About Pafos
Cyprus is an island of breathtaking scenery, with beautiful sandy beaches set against a landscape of rugged cliffs, dense pine forests, field after field of vines, citrus and banana trees, and 127 endemic flower varieties found nowhere else in the world. Steeped in mythology and widely believed to be Anthony's gift to Cleopatra and the birthplace of Aphrodite, this island, with its high standard of modern-day living, still retains a strong sense of the historic – in the smaller villages, it is as though time has stood still for centuries.

Recognised as the most sun-sure spot in the eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus enjoys an average of 340 sunny days per year and low annual rainfall. Wherever you go, you will find that the local people are friendly and welcoming, and that English is widely spoken throughout the island. The currency is in pounds and cents in the same denominations as the British pounds and pence, driving is on the left, electricity is 240V using 3-pin plugs and telecommunication services are good. No vaccinations are required and both public and private healthcare services are of a high standard.

The Paphos region
Head off in any direction from the main towns and, within a few kilometres, you are in an area of rugged hills and rolling countryside or long stretches of sandy beaches. The Paphos Region, which spans the whole western area beginning just a short distance east of Paphos International Airport, includes monasteries, mosaics, nature reserves, gorges, pine forests, vine-yards and wineries, small mountain villages and golf courses, as well as the beaches, shops, bars and restaurants in and around the main resorts of Paphos, Coral Bay, Polis and Latchi.

Well-connected to the rest of the island by scenic routes or motorway, the furthest-most resorts of Ayia Napa and Protaras are reachable within three hours, Larnaca and Nicosia within two hours and Limassol within 45 minutes of Paphos. The Troodos mountain resorts of Omodos, Platres and Kakopetria are just one or two hours away.

Paphos
Once divided into two geographically-separate areas, Kato (lower) Paphos and Ktima or Pano (upper) Paphos have gradually expanded and joined to form one large town. There are so many historical and archaelogical sites within upper and lower Paphos that UNESCO decided against listing them all separately and simply added the whole town to it's World Cultural Heritage List. Characteristically, however, Kato Pafos and Ktima remain very distinct from each other. Both have their own historic and cultural sites and attractions but Kato Pafos is the beach, harbour and tourist resort, whilst Ktima is the residential, retail and commercial area.

Kato Paphos  
Under Roman rule, Kato Pafos was the capital of Cyprus. With the decline of the Roman Empire, the capital moved to and remains in Nicosia. Nowadays, Kato Paphos is the 'Western Cyprus Riviera' and most hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs etc, in the region are situated along this coastal strip. Many Cypriot, as well as international tourists, choose to spend their holidays here and there can be no better recommendation than local recommendation.

The most lively bars and clubs with late-night licences are based mainly in or around the 'Bar Street' area – so are easy to find, or avoid, depending on your point of view.

The picturesque pedestrianised harbour is the focal point of Kato Paphos and, from here, you can also take local cruises or glass-bottomed boat trips which run several times daily in the long summer season. Or, if you prefer to keep your feet on solid ground, an ideal place to just relax and enjoy the view from one of the harbourside fish restaurants or cafes.

Costas Gavrielides developments in Kato Paphos: Sirena Arocaria; Sirena Olympia; Sirena Kings, Sirena Riverside, Sirena Sunrise, Sirena George and Sirena Cypria.

Places of interest/activities in the area include: The mosaics of Paphos; The Tombs of the Kings; The Medieval Fort; local cruises; glass-bottom boat trips; beaches and watersports; Aphrodite Waterpark; and Paphos Aquarium.

Ktima
Built on an elevated, rocky escarpment, the central town area of Ktima was perfectly designed to make itself virtually impenetrable from attack. Apart from the panoramic views you can enjoy from this height, you will find that the cobbled street market area has many cafes and tavernas offering more traditional Cypriot food at very low prices, intricately designed jewellery and silverware, and a variety of local crafts and ceramics.

Places of interest/activities include: Archaeological museum; Neo-classical architecture; central market; the Hammam and, of course, plenty of retail therapy.
 

Coral Bay
Kato Paphos has its own beaches but many visitors and residents prefer to head for Coral Bay and its 2km stretch of sand. (Near the shoreline you can sometimes see deposits of what looks like salmon-pink sand but is actually fine coral - hence the name!) The bay has all the amenities that you would expect from such a popular beach, including beach beds and umbrellas, a couple of cafes and all the usual water sports. Swimming is particularly pleasant here and the sea remains warm until early December.
 

