1st Local Route
Total route length: 53 kilometres
Starts: Palaiochristian Basilica of Chrysopolitissa, Kato Paphos
Ends: Hermitage of Ayion Pateron, Pano Archimandrita
Paphos is rich in ecclesiastical monuments, first on the list being the Palaiochristian Basilica of Chrysopolitissa in Kato Paphos which still houses the column on which, according to tradition, Apostle Paul was tied and whipped. In Peristerona, there is the Ecclesiastical Museum, which is hosted by the Archbishopric of Arsinoe and houses icons, canonicals as well as other objects from the villages of the area. The Church of Ayia Kyriaki was built on the north aisle of the ruined Palaiochristian Basilica of Chrysopolitissa.
In the Holy Bishopric of Paphos there is the Βyzantine Museum whose collection can easily be compared to that of the Archbishop Makarios III Foundation. In Yeroskipou, there is the second church of Cyprus with five domes as well as significant frescoes which is dedicated to Αyia Paraskevi and, in Acheleia is the Church of Ayios Theodosios with significant frescoes which date back to the 13th century, one of which depicts the Apostles Petros and Paul and a portrait of the donors. The route passes from the Churches of Panagia tis Katholikis in Kouklia, the Hermitage “Palaio Egkleistro” in Souskiou and ends in Pano Archimandrita and the Hermitage of Ayion Pateron.
2nd Local Route
Total route length: 85 kilometres
Starts: Palaiochristian Basilica of Chrysopolitissa, Kato Paphos
Ends: Church of Ayios Minas, Neo Chorio, Paphos
The second ecclesiastical local route of Paphos) is longer and starts from Kato Paphos and the Palaiochristian Basilica of Chrysopolitissa, where Apostle Paul was tied to a column and whipped. The Church of Ayia Kyriaki, also located in Kato Paphos, is built on the ruins of the north aisle of the Basilica of Chrysopolitissa and dates back to the 15th century. The Holy Bishopric of Paphos hosts the Βyzantine Museum with icons dating back to the 8th, 9th up until the 19th centuries.
The next stop is at the Church of Panayia tis Chryselaiousis in Empa, one of the most significant Byzantine monuments of Cyprus. In Tala, the route passes from the Church of Ayia Aikaterini, a single-aisled church with a dome, which possibly in its initial form used to be arched. In the same village there is the Μonastery of Ayios Neofytos, a Cypriot hermit from Lefkara who left behind significant work. The Church of Ayia Aikaterini in Kritou Terra dates back to the 15th century and is quite interesting as a church in terms of its architecture. Just before the end of the route, the visitor passes from the Church of Ayios Andronikos in Polis Chrysochous which is located on a hill with a wonderful view. The last stop is at the Church of Ayios Minas in Neo Chorio at the edges of Akamas peninsula.
3rd Local Route
Total route length: 85 kilometres
Starts: Palaiochristian Basilica of Chrysopolitissa, Kato Paphos
Ends: Church of Ayios Nicolaos, Galataria
As with the other Paphos routes, this one also starts from the Palaiochristian Basilica of Chrysopolitissa in Kato Paphos, the church where Apostle Paul was tied to a column and whipped. The Church of Ayia Kyriaki, also in Kato Paphos, dates back to the 15th century. Τhe Βyzantine Museum of the Holy Bishopric of Paphos is considered to be one of the richest museums in terms of significant exhibits with a collection which can easily be compared to that of the Museum of the Archbishop Makarios III Foundation in Nicosia.
The next stop is at the Bishopric and at the Church of Ayios Ilarionas whose south aisle of the original building only has been salvaged today. The Church of Panayia tis Eleousas in Nata village is a church of large dimensions which has been under reconstruction in the past years. The Μonastery of Panayia tou Sinti, in Pentalia is assumed to have been built in 1542. Originally autonomous, it became a glebe of Kykkos Monastery under Ottoman rule. The last church of this route is the Church of Ayios Nikolaos in Galataria with beautiful frescoes of the first half of the 16th century.
