The boats were virtually motionless in the harbour, where life rouses slowly as fish-mongers lay out the early catch and cafes chink gently from espresso-drinkers reading the newspapers in the shade.
Standing solidly at its head is the castle, which was originally a Byzantine fort, but was rebuilt by the Ottomans after they captured the island in the sixteenth century.
While much of the town has been developed since the first sea-side hotel was opened in 1972, the castle is testament to the rich history of the region.
Only a few hundred yards from the slightly-tacky shops and restaurants are restored Roman villas that are home to mosaics so unspoilt their colours remain vibrant and vivid.
Walking around the site feels like being in a different world: dusty paths lead to the villas and to a small second century Odeon that are the only buildings visible before the Mediterranean gleams across the horizon.
It is not hard to imagine the landscape that would have greeted St Paul when he sailed here nearly 2,000 years ago to try and convert the people of Paphos.
Back in the harbour, it is the waiters who are the modern day evangelists, encouraging tourists to stop and sample their menus.
After a short walk along the waterfront, I found that the most atmospheric restaurant in the town was back at the hotel.
Candles flicker on tables perched on decking above the sea’s edge, and the happy hum of diners mixes with the gentle splashing of the waves beneath.
The dishes are simple but authentic and taste almost home-made, with plates of meze and fresh fish.
For more sophisticated dining, the hotel also boasts Notios, which offers some of the finest cooking to be found anywhere on the island.
Dozens of hotels have sprung up in Paphos with the growth of tourism, but none can match the Almyra for style, from the restaurants to the rooms and most notably the lobby, with its marble floors and wall of glass giving a spectacular view to the sea.
It is from these shores that legend says Aphrodite was born, and those in search of eternal youth are encouraged to travel to a grotto which is where myths claim the goddess of love used to bathe.
Standing under foliage covering the pool is a welcome relief from the sun, which appears to have scorched the surrounding land, which stretches arid and parched down to the Bay of Polis.
Driving in to the grounds of the Anassa hotel however, I’m met by an explosion of colour, flowers of purple, orange and white bursting out of lush, landscaped gardens.
I say hotel, but it feels more like a Greek village, with a white-walled Byzantine chapel at the back of a square that comes to life in the evenings with folk dancing and Cypriot music filling the air.
Walking along candle-lit paths back to my room, the sound of the mandolins recedes and is replaced by a quiet, soothing flow coming from small waterfalls.
There is a sleepy charm to this place, where the mornings start as slowly as the sun sets in the evenings.
Balconies are bathed in sunshine that spreads across the gardens and glints off pools where children called Octavia and Hugo splash in front of parents reading the Financial Times and playing on their iPads.
The Anassa is popular with the rich and famous, with guests having included Philip Green, Gordon Ramsay and Prince Rainier of Monaco, but consequently the attention to detail is flawless, from the silk tea bags to the stress-busting, luxurious spas and elegant restaurants.
And then there's the beach, pristine and exclusive, with cream beds and umbrellas laid out in front of a sea that goes on as far as the eye can see.
source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/8335907/Cyprus-The-resorts-fit-for-the-gods.html