Petra tou romiu how to get from Larnaca. Birthplace of Aphrodite, Petra tou Romiou Bay in Cyprus (Paphos). The legend of the origin of the name Petra tou Romiou
Petra tou Romio (Stone of the Romans, or, as this place is often poetically called, Aphrodite’s Rock) is located on the way from Limassol to Paphos, next to sandy beach Aphrodite. Truly this place is one of the most interesting corners of Cyprus.
The area is mesmerizing natural beauty and attracts tourists primarily fascinated by the legends and myths of this land. At the same time, it doesn’t matter so much whether you believe in legends or not, once in Petra tou Romio, you can fully enjoy the incredible views: for example, watch the sunrise here or spend the sun at sunset
There are several rocks and large boulders on this coast, so in making your wishes come true, it is important to know exactly which of them is real, the same Aphrodite stone. We give you a hint: these are not those sharp rocks that stand on the shore, but a huge semicircular boulder of a very dark, almost black color, located directly in the sea.
Over the past decades, Aphrodite's Rock has been competing for the title of the most popular brand on the island of Cyprus.
Thanks to this, in addition to ancient myths, modern beliefs associated with this place began to appear. For example, girls of any age come here to plunge into the water, swim around the rock and henceforth preserve their youth and beauty forever. Men have every right to their version - the sea near the Aphrodite stone should give them courage and strength to become invincible. But probably most of all, couples in love and newlyweds try to come here. Swimming on this coast, they try to strengthen their bonds in this way and never part. Then the lovers look together for their pebble, which must be in the shape of a heart and become a talisman of love that will last a lifetime. They say that such stones really exist in this bay. Local wedding agencies always keep this place in mind and bring newlyweds for photo sessions or even organize wedding ceremonies.
Ancient legends
One of the most famous and revered legends says that this particular kekur (a rock of natural origin in the sea or river) marks the place where the goddess Aphrodite emerged from the foam onto the seashore, carried by the wind from the coastline of the island of Kythera, where she was born. In this regard, Aphrodite is sometimes called by the name Cypris. The very name of the ancient Greek goddess of love comes from the word “afros”, which translated from Greek means foam.
According to another legend, the current name of the place Petra tou Romio is associated with the famous hero of ancient Byzantium Digenis Akritos. It mixed the blood of Greeks (called Romans) and Arabs. Myths say: in order to save his island from the attack of the Saracens (a nomadic tribe of robbers), Digenis moved the rock from the Troodos Mountains straight to the seashore.
There is also a legend that says that the ancient Greek tribe of the Achaeans, returning from Troy, came out on this very shore. The place is called Akhni in honor of them.
Currently, Petra tou Romio is a place of pilgrimage for many tourists traveling around Cyprus.
Aphrodite Beach
There is also a beach of the same name near Aphrodite's rock. The coast has been left in its original form, so tourists bring all the necessary accessories for a holiday on the coast with them. In addition, the seabed in this area is not the most favorable for swimming - there are large stones at the bottom, and the depth from the shore increases very quickly. The sea is often rough, so children are rarely bathed here. Even in calm times, not all guests of this beach take a dip in the water.
Near the parking lot, a little away from the beach, you can have lunch in an excellent cafe that serves simple but very tasty dishes local cuisine. You can also visit the toilet here. And also check out the cute souvenir shop, where you can buy gifts for yourself and your loved ones.
Experienced tourists are advised to plan their trip to Petra tou Romio for the whole day and start exploring in the morning. It is important to take a supply with you drinking water and some food, regardless of whether you plan to visit the cafe. After all, even the usual snacks in a local store will cost more. Pay attention to the shoes you wear - they should be comfortable. Thick-soled sneakers or sandals are best. Don't forget to apply protective cream to exposed skin and grab something on your head - the sun is very active here.
And of course, make sure you have a camera - the pictures are guaranteed to be impressive!
Bird's eye view of Petra tou Romio (video)
How to get to Petra tou Romiou from Larnaca and Paphos
If you are planning your journey from Paphos, then you can get to Petra tou Romio Bay public transport. First, reach the “Harbor” stop (translated from English as “Port”), then take bus number 631, which will take you directly to your destination. The stop you need is called “Petra tou Romiou”. During the high tourist season (April to November) the bus runs very frequently. The schedule can be found on the website.
The trip from Larnaca is longer. The distance to Aphrodite's rock is more than 100 km, so tourists who already know this path recommend renting a car and coming here on their own. The main thing is to get onto the B6 highway in time near the town of Pissouri (sign “Pissouri”).
If you decide to drive from Paphos town, you will need to exit the B6 highway and take the A1 motorway exit. The reference point will be the village of Kouklia (sign “Kouklia”).
In the navigator you should set the name of the place or the coordinates of the attraction: 34.664178, 32.626843.
