Petra tou Romiou Beach

The beach Petra tou Romiou or Aphrodite beach is located about 25 kilometers east of Paphos in the Kouklia area (southern coast of Cyprus), and at about 45 km from Limassol and 130 kilometers from Nicosia.

At the entrance of the administrative district of Paphos or just outside the homonymous capital city, you will find one of the most beautiful and pristine beaches of the island. Petra tou Romiou beach is among the ten most important romantic landscapes in the world, according to the Lonely Planet, and has won many awards for its clean waters.

The trademark of the beach Petra tou Romiou (or Rock of Aphrodite) is an oversized rock laden with tradition and memories. According to geologists, the area is the collision point of the Eurasian and African geological plates, which results in the sinking of the first beneath the second. From the depths of the oceans and the centuries, this enormous rock and the smaller ones that cluster around it – on the adjacent sandy beach – is said to be the pieces left over from a large oyster that carried the goddess Venus to the coasts of Cyprus, thereby demonstrating also how Cyprus was born, – by emerging from the waters of the Mediterranean. These references are associated with the Theogonia of Hesiod and later inspired Botticelli to create his world-famous painting “The Birth of Venus”.

According to the Cypriot tradition, the name of the beach Petra tou Romiou comes from the history of the rocks of the beach. It is said that the Byzantine warrior Digenis Akritas grasped in his hand the Kyrenia mountain range, forming in this way the five peaks of Pentadaktylos (five fingers in Greek), lifted a boulder and threw it on the southwestern coast, thus protecting the island from the incursions of the Saracens. Another tradition says that during ancient times the beach was also known as Achni, after the Achaeans that were stranded there after the Trojan War.

In the past, Petra tou Romiou beach was considered as one of the best beaches in the world for naturists, although in recent years its waters are ttracting thousands of tourists and romantic souls who come here to enjoy the sunset. The beach is also an ideal place for newlyweds’ photo shoots, while many artists come to the region to be inspired by the grandeur of nature.

Petra tou Romiou beach has pebbles, inside and outside of the water. It is suitable for diving or hiking in the surrounding area, as it is teeming with wildlife. There bathers will find free parking, restrooms, and a tourist booth (during the summer) from where they can learn about the cultural journey of Aphrodite, a program – tour of the CTO (Cypriot Tourism Organization) in the tracks left by the goddess throughout Cyprus. Moreover, there are many accommodation and dining options nearby.