κούκλια · Kukla, Baf
About
Kouklia is the modern village built on top of one of the most important archaeological sites in the eastern Mediterranean: Palaipafos, the original sanctuary of Aphrodite, where the goddess was worshipped from the twelfth century BC well into the Roman era and which made the area one of the great pilgrimage centres of the ancient Greek world. The ruins of the sanctuary, the fortifications, the barrow cemetery, and a remarkable Lusignan-era Norman manor (now the site museum) are all walkable on a single visit, and the surrounding area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Pafos serial inscription. Three kilometres west, the sea-stack of Petra tou Romiou — 'Aphrodite's Rock' — marks the legendary spot where the goddess rose from the foam. The thirteenth-century cruciform church of Panagia Hodegetria, with later fifteenth-century frescoes, is the standout among the village churches. Plan a full half-day.
Location
Kouklia · Pafos coast · 34.7099°N, 32.5733°E
Gallery