Corallia
Located 1km further along the main road from Coral Bay is Corallia (the local Paphos buses 10 and 15 terminate here). The long stretch of its sandy beach curves round two bays and there are a couple of small islands in the first bay which form a natural wind break. Quieter than Coral Bay, the area has just a few shops and restaurants and is very peaceful.

Places of interest/activities in and around the Coral Bay/ Corallia area include: Snake George Reptile Park; Pafos Bird Park; the Sea Caves, beaches and watersports.
 

Tala
Tala has become one of the premier locations in the Paphos region, yet the village still retains its traditional character with small shops and tavernas set round the central square and church. High on a hill, Tala enjoys uninterrupted, panoramic views and is a scenic mountain walk (or nail-biting drive) away from the nearby Adonis Falls.
 

Well connected and easily accessible by main road, the village lies just 5km north of the coast and is located halfway between Pafos and the sandy beaches of Coral Bay and Corallia. The airport is just a 30 minute drive away.

Costas Gavrielides developments in Tala: Tala Sunset; Tala Heights

Places of interest nearby Tala include: the Adonis Falls; Ayios Neophitos Monastery.
 

Tsada
A small residential village set high on a hill in a tranquil setting, Tsada is well connected to Paphos just 5kms away by the main northerly road to Polis. A lush, green area, Tsada is the ideal location for its 18-hole championship golf course.

Costas Gavrielides developments in Tsada: Rainbow Villas

Places of interest near Tsada include: the Tsada Golf course and, just a short drive away,monasteries and traditional villages from Kallepeia to Yiolou.

Other local villages and places of interest in the region
Agios Georgios (Saint George), Toxeftra, the gorges and Cape Lara
Heading west just a short drive down the coast is the small fishing harbour of Agios Georgios, which sits in a breakwater in front of a small island, and was formerly the important settlement of 'Drepanum' in Roman times. It is now primarily known for its small, quiet shingle beach and its three or four good souvla (spit roasted charcoal grilled meat) and fish restaurants.

If you have only a short time to spare, it is worthwhile timing your visit to coincide with sundown – from late spring to early winter the sunset here must be one of the most dramatic in Cyprus. Just up from the shingle bay are some natural rock caves through which you can clamber, and to the north, you can see the start of the totally unspoilt nature reserve of the Akamas peninsula.

A few kilometres north from Agios Georgios, Toxeftra beach is essentially the mouth of the Avakas gorge and can be reached (somewhat bumpily) in an ordinary car. As part of the turtle conservation area, Toxeftra has no amenities so peace and seclusion are virtually guaranteed. The nearby gorges of Avakas and Koufon are well worth the time and energy needed to explore them fully - both are spectacularly steep-sided and home to rare, endemic vegetation, birds and wildlife. Past Toxeftra the track to Cape Lara is often deeply rutted and this journey is only really advisable in a 4-wheel drive or as part of a jeep safari excursion.

At Cape Lara, apart from fabulous scenery and unspoilt beaches, you will find Lara Turtle Station on the northerly bay, which is one of several local nesting grounds of the endangered green and loggerhead turtles. In 1978 the Lara Turtle Conservation Project and its field station were established in an attempt to reverse the decline in the mortality rate and the coastal area from Toxeftra to a few kilometres beyond Lara declared a protected area. So far, the Project volunteers have managed to quadruple the yearly survival rate for hatchlings.

Other villages

Chloraka
A tourist and residential hillside village just a few minutes' walk from the coast and 3km northwest from Paphos Harbour. The small village centre has all the usual amenities and is bordered by luxury villas and apartments to the south and east and banana plantations to the west.

Emba
A large residential village 2km north of the coast and a short distance northwest of upper Paphos, Emba is on flat land surrounded by agricultural fields. In addition to shops, cafes and tavernas, Emba has its own small theatre and a lovely 12th Century domed church with impressive frescoes and iconostasis.

Geroskipou (Yeroskipou)
The largest of the suburban villages, Geroskipou borders the east of Pafos but retains its own village identity. Known for its arts and crafts, particularly pottery and Loukoumia (Cyprus delight), Geroskipou also has one of the best Folk Art Museums on the island. A short distance south from its central square and park is a pebble/sandy beach, the Aphrodite Water Park, go-karting, mini-golf, five-a-side football pitch and amusement (lunar) park.

Kathikas
High in the hills, the village of Kathikas is surrounded by pine forests, vineyards and agricultural land. It is a 30 minute drive southwest to Paphos harbour and a 15 minute drive northwest to the coastal resorts of Polis and Latchi. Although Kathikas is just a small village it has all necesseary amenities, as well as a couple of restaurants deserving of their regional acclaim. Two nearby wineries help to ensure that you will not be short in your choice of red and white wines.

