The name of Petra Tou Romiou linked to Digenis Akritas, the legendary Byzantine hero. Sometime during the years of the Arab invasions (7 – 10 century AD), Digenis grabbed a huge rock with superhuman strength and threw it over the Saracens who were attempting to land on the coast. The rock then gave to the whole region the name of Petra tou Romiou. The rock stands on one of the finest beaches in Cyprus, an outstanding area of natural beauty and the drive down the old Paphos – Limassol road is well worth it, with some stunning scenery of the hills on one side and beautiful coastline on the other.

And, rumour has it that if you swim around Aphrodite’s Rock naked you will be fertile for life! Whilst others claim that to swim around Aphrodite’s Rock brings good luck…Here is a selection of photographs to entice you to Aphrodite’s Rock. More images of Aphrodite’s Rock and the local area are available to view at http://www.akamas-villas.com/ by clicking on the PR icon, where a large collection of photographs can also be viewed showcasing the Paphos and Akamas region of Cyprus.

Aphrodite's Rock

Coastline at Aphrodite's Rock

Coastal Road View of Aphrodite's Rock

Scenic Drive To Aphrodite's Rock

Clear Waters at Aphrodite's Rock

These striking mosaics are a must see and many of them show scenes from Greek Mythology. They date from the 2nd century through to the 5th century and many are still in remarkable condition. These mosaics would have originally been the floors of Roman Noblemen’s villas and many of these sites are still being excavated today. Some of the houses where these mosaics are on view include; the House of Dionysus, the House of Orpheus, the House of Aion, and the Villa of Theseus.

In the House of Dionysus there are 14 rooms in total that are covered with these fabulous mosaics and this is roughly around 556 square meters of space, here the mosaics show the God of wine, Dionysus giving Ikarios the King of Athens the secret of viticulture. The mosaics themselves were made from small cubes of marble and stone, which were called tesserae and glass paste, was used to broaden the range of color that was available in those days. The Paphos Mosaics are in fact part of a larger archeological site that also includes a theatre and a castle and it is wise to take at least half a day to explore this area fully.

There is a visitor’s center here, which includes toilets and a souvenir shop where you can get books and postcards. There are a lot of signposts that direct you to various parts of the Paphos Mosaics but a guidebook will also be useful. The photographs below are a small example of what to see at Paphos Mosaics.

Paphos Mosaics - Entrance

Molos Restaurant, Latchi

Located on the waterfront at Latchi Marina, Molos offers a wide-ranging menu including international cuisine, excellent wines and extensive cocktail menu. There is ample seating inside and outside for breakfast, lunches and dinner. The restaurant has been completely refurbished and opened for business in May 2011. The interior decor / lighting is very modern with excellent cloakroom facilities. A very effective open fireplace is a welcoming aspect in the colder winter evenings. The owners of Molos Restaurant also own Finikas Restaurant in Polis Square. The Molos menu is available from Akamas Villas and holiday guests of Akamas Villas can use their Loyalty Card to benefit from a pre-dinner or after dinner cocktail from their extensive menu of drinks.

Faros Restaurant, Latchi

Faros is a very well established restaurant, centrally located on the waterfront at Latchi Marina. An excellent choice of food is available including many local dishes and wines, for lunches and dinner (breakfasts are also available). Faros Restaurant is renowned for its unique style of customer service, which keeps guests returning time and time again. The front of the restaurant represents an excellent, alternative dining / drinking area on occasions when it’s shady or cooler on the waterfront side. Sky Sports channels are available showing regular premier league football and other major sporting events. The Faros menu is available from Akamas Villas and holiday guests of Akamas Villas can use their Loyalty Card to benefit from a 10% discount and complementary drink when dining at the restaurant.

Restaurants in Latchi are just part of the unique experience that visitors benefit from in this enchanting marina. There is also a wide choice of water-sports, organised boat trips and an array of water related activities including private charter cruises along the stunning Akamas coastline. Crystal Marine is one such marina based company who offer bespoke excursions such as champagne sunset cruises and fabulous snorkeling opportunities in the blue lagoon. Latchi is often described as ‘Cyprus’s hidden gem’, surrounded by the unspoilt Akamas peninsula and its quiet, pristine beaches. There are some excellent holiday villas to be found in this region of Cyprus and much to see and explore, indeed it is no surprise that visitors staying at villas and hotels in other parts of Cyprus often return to this beautiful Akamas region to find their perfect holiday destination.