It will be difficult to drive past your destination; you will see information signs with the inscriptions “Petra tou Romiou” and “Tourist Pavilion”.
There is parking for cars next to the cafe. For safety reasons, do not try to cross the highway to get to the shore. For these purposes, a special underground passage has been created, the entrance to which is located near the cafe.
For those who do not plan to rent a car, you can use the services of Cyprus Itaxi.
View of Aphrodite's Rock - Google panorama Maps
The small sea cliff of Petra tou Romiou, also known as Aphrodite's Rock or Greek Rock, is located just off the coast of Cyprus near Paphos. This one is beautiful and picturesque bay It is considered the legendary birthplace of the goddess of love Aphrodite, therefore it is very popular among many tourists.
Location: , .
Geographical coordinates: 34°39′49″ n. latitude, 32°37′37″ e. d.
The ancient Greek legend with which this place is associated says that one day Gaia (goddess of the earth) asked one of her sons Kronos to castrate her husband Uranus (god of the sky). Kronos cut off his father's manhood and threw him into the sea - from the seed, flesh and blood of castrated Uranus, snow-white foam was formed, in which the “foam-born” Aphrodite was born. The goddess of love was born near Greek island Cythera, but the wind carried her to the island of Cyprus, where she, emerging from the sea waves, was met by the goddesses of the seasons - Ora.
The goddess Aphrodite became the central deity in Cyprus for many centuries, and numerous temples and sanctuaries were built in her honor. After the Romans captured the island, they adapted Greek mythology to their liking and continued to worship the same goddess under the name of Venus.
Aphrodite's Rock on the map
Another name of the rock Petra tou Romiou is translated as “the rock of the Romans (Greeks)” and comes from the legendary Byzantine hero Digenis Akritos, who, defending the island of Cyprus from a Saracen raid, threw one rock towards the enemy. That is why another rock located next to Petra tou Romiou is called Saracen.
Nowadays, tourism infrastructure is actively developing near this popular attraction - a restaurant, a recreation pavilion and the Aphrodite Hills resort have been built.
Interesting Facts:
- The sea in the vicinity of Aphrodite's Rock is very stormy and dangerous, so swimming is officially prohibited. However, there is a belief that any person who swims around the rock will receive a blessing from the goddess for eternal beauty.
- Next to the rock is another mythological landmark - Akhni Beach, where the Achaeans landed in Cyprus upon returning from Troy.
One of them is Petra tou Romiou Bay. It is located 15 km from the city. Tourist buses those traveling from Paphos to Paphos certainly make a stop here so that tourists can see this place of extraordinary beauty, shrouded in many legends and beliefs.
Rocky shores, a restless azure sea, stone boulders rising in the water near the shores create a special mood of contact with beauty and grandeur wildlife. In addition to the bay itself, Petra tou Romiou is also named after a huge rock overlooking the sea, from which stunning views open up.
Legends of Petra tou Romiou
Petra tou Romiou means "Greek's stone". According to legend, the rock received this name in honor of the hero of the ancient Greek epic Digenis, who was half Greek (Roman), half Arab. He once defended the Cypriot shores from Saracen invasion by throwing huge stones from the mountains onto enemy ships.
The rock of Petra tou Romiou has another romantic name - the rock of Aphrodite. Another very popular legend among Cypriots is connected with this. It says that it was in this place that the beautiful Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, was born from sea foam. At the base of the rock there is a grotto where Aphrodite took baths before her dates with Adonis. Therefore, even today it is believed that the water here has a rejuvenating effect.
The birth of the goddess of love and beauty in this place gave rise to many beliefs that endlessly attract tourists and local residents. According to one of them, if a woman swims around the Greek stone, she will rejuvenate, the man will become invincible, and the lovers will always be together. If you swim here during the full moon or just when moonlight, then recharge yourself with the magical energy of this place. However, it should be remembered that the bottom here is very rocky, and the sea is quite dangerous and cool, so it is not recommended to swim far, and it is better to go into the water in slippers.
Not far from the rock there are trees on which women who want to have children tie ribbons, as well as unhappy lovers asking Aphrodite for help. This place is also popular among newlyweds, who come here for the energy of love and to enlist the support of the Greek goddess.
How to get to the bay?If you are traveling around Cyprus on your own, you can get to Petra tou Romiou Bay by bus No. 631, but it only runs in the summer - from April to November. The bus schedule can be viewed on the website of the Paphos transport company http://www.pafosbuses.com/. In winter, you can come here by car along the B6 highway. There is parking on the opposite side of the road from the bay. An underground passage was laid from it to the beach for safety reasons. There is also a small restaurant and a shop next to the parking lot.