Kissonerga
Halfway between Kato Paphos and Coral Bay, Kissonerga is a small village in the heart of the banana plantations and a short distance uphill from the coast. Surprisingly, for a village in its location, there is little in the way of tourist accommodation and development is on a much smaller scale than that of its neighbouring villages Emba and Chloraka.

Konia
A small village set high on a hill in the scenic suburbs of Paphos, Konia is a largely unspoilt green area with fabulous coastal views. It is just five minutes' drive from the outskirts of Paphos and benefits from refreshing breezes even in the height of summer.

Petra tou Romiou
18kms east of Paphos is Petra tou Romiou (otherwise known as Aphrodite’s Rock), which is widely believed to be the birthplace of Aphrodite. This imposing monolith is part of an incredibly scenic shoreline which can be visited up-close or seen from a number of hilltop or roadside viewing platforms. Although there is little here to actually ‘do’, this is a truly atmospheric place and definitely not one to visit without a camera.

Places of interest/activities around Petra tou Romiou include: Kouklia and the ancient city of Palaeo Paphos; Byzantine grotto and frescoes of Palea Enklistra; and the Secret Valley golf course.
 

Peyia
14km northwest of Paphos and 3km north of Coral Bay lies the hillside village of Peyia. One of the most popular residential villages, it has an attractive cistern-fountain square, a number of good cafes and tavernas, and all the amenities and facilities you need. Peyia village overlooks the sea and the views down across the valley and along the coast are simply stunning.

Polis and Latchi
Polis is a small town overlooking the Chrysochou Bay and is very popular with those who prefer a quieter, more relaxed pace of life but don’t want to be too far from all the usual amenities. A short distance away lies the pretty fishing village of Latchi. There is a good pebble beach and several sea and harbourside tavernas offering freshly caught produce. A few miles further along the coast takes you to the Baths of Aphrodite, almost at the most northerly tip of the Akamas peninsula. Even though the Bath itself is little more than a small pool, the surrounding area is picturesque, the views from the cliff-top are breathtaking and the shallow bay below is perfect for swimming and snorkelling.

THAT'S THE SCENIC PART - NOW FOR THE SIMPLE LEGAL FORMALITIES ...

Most, if not all visitors to this site will be aware that Southern Cyprus has recently gained accession to the EU. As from May 2004, the legalities required for living on this island for EU citizens changed. There are many significant changes and its best to seek professional advice at the time of your enquiry. However, it safe to say, its become a lot easier to buy, live and work in Cyprus. The UK and Cyprus has a close relationship and applications for residency are now a formality. My personal advice to you is that, if you are thinking of buying a property - do it now!

Property in Cyprus is always freehold and registered on a Land Registry, similar to that of the United Kingdom. Therefore, the buying process generally follows that of the United Kingdom but with a few differences. Firstly, a preliminary contract is signed. This binds both the vendor and the buyer to buy and sell the property on terms and conditions that have been mutually agreed. This is subject to the buyer being able to receive good title to the property and obtaining the necessary permits from the Cypriot government. At this stage, a deposit is lodged with a Lawyer or a Notary. The buyer's lawyer will now carry out the searches at the District Land Registry to ensure that the vendor of the property is, indeed, the owner and ensures that the purchaser obtains good title to the property. Non-Cypriot citizens require permission from the Council of Ministers to purchase property in Cyprus. If this has not yet been obtained then the purchaser should now apply to the Council for the permission. This normally takes between 4 to 6 months to be granted, and without this the Title Deeds of the property cannot be made available to the buyer. The final contract is only entered into when the searches have proved satisfactory. The contract is then lodged with the Land Registry within two months if being signed. Application is made at the Central Bank at this time for the necessary permit for the transfer of purchase money. This application is not necessary if both the buyer and the vendor are foreigners. The transfer of the title deed is then completed, the full price is paid and the vendor gives vacant possession.

PURCHASE EXPENSES PAYABLE
 

Upon signing a contract, the Purchaser is liable to pay stamp duty, which amounts to 0.015% of a purchase price up to £100,000.00 CP, and then at a rate of 0.2% on any purchase price in excess of £100,000.00 CP. Land registry fees are payable when the ownership of the property is transferred. This is on a sliding scale, ranging from 5% to 8% depending upon the value of the property. Application to the Council of Ministers fee costs around £200.00 CP. Lawyer's fees - as in the United Kingdom, these will vary according to the amount of work carried out by your lawyer. As a guide, one or two percent of the purchase price is normal.

