Resources & Information on Paphos
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Kato Paphos - Tomb of Kings Area
Coral Bay |
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Yeroskipou |
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Kissonerga |
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History & Culture
Shopping in Paphos, Cyprus
For centuries, women have sat outside their stone houses in the mountain village
of Lefkara, stitching embroidered geometric patterns on linen:
the work was so fine that - according to one story - it captivated Leonardo
da Vinci, who bought an altar cloth for the cathedral in Milan. Lefkaritika,
as it's called, is often referred to as lace, because of its intricate
appearance: it's available throughout Cyprus, but especially in the village
of Lefkara, just off the main A1 Nicosia-to-Limassol motorway.
The
traditions of Cyprus handicrafts are also seen in copperware and
filigree silver work, and in folk weaving and basketware. Limassol, Larnaca
and Paphos offer outlets of the Cyprus Handicraft Centre, the headquarters
of which is on Nicosia's Athalassa Avenue, just a block west of the A1
motorway as it enters the city outskirts. Here, you can watch weaving,
lace-making and pottery making. However, villages and shops throughout
the island stock similar high quality crafts.
To take home a taste of the grape harvest, try the centuries-old tradition
of Commandaria, a sweet wine. For red, white and rosé wines, there's
a choice of several major wine producers (Etko, Keo, Loel and Sodap),
plus boutique wineries and monastery wines.
Opening Hours
Officially, shops are closed on Sundays, and from about 14h00 on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons; however, many in the tourist areas do remain open. Expect an afternoon break from 13h00 to 16h00 between early June and mid-September, particularly away from resort areas. Shops open at around 08h00 or 09h00 and usually close at around 19h00.
Tax Refund
Watch for shops displaying a "Tax-free shopping" symbol: spend more than CYP100 there (or in their chain of shops), and you can obtain a Value Added Tax (VAT) refund by mail when you have customs officials stamp your paperwork on leaving the country.
