Filenews 17 June 2025 - by Dora Christodoulou
One of the four research centres of the Polish Centre for Mediterranean Archaeology (PCMA), outside Poland, is officially inaugurated today, in Paphos, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the work of Polish archaeologists in Kato Paphos, one of the most important archaeological sites in Cyprus, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This important event was announced by the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union itself, describing it as one of the most important of the cultural and scientific programme of the Polish Presidency, in cooperation with Denmark and Cyprus, which make up the current Trio of Presidencies.
The Research Centre in Cyprus, headed by Professor Evdoxia Papoutsi-Vouantika, will not only serve as a logistical support base for the research teams, but also as a centre for cooperation, education and international dialogue, offering accommodation for researchers, a conference room with audiovisual equipment, study spaces and a specialised library, the Polish presidency clarifies.
The research conducted by the University of Warsaw in Paphos was started by Professor Kazimierz Michałowski back in 1965 and continues to this day, while in addition, since 2011, the Jagiellonian University in Krakow has launched a second Polish mission, the Paphos Agora Project.
Since 2019, the two groups have been collaborating as a joint research project continuing the exploration of the residential area and the market of the ancient city, led by Professor Papoutsi-Vouantika, the announcement emphasizes. It is added that Polish research in Cyprus has achieved spectacular results, which would not have been possible without the excellent cooperation with the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus and the support of the authorities of the city of Paphos.
Today's opening ceremony of the Centre will take place in parallel with the awarding of State Distinctions of the Republic of Poland to individuals who have distinguished themselves for their contribution to Polish-Cypriot cooperation. The event will be attended by representatives of the local and state authorities of Cyprus and Poland, including the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr. Vasiliki Kassianidou, the Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland, Professor Andrzej Szeptycki, the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland, Marek Szczepanowski, and the Director of PCMA, Prof. Artur Obłuski.
The festivities will culminate today with a photography exhibition entitled: "From Malutena to the Agora: 60 years of Polish archaeology in Nea Paphos, Cyprus", which will be presented at the En Plo gallery in the port of Paphos, and a concert by the famous Polish pianist and Grammy award-winner, Włodek Pawlik, organized under the auspices of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