This selection of photos highlights the beauty of Latchi and the surrounding area.

Latchi Marina Fishing Boats

Faros Restaurant, Waterfront

Molos Restaurant, Waterfront

Crystal Marine Private Charter

Crystal Marine, Hostess Lunch

Cyrstal Marine Activities

Sandy Beach Villa in Latchi Area

The Akamas Coastline

The Blue Lagoon

Walking at Aphrodite's Baths

Due to the mountainous nature of the Akamas Peninsula there are no roads running through its heartland. Visitor attractions to the Akamas Peninsula include the loggerhead turtle and the Baths of Aphrodite. As the area is relatively inaccessible, there is a large diversity of flora and fauna there. For this reason, the Akamas Peninsula is endowed with a unique biodiversity, habitats and ecosystems. The largest part of the area is covered with a unique natural Para – Mediterranean ecosystem where the bushes and shrubs alternate with phrygana or garique, maquis and open pine forests. Of particular importance is the fact the area constitutes the eastern most point where many European plant species can be found.

The Akamas Peninsula has branded itself as an exclusive destination and tourists who come tend to be seeking more than ‘sun, sea and sand’, being more interested in culture, biodiversity and the history of this stunning region of Cyprus. The walking trails offer a different view round every corner and the coastline that abuts the peninsula is quite breathtaking with unspoilt and, in may cases, deserted bays. The view across to the Blue Lagoon in Chrysochou Bay is particularly stunning. Walking trails criss cross the Akamas Peninsula and are varied in their length to suit walkers of all abilities and is as popular in the winter months as it is the high season period, with hikers enjoying the cooler climate!

A number of luxury villas adorn this akamas region of Cyprus and provide the perfect base to explore the beauty of the Akamas Peninsula. In particular, Villa Aeria, Sandy Beach Villa and villas in the traditional Cypriot village of Neo Chorio are well worth considering for a holiday base in the Akamas Peninsula.

Tombs of The Kings, Paphos consists of eight complexes, which have been singled out and numbered for visitors, with 3, 4, and 8 being the most elaborate. Some tombs are reached via stairs that lead into sunken rectangular courts. Beyond the colonnades, passages lead to rooms with niches for individual corpses. Bodies were buried with costly grave goods, including jewellery and cosmetic boxes. As was common in the classical world, on the anniversaries of death loved ones would hold a ceremonial meal at the tomb, with the leftovers deposited near the body.

Archaeologists have excavated 18 burials from the Hellenistic period in this tomb that have led to certain conclusions which throw light on at least one every day life in Hellenistic Paphos; that of burial customs: -

1. Each family had its own burial place, which usually consisted of a rectangular enclosure containing tombs of various types. Simple pit-shaped tombs are often found alongside vaulted or even colonnaded tombs.
2. All intact burials found were simple.
3. All large tomb complexes are equipped with a well. In one case, when the excavation reached the level of the water, this was found to be drinkable. In the well-known Greek burial customs, water was essential for purification purposes.
4. Throughout the Hellenistic necropolis only Greek burial customs were observed.

       

The relatively unknown and un-spoilt Akamas region of Cyprus provides all this and more. Low prices for flights and an excellent choice of luxury villa accommodation at low season rates offer the perfect base to explore the small towns and villages such as Polis, Argaka and Pomos and then there is Latchi Marina with its excellent waterfront restaurants, where a leisurely lunch can be enjoyed watching the boating activity. During the winter months, the climate is ideal for exploring by foot whether it be the array of walking trails through the Akamas National Park or for the less ambitious, a more gentle stroll along the quiet beaches around Chrysochou Bay.

The photos shown are in November at Latchi (Faros Restaurant) and at Aphrodite’s Baths on one of the many walking trails looking out to the Bay.

There are other ways of exploring Akamas as well as walking; there are organised off-road tours available, cycling routes and of course boat trips that enable this stunning scenery to be enjoyed from the sea! Hiring an off-road vehicle and going it alone is also an option and certainly can be fun although some of the tracks are a little narrow – not where you want to meet an on coming vehicle! Having said that you can expect to see very little traffic in this area!!

The Bays are well worth exploring, Lara Bay, also known as Turtle Bay, is on a stretch of coastline which offers some of the more remote escapes. A turtle sanctuary and home to two endangered turtle species – the hawks-bill turtle and green turtle. The Blue Lagoon, which could easily be mistaken for a caribbean scene is famous for its crystal clear, turquoise waters is the perfect place for some snorkelling.