The Byzantine castle, known as the Forty Columns, is to the north of Paphos Harbor and was named after the large number of granite columns found at its site that may have once been part of the ancient market. The castle is believed to have been built in the late 7th century AD. to protect the port and city of New Paphos from Arab invasions and later renovated by the Lusignans. A three-meter-thick wall with eight towers and a moat surrounds the castle. Access was by a wooden bridge over the moat. The square courtyard is 35 meters long and 35 meters wide, with a tower at each corner. The main entrance was made by a fifth tower, which was shaped like a pedal and was on the east side.
