The turquoise water sparkles mirroring the sun’s supremacy from a cloudless blue sky. Three rocks interrupt the clear seascape which mark the mythical birthplace of Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love, one of the most influential deities in ancient Greek mythology. This is a scene which allows the imagination to drift, to envision the goddess swathed in seafoam rising between the guardianship of rock formations, bringing a mythical legend to life and fame to this land. I’m in Cyprus, the Island of beauty and love, with its myths, legends and antiquity. My feet are firmly on the sand where beauty and love reign in various forms on the island.
Constantinou Bros Asimina Suites Hotel
One area on the island of beauty and love is my hotel, the 5-star Constantinou Bros Asimina Suites Hotel, just 20 minutes away from Aphrodite on the largest sandy beach in Paphos with the sparking sea fronting it. With luxury as its focus, a number of the 111 suites have private pools with wooden decks while others enjoy large balconies. There are two outdoor and interconnected freshwater swimming pools encircled by attractive gardens shaded by palm trees. There is also a heated indoor swimming pool, a tennis court, an excellent, well organised and spacious fitness room with a scheduled timetable of activities which includes pilates, yoga, stretch and aqua aerobics. The Elixir Spa emits an instant calming affect with a candlelit entrance and a range of treatments and excellent massages. The sauna, steam bath and relaxation area completes the overall ritual. There is a hair salon too. The high level of personal service is a reflection of a family owned hotel with a following of long-serving happy staff, all friendly and attentive and known by many returning guests. It’s smiles all round and adults only.
Dining
Fancy a different ambiance and menu? There are four restaurants from which to choose. The Estia Restaurant showcases a colourful buffet of fresh ingredients and dishes, including Cypriot favourites and of course, show cooking to tailor-make dishes for all preferences and palettes. In the evening, themed buffets are served while a string of various musical performances, from Cypriot folk dancers to musicians playing the violin, lute and accordion add to the atmosphere of the indoor and outdoor al fresco dining areas. There is also specialist A la Carte Restaurant. At lunchtime, casual dining is offered at the Pool Restaurant while various bars are dotted around to provide different viewing perspectives while sipping a cocktail. The Kymata Restaurant is a favourite and extremely popular, especially with a saxophonist playing under the tree. This tavern-style dining venue sits by the sea with the water lapping against the shore. Lunch is served here as well as under the moonlight serving a menu which includes delicious fresh fish and steak. You won’t go hungry. In addition the gazebo enjoys a perfect location for sipping a glass of bubbly with canapes while watching nature’s sunset glow. And with a celebration in mind, a cosy candlelight setting overlooking the Mediterranean sea can be arranged on the Pier for a memorable intimate dinner.
Entertainment
This is not “Heartbreak Hotel,” but an Elvis lookalike may serenade you during his performance during the week. Put on your dancing shoes when he’s in the building as well other entertainment each evening. Every Friday join the complimentary cocktail-making class or gin talk which includes tastings. I attended the gin presentation which detailed the new era of botanical gins and the ingredients sourced worldwide to add delicate hints of natural fruits herbs and flowers: pepper from Indonesia, flowers from the Black Forest, roses from Bulgaria. Fascinating and well worth sip tasting, especially if you like gin.
Sightseeing
The hotel is conveniently located for days of sightseeing to visit the wealth of ancient treasures in the area. A 20 minute walk along the coast from the hotel is Paphos, a picturesque and historic town. While Paphos offers a charming harbour, a visit to Paphos Old Town is a must. It’s walkable and comes to life in the mornings and evenings but shutters come down at lunch time. The town centre is modern with trendy shops and a traditional market.
In 2017 Paphos was bestowed the title of European Capital of Culture due to the many sites of historical, cultural and religious interests. It is included in UNESCO’s list of World Cultural Heritage sites which include The Tombs of the Kings, the Medieval Fort, the Odeon, the House of Dionysos, Aphrodites Rock and the Baths of Aphrodite. It was also European Capital of Smart Tourism in 2023.
