Name and Location

Paphos Lighthouse (also known as Paphos Point) is located at Diagorou 1, Paphos Lighthouse, Paphos 8042, Cyprus. Its coordinates are 34°45′38″ N, 32°24′23″ E.

2. Construction and History

The exact construction date of the lighthouse is unknown, but the present tower is believed to have been built in the late 19th or early 20th century under British colonial administration. The light has been fully automated since the late 20th century, with no resident keepers. Although not officially listed as a heritage site, it lies within the buffer zone of Paphos's UNESCO World Heritage coastal landscape.

3. Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse is an octagonal tower made of white-painted masonry and stone, with a domed lantern room topped by a metal dome roof. The tower has six internal levels (floors) and stands 40 meters tall. Its focal height is 36 meters above mean sea level.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse emits a single white flash every 15 seconds (Fl W 15s), with a sequence of 1.5 seconds of light followed by 13.5 seconds of eclipse. It has a range of 17 nautical miles, covering seaward approaches to Paphos Harbour. The light is visible between 277° and 141°.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse grounds are open 24 hours, but the tower and lantern are not open to visitors. Visitors can access the site on foot via the Paphos Coastal Broadwalk or by vehicle along Diagorou Street to the point's car park. Facilities include benches, informative panels on local maritime history, and panoramic coastal views.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse is situated on a rocky headland overlooking the eastern Mediterranean, with low scrub and gentle promenades. Visitors can enjoy views of Paphos Bay from the lighthouse platform at dawn, as well as close-up shots of the white dome and lantern room against a sea backdrop.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Local folklore holds that sailors once offered coins at the lighthouse base to ensure safe passage into Paphos Harbour. During World War II, the light was dimmed at times to avoid drawing attention to the harbour.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is managed by the Cyprus Ports Authority (Department of Merchant Shipping), typical for Cypriot aids to navigation. The light has been fully automated since the late 20th century.

9. Further Information

• For further reading, refer to OpenStreetMap entry: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/217500442
• Wikidata: Q18922689
• Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paphos_Lighthouse
• Admiralty List of Lights (E 5908)
• Cyprus Ports Authority website – Aids to Navigation section