The construction of shelters to protect the mosaics in Kato Paphos is ongoing. This project is very important culturally and is done with the Getty Conservation Institute.
An official update from the Institute to the newspaper ‘K’ states that the project has not been terminated. This comes after Paphos MP Chrysanthos Savvides raised concerns during talks about the Ministry of Culture’s budget for 2026.
Study and Design in Progress
The Getty Conservation Institute is working in close and continuous collaboration with the Ministry of Culture. They are currently studying how to create guidelines for designing and building the shelters, which is key to protecting these unique mosaics.
At the same time, the ‘Nea Paphos’ project is moving forward as part of the Nea Paphos Conservation and Management Project, also with the Ministry of Culture.
Ministry of Culture’s Actions
In a statement to ‘K’, Deputy Minister of Culture Lina Kassianidou said that right after she started her role in July 2023, she reached out to the Getty Institute to push for the project’s second phase.
This led to meetings with the Getty team in Cyprus and discussions with the Institute’s director and officials in Los Angeles in December 2024. Contacts continued into 2025, including a meeting in June 2025 in France with Getty Trust leaders, confirming ongoing teamwork for project implementation.
In October 2025, the Getty team met with architects who won the competition to talk about final designs and next steps for building the shelters.
Cultural Heritage Priority Project
The shelters for protecting mosaic floors and the archaeological site are very important. They are a priority for the Ministry of Culture and the Department of Antiquities. So, we are moving forward with planning in 2026,’ concluded the Deputy Minister.
Status of Paphos Mayor’s Statements
Regarding comments by Paphos Mayor Phaedon Phaedonos about supposed contacts with the Getty Conservation Institute, information from ‘K’ shows that no contact occurred during his time in the USA. Therefore, there was never a risk of project cancellation or failure.
The Kato Paphos shelter project continues to aim at preserving one of Cyprus’s most important archaeological treasures for future generations.