Places to visit from the hotel
Paphos Harbour & Castle
The Harbour in Paphos holds several major attractions, including Paphos Castle and the Keto Pathos archaeological park. Built as a medieval fort, Paphos Castle was designed to guard Paphos Harbour while it was ruled by the Byzantine Empire. It was rebuilt by the Lusignans in the 1200s, dismantled and rebuilt again in the 1500s by the Ottomans. Today the remnants are of the Ottoman construction which include a tower, grim prison cells underneath and the rooftop battlements where cannons once stood. In the late 1800s, the castle became a British salt storehouse.
Paphos Archaeological Park
Here it’s like stepping back in time into Greek mythology discovering ruins dating back to prehistoric times. Paphos Archaeological Park contains the major part of the important ancient Greek and Roman city. Its sites and monuments date from prehistoric times through to the middle ages. The park is still under excavation. The Paphos Mosaics are one of the most popular places to visit, depicting Greek and Roman culture, this is the place to see some of the best ancient mosaics in the world. There are five houses to visit displaying the mosaics with different themes, from goddesses, gods, daily life and battles. The mosaics in vibrant colours of scenes from Greek mythology were decorative floor coverings of the houses that were constructed in the area during the Hellenistic and Byzantine eras. The mosaics are located a short walk from Paphos Harbour and part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Further afield, a drive will take you past orange and olive groves, charming villages hidden amongst mountains with centuries-old monasteries nestling in them.
Agia Paraskevi Church
In Geroskipou, 3.5 kilometres east of Paphos is Agia Paraskevi Church, an example of Byzantine architecture dating back to the ninth century. The interior is wall-painted with works from many periods of centuries. The temple is a three-aisled vaulted basilica with five domes. It is unclear whether this temple was built on the remains of an earlier temple that honoured the goddess Aphrodite.
Aphrodite’s Rock
An image of natural beauty sits at Petra tou Romiou, otherwise known as Aphrodite’s Rock, a sea stack along the coast between Paphos and Limassol. Its name comes from Greek mythology, which claims that it’s the birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite, where she emerged from the foamy waters. Today, it’s still considered to be a sacred spot which attracts visitors worldwide.
Local Foods
Enjoy the island’s local dishes, from traditional meze and salads to freshly caught seafood. The food is similar to Greek cuisine. Halloumi (the squeaky cheese) is actually the island’s most famous product. And for those with a sweet tooth, “Arsinoe Yeroskipos Delights” which is a family business operating since 1895 producing Cypriot delights, with flavours of bergamont, mint and mango while remaining faithful to the traditional recipe, made in copper cauldrons on site. They are located near Geroskipou Square. Make sure you have a good appetite if visiting the village restaurant, Stou Kir Yianni, an old restored mansion house in Omodos, near the Trodoos Mountains. The courses are multiple and portions large.
Wine
Cyprus boasts a wine culture that stretches back 6,000 years and offers various vineyards and wine tasting opportunities. The Ktima Gerolemo Winery & Vineyards opened its doors in February 1987 in Omodos, and sits on a 127-acre estate, two miles north-west of Omodos Village. Try the Commandaria, an amber-coloured sweet wine liqueur made in the Commandaria region. It represents an ancient wine style documented in Cyprus back to 800 BC and has the distinction of being the world’s oldest named wine still in production. This area is part of the designated six wine routes, organized by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation.
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean and a crossroads to three continents, Europe, Asia and Africa. It became an independent Republic in 1960 and joined the European Union in 2004. Paphos is located on the southwest coast of the Mediterranean island. The airports in Larnaca and Paphos provide excellent connections from most major cities of the world.
Apart from the vision of Aphrodite, there is much to fall in love with during your stay. Perhaps it’s sipping champagne under the gazebo as the sun bids farewell, the colourful mosaics portraying their story from years gone by or visiting the hidden villages with views of pine-clad mountains, terraced vineyards and sun-kissed coastline.
The hotel offers B&B, Half Board or Full board rates and also a deluxe package. Book before 28.02.2025 and save 20% at Constantinou Bros Asimina Suites Hotel in Paphos, Cyprus
The Editor stayed as a guest of the Constantinou Bros Asimina Suites Hotel.
Contact the hotel to book your date with Aphrodite.
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