Two new museums to open in Paphos in former Charalambidis warehouses

Two new museums will open in the historic center of Paphos. The project budget is €1.86 million; funding has been allocated as part of the city's cultural modernization plan launched on September 29.

The first museum will be dedicated to natural history and art. The second will be created as a multi-themed center with artistic and historical exhibitions. Both institutions will be housed in the former warehouses of Matheos Charalambidis.

Renovation of the warehouse building will begin on October 1 and be completed by the end of May 2026; after that, the placement of exhibits will begin. The project is overseen by the Municipality of Paphos.

Architect Andreas Vardas, who designed both museums, emphasized the importance of restoring the building and promoting art and culture among young people. According to him, the warehouse was in severe disrepair and could have been demolished, so the decision to adapt it into museums was made at a critical moment.

Paphos Mayor Fedonas Fedonos stated that the museums will unite the past and present and create new development opportunities. He mentioned that as part of the cultural modernization, new student dormitories are also planned, construction of four small hotels with 170 rooms, and a major renovation of the commercial area next year.

The intention to transform the Charalambidis warehouses into museum space was first announced in 2024. At that time, it was stated that the entire block would become a cultural hub: it would include the old power plant premises, Paphos music school, Markideio theater, multicultural space Attikon, and two new museums — the Georgios K. Tornaritis Museum of Natural History and Art, and a multi-themed museum.