Public Library of Paphos

The Public Library of Paphos is located in the homonymous city, specifically at the 28th October Square, at the crossing of Griva Digeni Avenue with Grammos and Iakovou Iakovidi streets.

The building, together with the rest of the neoclassical buildings built in the early to mid-20th century, is an array of impressive buildings that reflect the period of transition of Paphos from a rural settlement to a modern urban center of the era of the British occupation.

Housed in one of Cyprus’ most beautiful neoclassic buildings of the 1940’s with ancient Greek lines and a facade of four Ionic columns, the Public Library of Paphos is the work of the architect Andreas Christodoulides and is composed of two separate edifices: a rectangular building with a gambrel roof, crossed by a smaller rectangular building with a pitched roof and pediments on its facade and its rear side.

It began its operation in May 1946, under the British government, in order to become a nucleus of culture and spirituality for the city and its inhabitants. It was founded on the initiative of the then mayor Christodoulos Galatopoulos, in whose honour the place was subsequently named. Today it is considered to be one of the most historic libraries on the island, since many important events, speeches and presentations of literary writers have taken place here in the past, with the Palamics Festivities being the most prestigious, unique in the whole of Cyprus and Greece, held in honor of the poet Kostis Palamas.

The interior of the library also boasts a white minimal style, with state-of-the-art functional infrastructures, lighting and ventilation systems, making it a pleasant break for the visitor. Its collection is of general content and includes about 26,000 volumes, including rare publications, historical documents and periodicals, such as the famous historical magazine “Paphos”. The Public Library of Paphos was renovated in 2015, aspiring to become the focal point of the cultural and intellectual life of not only the city, but also the entire province of Paphos. A helping hand in this effort is the Friends of the Public Library of Paphos, a non-profit organization based mainly on the voluntary initiative of its members that helps to promote and disseminate the library’s work.

Public Library of Paphos
Square 28th of October, Paphos
Operating Hours: Daily 07: 30-15: 00
Phone: 00357 26 933847
emai: [email protected]