Pafos is a southwestern coastal city in Cyprus, nestled in the lee of the Western Troodos Mountains, adding to the area’s scenic beauty. It serves as the capital of the Pafos District, housing a population of approximately 47,300 inhabitants.  It is also a popular sea and fast developing tourist resort, which is further pushed by its own nearby international airport and dozens of luxurious resorts that grace the coastline. 

It is divided into two main areas, namely Ktima, the upper part of the town, and Kato Pafos, or the lower part of the town.  The former, located on the sea terrace, is the city’s main residential district.  It has an air of olden-day elegance afforded by its classical-style buildings that leads to the city’s shopping areas.

Kato Pafos, which is located by the sea and built around the old medieval port, contains most of the luxury hotels, gift shops, and the city’s   lively entertainment infrastructure. Pafos is best known as the mythological birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty.  It also stands as the center of the occult dedicated to the goddess for the entire Aegean world.  Countless landmarks linked with Aphrodite can be found all over Pafos, foremost of which are the remains of a vast temple dedicated to her. Equal worth is also given to the jagged rocks of her birthshore, known as the Aphrodite Rocks or "Petra tou Romiou", along with her sanctuary found in the village of Kouklia that had been a one-time shrine and site for pagan festivals. 

Other structures associated with her are the Baths of Aphrodite, found at Polis, which is believed to be a source of fertility, and the Fountain of Love, or “Fontana Amorosa”, which is located in the Akamas Peninsula.   Even the name of the city itself is linked to the goddess, as Pafos is the mythological daughter of Pygmalion and Galatea; the milky white maiden statue created by Pygmalion and had been brought to life by Aphrodite.

Pafos was the capital of Cyprus under the Ptolemies, which were the successors of Alexander the Great. Under the Ptolemies, Pafos’ harbor became a busy thriving port.  It remained as the island’s main city for more than seven centuries, whilst retaining its influence and importance under Roman rule.  Its most famous proconsul, Sergius Paulus, was converted into Christianity by Paul of Tarsus in 43 AD.

Pafos' history, however, goes back further, as seen with the numerous historical and archaeological sites found in the city.  Foremost of these sites is the Tombs of the Kings, which is a World Heritage Site, situated on a rocky ledge overlooking the sea at the edge of the town.  These impressive underground tombs, which dated from 300BC to 300AD, were hewn out of solid rock and decorated with Doric pillars.  Although local prominent people and no kings were buried in the site, the magnificence of the tombs is enough to give rise to its name.

The Saint Solomoni Church is the most famous of the many catacomb sites found in the city that dates back to the early Christian period. It is originally a Christian catacomb and well-known for its sacred tree, which is believed to be curative to anyone who hangs a personal offering on one of its branches.

The mosaics found on the floors of the House of Dionysos, House of Theseus,  and the House of Aion, which are all 3rd century AD nobleman villas in Kato Pafos, are considered as one of the finest in the Eastern Mediterranean.  These mosaics usually depict beautifully executed scenes from Greek mythology.

Two significant castles near the harbor are found in Pafos, each carrying with them a rich historical background.  First of these   is Saranta Kolones, which was built in the 12th century, during the first years of the rule of the Lusignans.  The second castle is the Paphos Castle, which was originally built as a Byzantine Fort to protect the harbor.  The Lusignans rebuilt it in the 13th century, only to be dismantled by the Venetians in 1570 that could not defend it from the Ottomans.  The Turks, in turn, restored and strengthened the castle after capturing the island.

Ancient basilicas and churches that date back to the early Christian period also abound in Pafos.  Some of these are the 5th century Panayia Limeniotissa Basilica, which was dedicated to the “Our Lady of the Harbor” and was almost completely destroyed during the 7th century Arab raids; Panayia Chrysopolitissa Church, which was built in the 13th century over the ruins of a Byzantine basilica and houses the St. Paul's Pillar, where in, St. Paul was whipped. Plus the Heoskepasti Church, which translates as “veiled by God”, is believed to have been saved by God who had send down a fog to save it from the Arab raids.

Other equally notable and remarkable locations are also found within the surrounding vicinity of Pafos.  Amongst  these are the Yeroskapou Folk Art Museum, which is located in a village of the same name that hailed its name from the Greek "Hieroskepos", or the sacred garden of Aphrodite; the Byzantine Church of Ayia Paraskevi, which features a vaulted basilica and frescos from the 15th century, the 12th century Panayia Chryseleousa, which features a series of icons  and two panels with the 12 apostles that dates back to the middle of the 16th century; Ayios Georghios Basilica, which houses very intersting mosaic floors depicting animals and rock-hewn tombs from the Roman period, and Ayios Neophytos Monastery, which was founded in the 12th century by the Cypriot hermit and writer Neophytos, and  features some of the best Byzantine frescos dating from the 12th to the 15th centuries.

With Pafos’ long history that afforded it with a city rich in historical and cultural sites, as well as the pristine, uncluttered beaches, it is clear why Pafos has become a popular tourist destination.  It is for this reason that the city has developed a strong holiday property market much appealing to buyers in search of a holiday property in a historical town or a house in the sun.

Pafos properties have been popular for several years, such that 80% of the properties in Pafos had once been bought by non-Cypriot buyers.  This interest in Pafos properties, as a direct result of the city’s growing reputation as a premiere tourist destination, has caused the property prices in Pafos to be slightly higher than other areas.  This is predicted to increase in the coming years with the completion of the A7motorway, which will connect pafos with Polis by 2013.  The new motorway will provide an alternate major route into the city, which is currently just being served by A6 motorway that connects the city from Limassol.

The city’s proximity to two airports—the Paphos International Airport and the Larnaca airport—have added to the attactiveness of the city to tourists, as well as adding to its appeal to property purchasers.  The resulting holiday rental market afforded by the influx of these tourists is an advantage for property investors who could expect significant rental yields for the short-term and the long-term.

A wide range of properties is found in Pafos, ranging from off pplan developments, such as villas to apartments and townhouses, and resale properties, suchas village houses and maisonettes, to plots of land.  There are dozens of locations in and around Pafos that features this variety of properties.  Some of the most sought-after towns in Pafos include Agios Georgios, Agia Thekla, Agia Varvana, Agios Theodoros, Akourdalia, Akoursos, Alaminos, Anarita, Anavargos, Anavergos, Argaka, and Chloraka.