Cyprus Tours & Travels | Complete Cyprus Information | Cyprus Europe

The Republic of Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Cyprus was one of the islands colonized by England in the era of colonization. However, it was only recently in 1960 that Cyprus finally gained its independence, and became a commonwealth republic. Nicosia is the capital of Cyprus and the official languages spoken here are Greek and Turkish. There are many interesting theories surrounding the name of the island. One theory has it that the name Cyprus originated because of the large number of copper ore deposits found all over the island. The Greeks however, consider the island very sacred as one of their important goddesses- Aphrodite was believed to have been born on this island. Hence Cyprus has always been called ‘the island of Aphrodite’.

Cyprus is one of those few places in the world, which have had a flourishing civilization since its origins. It used to conduct immense trade with other countries, as it was surrounded by water. Many foreigners including the Romans, Turks, French and English, have had an interest in this beautiful place. Over the years, inspite of the wars that have been fought, Cyprus has become a developed country. With its recent discovery of oil, Cyprus has become an important hotbed for foreign investments also. The people who live here are those who migrated to this island years back. Which is why Greeks, and Turks form the main part of the population, whereas people from other countries such as Sri Lanka and Philippines, form a minority.

Cyprus has an old age charm about it. Limiting a visit here to simply the main cities and beaches would be a mistake as there is so much more here to see. One can see many citrus orchards as well as olive groves and vineyards. The four cities here are Larnaka, Lefkosia, Lemesos and Pafos. Each of these cities are distinct in their own ways, with the added attractions of having many archaeological sites to see. One of the must see places here is called The Tomb of the Kings in Pafos. This is in fact a World Heritage monument also. They are huge in size and are cut out of rocks. These tombs date back to the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Some of the tombs even have rooms and atriums. It is not always that one gets a chance to see the beauty of vines growing but the Pitsilia Wine Route does just that. One can spot pines and vines growing freely into the mountainsides. The villages, which fall into this route, are around the mountain peaks of Madari, Papoutsa and Machairas. One can find many monasteries in Cyprus, and one among them is the Kykkos monastery in Troodos, which was built in between the 11- 12th century. It is not only beautiful to see, but as it is located at a high altitude also, it gives one a lovely scenic view.

Cyprus is important to archaeologists mainly for the ancient cultures that prevailed here. The Lemesos region is rich in such ancient sites. A visit to the Archaeological Museum helps one understand the history of civilization from the prehistoric times to the early Christian period. There are many articles such as pottery, jewelry, sculpture and coins from periods as early as the Bronze and Iron Ages. Artifacts pertaining to the Greek- Roman era are also on display here. One can even take the tour in history a little further by visiting Kourion, which was an important city kingdom. There are so many historic buildings to see here. The Graeco- Roman theatre, beautiful mosaic floors and a 5th century Basilica can also be seen here. One must also not forget that the theatre was built in 2 BC. There is also a House of Achilles and a House of Gladiators, which can be seen. The Kition Archaeological site is also worth visiting. It is believed that the earliest settlements date back to the 13th century BC. Although this city has been redesigned and rebuilt atleast two times, people still continued to live there. Kition used to be important in ancient times, because of a harbour from where trade was conducted. Since Cyprus is entwined with the myth of Aphrodite, there is a cultural route one can take in order to see more such historical sites. Since Pafos is the region that plays the most dominant role in this myth, the route covers the site of Palaepafos, the Chalcolithic site of Lempa, museums, and nature trails. The Agios Nikolas tis Stegis Church near the village of Kakopetria is a must see for any art lover as the murals found here were painted as early in the 11th – 17th centuries. Interestingly, this World heritage site gets its name from timber roof, which was originally built so that the church would be able to withstand any weather conditions.

Cyprus has much more to offer than a walk in history. The best way to end such an interesting vacation, is to, spend a few days at one of the beaches in Cyprus. The Phinikoudes beach, which borders Larnaka, has lovely soft grey sand, and calm waters. The other facilities here, allow visitors to bathe, have a drink or two and grab a bite. If relaxing at a beach with golden sands is more to your taste, then visit the Kapparis Beach. This is actually a secluded beach, with beautiful sands, and shallow waters. The Pernera A beach too has warm golden sands and shallow waters, in which tourists can take a dip.

A vacation here would ensure that a tourist not only gets to visit an island that has such a fascinating history, but more importantly, enjoy the present day facilities too. Cyprus will enthrall both a person interested in history and ancient cultures, as well as a person who just wants to get away from the world and relax. The warm nature of the people and the delicious cuisine too is sure to cast a spell on you.

1. Travel to Europe | Europe Tours & Trips | Europe Destination Guide The very word Europe, has an interesting mythological meaning behind...
2. Philippines Tours and Travels | Philippines Holidays Information The Philippines “Filipino” officially known as the “Republic of the...
3. Combodia Tours and Travels | Combodia Holidays Information When considering holiday destinations in south east Asia the names...
4. Indonesia Tours and Travels | Indonesia Holidays Information Indonesia is a fusion of modernization with traditions and cultures....
5. Malta Tours & Trips | Travel to Malta | Complete Malta Guide & Information The Republic of Malta, besides being an archipelago of immense...