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Paphos
Paphos has been inhabited since
the Neolithic period. It was
a centre of the cult of Aphrodite
and of pre-Hellenic fertility
deities. Aphrodite's legendary
birthplace was on this island,
where her temple was erected
by the Myceneans in the 12th
century B.C. The remains of
villas, palaces, theatres, fortresses
and tombs mean that the site
is of exceptional architectural
and historic value. The mosaics
of Nea Paphos are among the
most beautiful in the world.
Painted churches in
the Troodos Region
This region is characterized
by one of the largest groups
of churches and monasteries
of the former Byzantine Empire.
The complex of 10 monuments
included on the World Heritage
List, all richly decorated with
murals, provides an overview
of Byzantine and post-Byzantine
painting in Cyprus. They range
from small churches whose rural
architectural style is in stark
contrast to their highly refined
decoration, to monasteries such
as that of St John Lampadistis.
Choirokoitia
The Neolithic settlement of
Choirokoitia, occupied from
the 7th to the 4th millennium
B.C., is one of the most important
prehistoric sites in the eastern
Mediterranean. Its remains and
the finds from the excavations
there have thrown much light
on the evolution of human society
in this key region. Since only
part of the site has been excavated,
it forms an exceptional archaeological
reserve for future study.
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