In June 2025, the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology of the University of Warsaw (PCMA UW) celebrates the 60th anniversary of Polish archaeological research in Nea Paphos — one of the most significant archaeological sites in Cyprus, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The highlight of the anniversary celebrations will be the official inauguration of the PCMA UW Research Centre in Cyprus — one of the four foreign research centres operated by the PCMA UW.
The Research Centre was formally established in 2021, and its newly completed headquarters will be inaugurated on 17 June 2025. This event marks another chapter in the long-standing and fruitful Polish-Cypriot collaboration in the fields of archaeology and cultural heritage preservation.
The facility, located less than two kilometres from the archaeological site, will offer Polish researchers not only accommodation but also a conference room equipped with audiovisual systems, dedicated workspace, and a specialised research library.
“The Research Centre in Cyprus will be more than just a logistical base for our teams — we envision it as a vibrant space for collaboration, learning, and international exchange,” says Prof. Artur Obłuski, Director of the PCMA UW. “Our aim is to create an open and welcoming environment — for researchers and students from the University of Warsaw, from other Polish and international institutions, for our local partners, and for the Paphos community. In short, for anyone with an interest in the fascinating archaeological heritage of this region,” he adds.
The opening ceremony, which will also include the presentation of Polish state decorations to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to Polish-Cypriot cooperation, will be attended by representatives of national authorities from both Cyprus and Poland — including the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland, officials from the Cypriot Ministry of Culture and the Department of Antiquities, the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the University of Warsaw and the hosts, the Municipality of Paphos.
“Polish archaeological work in Cyprus has produced truly remarkable results — something that would not have been possible without the excellent cooperation with the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus and the invaluable support of the city of Paphos,” says Professor Ewdoksia Papuci-Władyka, Head of the PCMA UW Research Centre in Cyprus. “The Centre opens up exciting new prospects — not only for continuing our archaeological research, but also for expanding interdisciplinary studies and deepening academic ties with institutions such as the University of Cyprus and other academic centres.”
Polish archaeological work in Paphos began in 1965 under the direction of Professor Kazimierz Michałowski, the founding father of Polish Mediterranean archaeology. Over the past six decades, Polish teams have made spectacular discoveries, including the famous mosaics of the Villa of Theseus and the House of Aion. In part thanks to these efforts, Paphos was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980.
In 2019, the University of Warsaw expedition joined forces with the Jagiellonian University mission to form a unified research team (MAP – Maloutena and Agora Project), which continues the exploration of the city’s residential quarter and ancient agora. The project is directed by Prof. Ewdoksia Papuci-Władyka, who also heads the PCMA UW Research Centre in Cyprus.
The jubilee celebrations, co-organised with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Cyprus and the Municipality of Paphos, will include a photography exhibition titled “From Maloutena to the Agora: 60 Years of Polish Archaeology in Nea Paphos, Cyprus”, hosted at the En Plo Gallery in the Paphos harbour, as well as a concert by Grammy Award-winning pianist and composer Włodek Pawlik.
- Read more: Research Centre in Cyprus: link