The very birth of Aphrodite is associated with an unpleasant, even dramatic episode in the world of the ancient Greek gods. The Titan Kronos, the son of the earth goddess Gaia and the sky god Uranus, on the instructions of his mother, castrated (castrated) his father for repeated infidelities. From the blood and semen of Uranus, snow-white foam formed in the sea. Aphrodite appears from it near the shores of the island of Cythera. Then the wind carried her to the island of Cyprus.
According to another version, Aphrodite was born here from a sea shell. This second version is considered a classic.
The Oras (guardians of Olympus, goddesses of the seasons) were waiting for her on the shore. The most famous painting depicting this event is The Birth of Venus by Italian Sandro Botticelli. In the photo below, click on the photo to enlarge.
According to another legend, this place is associated with the name local beach Ahni. It was here that the Achaeans, returning from Troy, landed.
Another Greek hero reluctantly participates in creating the mythological image of this place. Digenis Akritas, who mixed the blood of Greeks (Romans) and Arabs (the name Digenis means “twice-born”), even in the Byzantine era protected Cyprus from the Saracens: he rolled blocks of stone into the sea from the Troodos Mountains to destroy enemy ships.
These are exactly the rocks that the famous Greek threw off. Near Petra tou Romiou the rock is called “Saracen Rock”. There is also a print of his fingers on the mountain when he leaned his elbows on the ridge. This place is called “Pentodactylos” (from Greek “five fingers”).
There are several more mythical moments in the history of Petra tou Romiou. One of the legends tells that Aphrodite returned from a date with her lover to this place. Having thrown herself into the depths of the sea, she again became innocent.
Local residents say that on a full moon night you should swim around the stone, and youth will return again. The number of laps you swim, the number of years you will become younger.
Even the trees near the beach perform their miraculous function. By tying a handkerchief or piece of fabric to a tree branch, a childless woman can become a mother, and someday lovers will once again find reciprocity in their feelings. Single girls who want to find their soul mate must find a heart-shaped pebble on the beach.
A few notes for tourists
The rocky shore and bottom of Aphrodite Bay make it impossible to swim normally in this place. In addition, the water in the bay is almost always cold due to underwater currents. How to rejuvenate? Only in cold water! Or maybe it’s not so bad, remember Pushkin’s Tsar threw himself into boiling water. Everyone knows how it ended;
Next to Aphrodite's Rock, not far from the beach, there is a cafe where you can have a snack;
There is a very dangerous section of road between the beach and the parking lot. Be careful, or better use the underground passage;
Near the parking lot there is a souvenir shop where you can buy memorabilia about the attraction;
Climbing the rock, as well as swimming in the surrounding waters, is undesirable - it is life-threatening;
Not far from the attraction there is a tourist pavilion, as well as the “Hills of Aphrodite” resort. You can look there;
The beach is not equipped: there are no sunbeds and umbrellas, toilets or changing cabins. But he cleans regularly;
Vacationers and newlyweds often hold photo sessions here, so it gets crowded in any season;
Only ten kilometers separate Petra tou Romiou from the village of Pissouri. This is a resort village surrounded by orchards. It is famous for its sandy beach. There are also small hotels here, as well as two golf courses: Aphrodite Hills and Secret Valley.
Enjoy your visit to Petra tou Romiou, and read our articles about Cyprus ( links below).
At the 25th kilometer of the old road leading from Paphos to Limassol, there is legendary place, famous in ancient greek myths- Petra tou Romiu. It was here that the goddess of beauty Aphrodite came ashore. Petra tou Romiou represents small area rocky beach - picturesque, very a nice place, which is worth visiting for every tourist who comes to Cyprus.
However, the name of the place is in no way connected with the myth of the birth of Aphrodite. It is believed that it was here that Digenis Akritus defended the coast from the attacking Saracens, throwing boulders at them from the shore. These blocks still lie in the water not far from the shore, and the largest of them is called Pertu tou Romiu or, translated, the Greek stone. 
There are many beliefs associated with Perta tou Romiu. It is believed that lovers will always be together if they swim here. By going into the water at midnight under the full moon, you can ensure eternal youth and beauty, a successful marriage and beautiful children. However, swimming here is not entirely convenient - there are too many stones on the yarn, but this does not stop numerous tourists.
Perta tou Romiu is not only a picturesque place, but also a certain range of entertainment. The parking lot is located on the opposite side of the road from the shore, and you can get to the beach itself using underground passage, punched directly under the highway. There is a cafe in the parking lot, where you can take a shower and buy souvenirs. A little further down the road towards Limassol there is a restaurant with magnificent views of the sea.
It’s worth noting that it’s not worth going to Perth tu Romiu specifically just to look at the place where Aphrodite was born from the foam of the sea - it’s quite far to get there, and the whole “ excursion program» Easy to install in 1-2 hours. However, when passing by, you should definitely take a look here - this is a picturesque, very beautiful place that will not leave indifferent anyone who is well acquainted with Greek myths.