About 48 kilometres north of Paphos you can find one of the most romantic places in Cyprus - Aphrodite's Baths. This magical place is located on the protected Akamas Peninsula.
An ancient legend says that it was the place where Aphrodite, the goddess of love, youth and beauty, liked to take water procedures after she settled on the island. It was also the place where the beautiful goddess met her lover Adonis. But Artemis, having learnt of the secret liaison between the two lovers, decided to kill Adonis. The locals say that the blood of the murdered young man turned into beautiful roses, and anemones grew from Aphrodite's tears. The goddess grieved for her beloved so much that Zeus took pity on her and decided that Adonis would return to his beloved for eight months every year, while four months would be spent in the underworld. This is what came to symbolise the changing of the seasons - the withering and rebirth of Cyprus' nature.
The bathing place is a charming spot surrounded by dense thickets. Beneath a natural canopy of limestone rock is a small semi-circular pond, with an old fig tree growing on its banks. It is believed that bathing in this pond gives youth and helps to preserve beauty.
Aphrodite's Bath is located very close to the sea coast with a small pebble beach and crystal clear water. There is also an open area near the baths, which offers an enchanting view of the sea and the surrounding area. You can also walk along one of the two paths named in honour of Aphrodite and Adonis.
