Located on the edge of Paphos harbour, Paphos castle is one of the most famous landmarks of the city. A number of archaeologists have taken an interest in excavating and investigating the castle as it dates back to the Roman era. The Byzantine fort, originally built to protect the harbour was destroyed because of an earthquake in 1222. It was then rebuilt by the Lusignans in the 13 th century and since then has seen a few more reconstructions till date. It currently serves as a background for the annual open-air Paphos cultural festival, which takes place in September.