Sanctuary of Aphrodite at Kouklia

Palaepaphos, Old Paphos, was the principal sanctuary of Aphrodite in the ancient Greek world and drew pilgrims from across the Mediterranean from the twelfth century BC until the Roman period. The goddess was worshipped here not as a statue but as a conical black stone, which is now in the site museum. What survives on the ground is foundations, a Roman-era hall, and the remains of the great enclosure; the museum occupies a Lusignan manor house of the thirteenth century built over part of it. The site is included in the Paphos World Heritage inscription.

What you actually see

• The conical stone - the aniconic cult object the goddess was worshipped as, in the museum.
• The sanctuary foundations - the enclosure and hall of the Roman-period rebuilding.
• The Lusignan manor - a thirteenth-century hall now housing the museum.
• The setting - the site on a rise above the coastal plain.

When to go

March to May and September to November are the comfortable months. Summer is very hot on the open site. The museum keeps shorter hours in winter.

Honest expectations

The remains above ground are modest and require imagination; the museum carries most of the visit. Interpretation is limited relative to the site's importance. Parking in the village is tight.

Nearby

Aphrodite's Rock is west along the coast, and Paphos is fifteen kilometres away.