In classical mythology, Elysium is the place at the ends of the earth to which favoured heroes are conveyed by the gods after death.
So it’s fitting luxury five-star Cyprus hotel The Elysium is placed at the foot of the ancient Tombs of the Kings in Paphos. The Unesco World Heritage Site of well-preserved underground tombs and chambers was used by grand island residents during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, from the 3rd century BC to the 3rd century AD.
Part of the luxury Hotel Group, Stademos Hotels Plc, The Elysium reopened in March 2017, following a stunning four month refurbishment. The hotel houses 250 suites and rooms, ranging from stylish Deluxe bedrooms, Royal Studios and Royal Garden Villas. Five gourmet restaurants showcase a variety of cuisines, including Italian, Japanese and Cypriot. Overseen by Executive Chef Ciaran Gantly, each restaurant incorporates his passion for local ingredients, freshly plucked from the farm and served in daily dishes.
The Elysium is designed with tranquillity in mind and is centred on a sprawling outdoor lagoon-style pool. Inspired by the Byzantine era, the hotel incorporates an elegant palatial design with cultural references, such as intricate mosaics and marble columns, embracing Cyprus’ rich history, influenced by Greek, Roman, Medieval and Venetian architecture.
Having just gone through a busy and stressful period myself, I visited The Elysium to try its renowned Opium Health Spa. A medium-sized sanctuary, Opium has a quiet indoor pool with steam, sauna andJacuzzi, plus a series of relaxation rooms with treatments by ESPA.
After a few laps followed by resting by the pool, I almost fell into slumber on a peaceful day bed. Next I was swept into a state of zen by a wonderful masseuse, who gently relieved built up tensions in my neck and back. ESPA aromatic oils were specifically used during my treatment to de-stress mind and body.
After a slow recovery and rainforest shower back to reality, my mother and I made our way to the hotel’s signature Italian – Ristorante Bacco. Without question, my mother and I – who are both island regulars with a family home in Cyprus, agreed this was the finest of Italian dining available in Cyprus.
Having visited Tuscany just a year ago, Bacco’s cuisine took me on a voyage back to the delicacies tasted in Siena, Montepulciano and beyond. From gooey rich arancini, silky burrata with fig, rich wild boar tagliatelle and sumptuous tiramisu, the dishes totally transported us back to Tuscan trattorias. Dining took place in a candlelit sunken outside courtyard outside, with oodles of charm looking up to the hotel’s grand drawbridge entrance.
Rooms at Elysium start from €161.00 (approx £145) pp staying in a Deluxe Bedroom Sea View, including a buffet breakfast (elysium-hotel.com/en, +357 2684 44 44). Search for the best flights to Paphos using award-winning travel search site momondo.co.uk. We flew from Stansted – book tickets to the airport from central London with the Stansted Express.
Address: Paphos, Cyprus
Phone: +357 26 844444
