Paphos Lighthouse Restoration Completed

Restoration work on the auxiliary buildings of the historic Paphos lighthouse has been completed, according to the antiquities department. The work included landscaping and the creation of access paths, as well as the excavation of a cistern, pebbled floor, and canal believed to be part of an ancient water management system dating back to the early Roman period. The 20-metre lighthouse, constructed during the British administration in 1888, has served as a key reference point for navigation and continues to do so today. The lighthouse was operated by lighthouse keepers who lived in the auxiliary buildings until 1982, when technological advancements and automation led to their retirement. The lighthouse is now an important landmark of Paphos and an integral part of the adjacent archaeological site of Kato Paphos. Senior archaeological officer Efstathios Raptou described the lighthouse as 'emblematic' and the largest recognisable lighthouse in Cyprus. The building itself has been modernised and does not constitute an ancient monument, but is part of a 'unique coexistence' of different historical periods.