Pafos Live 3 October 2025
In recent years, our city has taken important steps that have changed the image of the historic shopping center. The Municipal Market has gained new life, Chania has been renovated, the area in Agia Sophia has been upgraded, new parking spaces have been created, the bakery of Faikis has been renovated, the public market has been organized and we are creating the traditional street corner in the closed market. At the same time, hostels for students have been created, the creation of small hotels in the area is progressing and we signed to shape the two new museums that will give even more cultural life to the area. Finally, the construction of shelters and the movement of the Public Market in the historic center will soon begin. All this, together with private initiative and private investments and businesses, brought people back to the center, made Paphos more humane and more attractive.
On this route, the next step should be the restoration and operation of the Ottoman Baths. A place that carries memory and history and can become a living part of our city again. The Baths are not just a monument, on the contrary, they are part of the historical route of Paphos and can once again become a living place of contact for citizens and visitors.
Their utilization will complement what has been done and will give a complete experience to anyone who walks through our historic shopping center. From the People's Market, Hagia Sophia, and Chania, to museums and traditional neighbourhoods, the Ottoman Baths can add depth and continuity. To become a place of culture, education and action, but also a place that brings the history of Paphos to life and brings the citizens closer to it.
At the same time, the restoration of the Ottoman Baths will substantially enhance the tourist and economic life of the historic commercial center of Paphos. More traffic means more traffic for small businesses, shops, cafes and other businesses, while creating opportunities for new activities and events. At the same time, the Baths can host educational programs, cultural activities and guided tours, offering a living space for learning and contact with history. But it also means something more: a city that respects and highlights its history, that continues what it has already achieved, that unites citizens around their common heritage and looks to the future with confidence, vision and plan.
The restoration and operation of the Ottoman Baths as the next step is not at all a random project. On the contrary, it is the natural continuation of a process of upgrading that has already yielded significant results in the historic center of Paphos. It is a project that complements what has been done, strengthens the cultural and social life of the city, offers new opportunities for education, activities and guided tours, and at the same time breathes life into the businesses and shops of the center. With its completion, Paphos will have a historic shopping center that is more complete, more vibrant, with a continuous connection with its history and with the ability to look forward and optimistically for the future.
Filippos Th. Filippou, Civil Engineer, Municipal Councillor of EDEK in the Municipality of Paphos, President of the Committee on Technical Issues and Works
