LEFKOSIA (Nicosia) and its environs
The 1.000 years old capital is a busy modern cultural commercial and business centre situated in the middle of the island. The centre of the city is its old quarter surrounded by a Venetian sandstone fortress wall with a moat and heart-shaped bastions. Discover Laiki Yitonia: wonder around narrow streets with their overhanging balconies and the beautifully restored pedestrian precinct with craft shops, cafes and taverns. Mosques and palm trees give an oriental atmosphere to the old city. Make sure you stop off at St. John’s Cathedral with its frescoes, the marvellous museum of Byzantine icons and the Archbishop’s Palace. The Cyprus Museum houses the best collection of archaeological artefacts on the island.
Venture out of Nicosia through olive groves and orchards and drive up into the pine forest to the monastery of Machairas or along picturesque villages such as Pera and Fikardou with their cobbled streets and preserved stone and adobe houses.
LEMESOS (Limassol) and its environs
The island’s second largest city spreads out between two ancient city-kingdoms: Amathus to the east and Kourion to the west, two of the most popular archaeological sites in Cyprus. Here is the island’s main port, the centre of the wine industry and a bustling holiday resort within 15 km coastline interspersed with eucalyptus groves and linked by a promenade popular with walkers or joggers.
Limassol offers all sorts of taverns and evening entertainment with theatres, discos and clubs. Here people are known for celebrating famous festivals and parties.
The Medieval castle was the site of the royal wedding in the Middle Ages between Richard the Lionheart and Berengaria of Navarre, and now houses the Cyprus Medieval Museum.
A short drive out into the surrounding countryside will take you through vineyards and quaint wine producing villages such as Omodos. The castle of Kolossi is where the sweet dessert wine ‘Commandaria”, the world’s oldest named wine, was produced by the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem who had headquarters here in the Middle Ages.
Germasogeia dam and Akrotiri salt lake, at the edge of which is the monastery of St. Nikolas of the Cats, are unique wetlands ideal for observing nature and wildlife and peaceful places to relax.
PAPHOS and its environs
Paphos with its pleasant harbour and medieval fort combines countryside and historical sites. It was the capital of Cyprus for 600 years in ancient times and its archaeological legacy is such that UNESCO put the whole town on its World Cultural Heritage List. The intricate floor mosaics in villas, dating back to the Roman period depicting scenes from Greek mythology, are considered among the finest in the Eastern Mediterranean. Equally impressive are the underground Tombs of the Kings carved out of solid rock and decorated with Doric pillars.
The monastery of Agios Neofytos has wonderfully colourful frescoes painted on the walls. Chrysorrogiatissa monastery is worth visiting for its fine icons and a taste of the locally produced vintage wine from its own winery.
In antiquity Paphos was the centre of the cult of Aphrodite. Swim in the sea by the rocks known as Petra tou Romiou where the goddess was a pilgrimage to her sanctuary at Kouklia, or visit the grotto near Polis where she was supposed to have bathed.
If peace and quiet in harmony with nature is what you are after, head for the Polis area. The Akamas peninsula is an area of natural wilderness with dramatic coastlines, sandy coves and various picturesque villages.
THE TROODOS MOUNTAINS
Take a trip into the mountains for a refreshing break from the heat of the central plains and the coast. Rising to almost 2.000 m above sea level, the Troodos peaks provide panoramic views and a place to go skiing in winter.
The Troodos mountains are where the painted churches of Cyprus, superb examples of Byzantine art, can be found. The churches of Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis, Asinou and Panagia tou Araka are considered to be some of the most outstanding on the island. The Kykkos Monastery, the largest on the island, has an excellent Byzantine museum and a golden icon of the Virgin Mary, allegedly painted by St. Luke.
Charming villages, some with cobbled streets and preserved folk architecture, nester on terraced slopes amid vineyards and orchards of almond, hazelnut and cherry trees. Stop off at one of the cafes or restaurants next to a burbling mountain stream and try one of the preserved fruit desserts served as typical island welcome, or dine with the locally produced rainbow trout, a speciality in the region.
There are many nature trails, picnic sites and the Visitor Centre in the Troodos forest park area. The Cedar Valley is home to an unusual large number of Cypriot cedars and a perfect place to enjoy nature.
LARNACA and its environments
The city is built over the ancient city Kingdom of Kition, a rich sea port and major centre of the copper trade and later a Phoenician stronghold. Its remains can be seen today in its cyclopean wall made of giant block of stone and a complex of 12th century BC Mycenaean Greek temples.
Both Christianity and Islam have revered religious sites in Larnaca. The mosque of Hala Sultan Tekke, built in honour of the Prophet Mohammed’s aunt, who died here after falling from her horse, is an important place of Moslem pilgrimage. Its minaret rises up amidst a copse of tall palm and cypress trees, shimmering like an oasis mirage on the edges of the salt lake, a favourite winter habitat for flamingos and other migratory birds.
Larnaca was the second home of St. Lazarus, who lived here after his resurrection and later became its first Bishop. The impressive 10th century church of St. Lazarus in the centre of the town was built over the saint’s tomb and is one of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture in Cyprus.
Along the palm lined seafront promenade are a lot of cafes or restaurants. The nearby marina is a friendly community of local yacht owners and a haunt for yachtsmen from all over the world.
On the outskirts of town, the Angeloktisti Church in the village of Kiti has rare 6th century Byzantine mosaics. Solitary Stavrovouni, dramatically perched on the peak of a mountain top, is one of the oldest monasteries in Cyprus. The hills are dotted with picturesque villages like Vavla or Lefkara, famous for its local lace and its filigree silver-ware. Choirokitia with its reconstructed round huts and Tenta are important Neolithic settlements.
AMMOCHOSTOS (Famagusta) and its environments
Once sleepy fishing villages, Protaras and Ayia Napa on the south-east coast with its fabulous sandy beaches and the coastal area of Paralimni with its hundreds of windmills nowadays buzz with life. The area offers fabulous beaches, various cafes, restaurants and numerous nightclubs. Spend the day sunning on the beach, swimming in the warm turquoise water or taking a short cruise along the coast.
Some of the best snorkelling and diving can be done at Cape Greko, the eastern peninsula national forest park with its secluded coves and rocky platforms, impressive cliff top views and sea caves.
Drive through the main potato-growing area of the island, known collectively the Kokkinochoria (red soil villages) because of the rich red earth in which the crops are grown. Stop off at the tiny estuary known by the locals as Potamos and watch the fishing boats haul in their catch in their multicoloured baskets.
Culture lovers can explore the medieval churches found in villages like Sotira or go round the folk art museums displaying rural artefacts in Deryneia and Avgorou.
