Cyprus Property Select

Top things to see

• The capital of Cyprus since the 12th century, Nicosia stands at the heart of the Mesaoria Plain. It is currently divided by the ‘Green Line’, a UN buffer zone that separates the Turkish-occupied north of the island and the Government-controlled south. The Old City, which is being renovated in part, is defined by 16th-century walls built by the Venetians. Among attractions and points of interest are: the Cyprus Museum, a storehouse of the island’s archaeological treasures; the Folk Art Museum; the new Archbishop’s Palace; St John’s Cathedral; Byzantine churches; the Byzantine Museum/Makarios Cultural Centre; and the Ömeriye Mosque. • From Nicosia, go on an excursion to the Royal Tombs and Agios Irakleidios Monastery at Tamassos; the five-dome church and the mosque in Peristerona; the Panagia Chrysospiliotissa Church, in a cliff-side cave near Deftera. Further into the rugged Pitsylia Region, in the hills southwest of Nicosia, is Machairas Monastery, close to the restored and protected traditional villages of Fikardou, Gourri and Lazanias.
   

• In the resort town of Larnaka, stroll on the seafront promenade which is fringed with palm trees, cafes and tavernas. Places of interest include: the Agios Lazaros Church and its associated Byzantine Museum; Larnaka Fort; the District Archaeological Museum; the Pierides Museum (a private archaeological museum); the Natural History Museum; the Tornaritis-Pierides Palaeontology Museum; and the scant ruins of ancient Kition.
   

• Near Larnaca's airport is the Hala Sultan Tekkesi, a historic mosque standing in beautiful gardens on the edge of Larnaka Salt Lake (dry in summer), a winter home of migratory flamingoes. Nearby, in Kiti, Panagia Angeloktisti Church contains a superb sixth-century Byzantine mosaic of the Virgin and Child.
   

• In the hills to the west is the village of Lefkara, famous for its handmade lace, and the Convent of Agios Minas. Off the Limassol–Nicosia road are the hilltop Stavrovouni Monastery, and the Crusader-era Chapelle Royal near Pyrga. Further west, on a hillside at Choirokoitia, are the remains of a neolithic village from 5800 BC, one of the earliest settlements in Cyprus.
   

• Head for Limassol Castle which stands guard over the old harbour and houses the Cyprus Medieval Museum. There is also a Folk Art Museum, the Limassol District Archaeological Museum and, in the Municipal Gardens, a small zoo.
   

• In Amathus, now in ruins and partly covered by the sea, discover the Acropolis, the Necropolis and the remains of an early Christian basilica. Further east lies Agios Georgios Alamanos Convent and the black sands of Governor’s Beach. Kolossi Castle is the headquarters of the Crusader Knights of St John of Jerusalem.
   

• In the ancient city of Kourion, on a steep hillside near Episkopi, discover a superbly sited Graeco-Roman theatre where concerts and Shakespearean plays are performed in summer. Kourion contains other interesting sites, including the House of Eustolios, which has beautiful mosaics; the Acropolis; the ruins of the Roman-era forum; the Christian Basilica; and public buildings.
   

• Beyond Kourion to the west are the city’s stadium and the Sanctuary of Apollo Ylatis. All of these sites lie within the Akrotiri-Episkopi British Sovereign Base Area.
   

• Do not miss Pafos, the booming main town and year-round resort in the west, which consists of Upper Pafos, built on a rocky escarpment that commands a superb view of the coastline, and Lower Pafos, with a taverna-fringed harbour and a long seafront lined with hotels. Pafos is rich in ancient sites, in particular a cluster of excavated Roman villas near the harbour, among them the House of Dionysos and the Villa of Theseus, that contain superb mosaic floors, and the Tombs of the Kings. Other attractions include: the Pafos District Museum; the Byzantine Museum; Pafos Fort commanding the harbour; the remains of the Byzantine castle of Saranda Kolones; and Panagia Chrysopolitissa Church, the largest early Christian basilica on the island. Pafos Aquarium is of more recent origin.
   

• To the east and northeast of Pafos, the land rises through vineyards and the Pafos Forest to Cedar Valley, part of the Tripylos Nature Reserve, centred on the Stavros tis Psokas Forest Station. Wild mountain sheep (moufflon) are being protected here. The Panagia Chrysorrogiatissa Monastery is situated in scenic surroundings and is an interesting stop on the way.
   

• At the edge of the Akamas Peninsula, witness where, according to legend, the Greek goddess of love bathed at the Baths of Aphrodite, a grotto containing a freshwater pool.
   

• Going east from Polis, the fishing harbour at Agios Georgios is overlooked by cliffs into which ancient tombs are cut; at the top is an excavated early Christian basilica.
   

• At Lara Bay, beyond the rugged Avakas Gorge, a reserve has been established to protect the dwindling number of loggerhead turtles that nest here.
   

• At Kouklia visit the ruins of ancient Palaia Pafos and the Temple of Aphrodite. At the coast are Petra tou Romiou (Rock of Aphrodite)
   

• The scenery in the forested – or, more accurately, reafforested – Troodos Mountains is spectacular. Platres, 1200m (3937ft) above sea level on the southern slopes, is the ideal base for excursions. It lies on the approaches to Mount Olympus, at 1952m (6404ft), the highest peak in Cyprus, with a summit that is invariably snow-covered in winter and has skiing slopes and facilities.
   

• Omodos, a restored conservation village, has the Stavros Monastery and a small Folk Art Museum. Foini is a centre of local craft pottery.
   

• See a golden icon of the Virgin Mary at the Kykkos Monastery; Throni tis Panagias, uphill from the monastery, the tomb of the late Archbishop Makarios III, the first President of Cyprus, occupies a setting that commands a magnificent view; discover the small but prettily situated Kaledonia Falls and the monasteries of Mesa Potamos and Trooditissa.
   

• Visit the nine Byzantine churches in the Troodos mountains listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites for their magnificently frescoed interiors. These are Panagia tis Asinou near Nikitari, one of the finest examples of Byzantine art in the Levant; Stavros tou Agiasmati near Platanistasa; Agios Ioannis Lampadistis in Kalopanagiotis; Panagia tou Araka near Lagoudera; Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis southwest of Kakopetria; Panagia tis Podythou outside Galata; Archangelos Michaïl at Pedoulas; Panagia tou Moutoulla in Moutoullas; and Timiou Stavrou in Pelendri. (Note: These are not open to visitors at all times.)

Tourist Information

Cyprus Tourism Organisation in the UK17 Hanover Street, London W1S 1YP, UK Tel: (020) 7569 8800. Website: www.visitcyprus.org.cy Cyprus Tourism Organisation in the USA13 East 40th Street, New York, NY 10016, USA Tel: (212) 683 5280. Website: www.visitcyprus.org.cyAlso deals with enquiries from Canada.