MORTGAGES
 

Mortgage facilities have recently become available for the purchase of Cypriot property. You can generally borrow up to 70% of the lower valuation and purchase price, for a term of 5 to 15 years. The minimum loan is usually £25,000 and the rate of interest is presently 2% above UK base rates and is subject to variation. However, we do offer very reasonable payment terms, which are comparable to mortgages. In these circumstances, one third is usually required at the preliminary contract stage, another portion is required at the possession stage, and the rest paid in monthly installments.

CONDITIONS OF PURCHASE
 

As stated previously, non-Cypriots must obtain permission from the Council of Ministers before purchasing property. For individuals, this is usually granted where in the case of private individuals wishing to acquire a flat, a house or piece of land for the erection of a house intended for residency, or regular use as a holiday home. Individuals cannot obtain permission for more than one property. In the case of acquiring land with a view to building, the area allowed will usually be approximately two thirds of an acre. Permission will be granted to a company for the acquisition of property, provided that it is for its own use. Offshore companies could therefore, acquire property within the above limits. Generally permission will not be granted if the property is to be used for letting to others, commercial exploitation or speculation. On a sale of a property the current policy is to allow immediate repatriation of a sum equivalent to the amount of the original purchase value of the property. Any profit can be exported at the rate of £10,000.00 CP per calendar year, plus any interest. There is no Capital Gains Tax where the property was acquired by the importation of foreign currency. Otherwise CGT is levied at 20% on gains in excess of CY£5,000.00.

WILLS & INHERITANCE
 

Property owners in Cyprus are advised to make a will in Cyprus to cover their Cypriot estate. A Cypriot Will will speed up the process of obtaining probate in Cyprus. Inheritance Tax is payable on a Cypriot estate and rates are on a sliding scale depending upon the value of the estate. Full professional advice should be obtained with regard to making a Cypriot Will and Inheritance Tax planning.

OFFSHORE COMPANIES
 

Cyprus, in contrast to tax havens, is a tax incentive country which offers many benefits aimed at attracting non-residents who wish to conduct their business affairs from the island. The Central bank, through its permit to non-resident investors, imposes certain conditions with regard to beneficial ownership, business activities, financial arrangements and reporting procedures, which must be observed at all times. Offshore enterprises are not allowed to derive any income from within Cyprus, either in Cyprus Pounds or foreign exchange, by supplying any goods or services on the island to residents or non-residents. As long as these conditions are observed, the Central Bank permit remains valid, while the offshore enterprise, its beneficial owners and expatriate employees enjoy considerable benefits under various laws and regulations. These include exemption from exchange control, favorable treatment with regard to customs duties and considerable concessions on income tax. When permission is granted by the Central Bank of Cyprus to establish an offshore company it must be acted upon within six months of the date of the letter from the Central Bank to the company. If an extension of the validity is required then an application must be submitted before the expiration of the permit.

The following are the regulations concerning offshore companies in Cyprus:

1) The objects of the company, other than management, shall be confined to activities outside Cyprus. Any services provided in Cyprus to non-residents, including offshore companies established in Cyprus, are considered as onshore activities and they are prohibited.

2) The company's office in Cyprus (if operating in Cyprus) shall be:

a. located in suitable distinct premises, not part of a dwelling house,

b. equipped with normal office and telecommunication facilities, and

c. staffed with full-time personnel.

3) The share capital of the company shall at all times be held by non-residents.

4) The company shall not obtain any finance from local sources. Any additional finance required shall be received in full from external sources.

5) All local expenses of the company shall be covered from funds imported from external sources. The company shall advise the Central Bank of Cyprus annually of the funds imported into Cyprus from external sources. In case the company opens an administrative office in Cyprus then the company and every one of its expatriate personnel shall open Local Disbursement Current Accounts with Authorized Dealers (onshore banks) for the purpose of meeting all their payments to residents of Cyprus.

6) The company shall submit regularly to the Central Bank of Cyprus copies of its Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss Account, as at the end of each of its fiscal years, certified by accountants practicing in the Republic of Cyprus and duly authorized by the Minister of Finance to prepare accounts for income tax purposes. The accounts shall also bear a confirmation from the auditors that the company has not carried out any transactions with residents other than local payments for administrative purposes, e.g. rents, salaries, electricity, etc.

Provided the above conditions are observed the company shall be considered for Exchange Control purposes as non-resident. The Central Bank reserves the right to ask for any additional information regarding the activities of the company, as it may consider necessary.

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