The idea of naming a European city as “City of Culture” for the year is nothing new, and the first City of Culture was Athens in 1985. Since then, cities across Europe have taken the title, and since 2007 there have been two Culture Capitals each year. For 2017, one of the named cities is Paphos, which has a lot more to offer than just a Cypriot beach holiday.

Where is Paphos?

Paphos, or Pafos as it is sometimes written, is one of the largest settlements on Cyprus. The Paphos region is popular with holidaymakers who travel to Cyprus for the warm climate, and is served by an international airport with direct links from many UK regional airports. Paphos is on the south west coast of the island of Cyprus, and has a history going back to ancient times. The Cypriot government are proud to have been selected as one of the host countries for a city of culture, and have a wide and varied programme of events for 2017.

What’s Happening?

The main concept of the Paphos 2017 programme of events is to look back into the past, to a time when concerts and plays were performed in the open air. The warm climate is perfect for outdoor performances, and locals are being encouraged to bring the Arts into every local neighbourhood, square and park. Expect to see lots of open air exhibitions and events taking place, so keep an eye on the websites to find out what is happening and when.

Annual Events

Even when it’s not City of Culture, Paphos has several annual festivals and events which are going to be even bigger and better in 2017. One of the biggest and most colourful is the annual Flower Festival which takes place each May. A parade of beautifully decorated floral floats makes its way around the port in the old part of Paphos, watched by visitors and locals alike. There’s also a festival of traditional Greek theatre in the summer months, and beer and wine festivals as the summer moves into autumn. Many of the festivals are free to attend, and there is lots of information online about what is happening and when. One of the other “must see” attractions in Paphos is the Roman ruins, where you can see some of the best mosaics in the whole of the Mediterranean.

Practicalities

Getting to Cyprus is relatively straightforward, and many airlines fly there direct from the UK. Flight time is around 4.5 hours. English is widely spoken, and the traffic drives on the left. Healthcare is of a high standard, and although you’ll need to take out travel insurance to cover you against delays or cancellations, as Cyprus is part of the European Union, you will be covered by EHIC for emergency treatment. There is a wide range of accommodation in the town itself and in the surrounding tourist areas – everything from campsites with the most basic facilities to luxury 5 star hotels.