Pafos has officially passed on the baton of European Capital of Culture to
Valletta(Malta) & Leeuwarden (Netherlands)

Pafos has officially handed the title of the European Capital of Culture to the next European Capitals of Culture, Valletta & Leeuwarden (Netherlands). In the Ceremony which took place at the renovated Markideio Theatre, the president of the Organisation Dr. Christos Patsalides symbolically handed over the baton of the European Capital of Culture to the representatives of both cities.

In the handover Ceremony the Minister of Education and Culture, Dr Kostas Kadis, who represented the President of the Republic of Cyprus, expressed his gratitute and congratulations to the Organisation of Pafos2017 for the successful implementation of the institution, highlighting the fact that the European Union itself considers Pafos as a positive example for its accoplishments.

The Mayor of Pafos Fedonas Fedonos and the President of the Organisation Dr.Christos Patsalides, both addressed their greetings, and expressed their satisfaction at the successful establishment of the European Capital of Culture in Pafos and stated that the year 2017 will live long in the history of Cyprus. The Official Handover Ceremony was completed with the European Anthem: Ludwig Van Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Cyprus under the direction of Yannis Hadjiloizou, the Philharmonia Voices Choir from London and the soloists Annemarie Kremer, Dina Strani, Nico Darmanin and Kyros Patsalidis.