Cyprus, Polis Chrysochous

Polis is a small town at the north-west end of the island of Cyprus, at the centre of Chrysochous Bay, and on the edge of the Akamas peninsula nature reserve. It is a quiet tourist resort, the inhabitants' income being supplemented by agriculture and fishing.

Polis is served by the fishing port of Latsi—a pole of attraction all the year round and reputed for its fish taverns, its sea-sport facilities and boat rides up to Akamas—a must for all Polis visitors.

The Mayor of Polis is Angelos Georgiou.

History

On present evidence Marion was already inhabited at the end of the Neolithic and through the Chalcolithic period. It began to prosper from the Cypro-Archaic period onwards and became one of the most important ancient Cypriot city—kingdoms in the Cypro-Classical period with important commercial relations with the East Aegean islands, Attica and Corinth.

In 312 BC. it was conquered by Ptolemy I and the Kingdom was abolished until its reconquest by Ptolemy II Philadelphus who renamed the city after his sister and wife. The new city was smaller than Marion but it also flourished due to its close proximity to the copper mines.

Interesting places

The local Museum of Marion - Arsinoe at Polis is an interesting museum in Polis Chrysochous. It opened its doors to the public in 1998. It was erected by the Government of Cyprus and the generous financial support of Mr. Nicos Shacolas.

The town is close to where Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, used to meet her beloved Adonis. Also the Baths of Aphrodite are near the town.

The recently discovered ruins of the medieval Georgian Orthodox monastery of Gialia is also located near the town.