The very name Cyprus, it has been said, shimmers The very name Cyprus, it has been said, shimmers with an ages-old mystique. Today, history and hedonism are with an ages-old mystique. Today, history and hedonism are comfortably intertwined on the island. Ravishing five-star comfortably intertwined on the island. Ravishing five-star resorts within walking distance of well-preserved Greek and resorts within walking distance of well-preserved Greek and Roman ruins offer every amenity the modern traveler has Roman ruins offer every amenity the modern traveler has come to expect and more, from knock-out pools, gardens and come to expect and more, from knock-out pools, gardens and beachfronts to state of the art thalassotherapy health spas.beachfronts to state of the art thalassotherapy health spas.

One of the most impressive archaeological sites, the One of the most impressive archaeological sites, the ancient city kingdom of Kourion, overlooks a magnificent ancient city kingdom of Kourion, overlooks a magnificent stretch of beaches with a sparkling blue sea beyond. Along stretch of beaches with a sparkling blue sea beyond. Along the island's sun-kissed coastline., from Agia Napa in the east the island's sun-kissed coastline., from Agia Napa in the east to Pafos in the west, world-class beach resorts alternate with to Pafos in the west, world-class beach resorts alternate with settings untouched since antiquity.settings untouched since antiquity.

Venture away from the sybaritic shore - if you can Venture away from the sybaritic shore - if you can bring yourself to - and succumb to the slow, seductive bring yourself to - and succumb to the slow, seductive rhythms of the interior. There are old wine-producing villages rhythms of the interior. There are old wine-producing villages with atmospheric winding streets and terraced vineyards. with atmospheric winding streets and terraced vineyards. You can often stay the night for a song in cozy renovated You can often stay the night for a song in cozy renovated traditional houses, part of the Cyprus agro-tourism program. traditional houses, part of the Cyprus agro-tourism program.

Explore Greek Orthodox churches nestled in the hills Explore Greek Orthodox churches nestled in the hills whose walls conceal vibrantly painted Byzantine frescoes. whose walls conceal vibrantly painted Byzantine frescoes. Many are found among the pine-covered peaks of the Many are found among the pine-covered peaks of the Troodos, where a sublime silence can dissolve all sense of Troodos, where a sublime silence can dissolve all sense of time, not to mention stress. time, not to mention stress.

Ancient Amathous, East of LemesosAncient Amathous, East of Lemesos

Basilica KourionBasilica Kourion

Kolossi Castle, LemesosKolossi Castle, Lemesos

Kolossi Castle dates Kolossi Castle dates from the Lusignan from the Lusignan period (14th period (14th century) and it century) and it served for a time as served for a time as the Grand the Grand Commandery of the Commandery of the Knights of the Order Knights of the Order of St. John of of St. John of Jerusalem. On the Jerusalem. On the land given to them land given to them by the Lusignans by the Lusignans the knights the knights cultivated sugar cultivated sugar cane and vines, cane and vines, producing the sweet producing the sweet wine they named wine they named CommandariaCommandaria. From . From the roof there is an the roof there is an excellent view of excellent view of the Akrotiri the Akrotiri Peninsula.Peninsula.

Angeloktisti Church, Kiti Village, West of LarnakaAngeloktisti Church, Kiti Village, West of Larnaka

Agios Lazaros Church, LarnakaAgios Lazaros Church, Larnaka

Agios Agios Neophytos Monastery, North of Pafos Monastery, North of Pafos The Monastery of Agios Neofytos is perched atop the 612-meter high Charta Summit of the Melissovouno, or “Honey Mountain.” It was here that the hermit Neofytos led his monastic life in the 12th century, mainly in a small cave (called Enkleistra) above the present-day monastery that is covered with beautiful frescoes. The monastery has a museum, well-tended gardens and a shop where you can buy fresh Melissovouno honey.

Mosaic of Virgin Mary & Child, Angeloktisti ChurchMosaic of Virgin Mary & Child, Angeloktisti Church

Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis Byzantine Church, Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis Byzantine Church,

KakopetriaKakopetria

Pantocrator, 14th Century Fresco, Pantocrator, 14th Century Fresco,

Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis Church, KakopetriaAgios Nikolaos tis Stegis Church, Kakopetria

Kourion, Greco-Roman TheatreKourion, Greco-Roman Theatre

Odeon, PafosOdeon, Pafos

House of Aion Mosaic Floor, Apollo and Marsyas, PafosHouse of Aion Mosaic Floor, Apollo and Marsyas, Pafos

Pafos: House of Dionysos Mosaic Floor. Pafos: House of Dionysos Mosaic Floor. Dionysos, Akme, IkarosDionysos, Akme, Ikaros

Leda and the Swan Mosaic; Cyprus Museum, Leda and the Swan Mosaic; Cyprus Museum,

LefkosiaLefkosia

StavrovouniStavrovouni MonasteryMonastery

Chrysopolitissa Church, St Paul's Pillar, PafosChrysopolitissa Church, St Paul's Pillar, Pafos

Tombs of the Kings, PafosTombs of the Kings, Pafos

TempleTemple ofof ApolloApollo

Three kilometers west of Three kilometers west of Kourion, the Sanctuary of Kourion, the Sanctuary of Apollo covers an area of Apollo covers an area of some 15,000 square some 15,000 square meters and is one of the meters and is one of the largest historic religious largest historic religious sites in Cyprus. While the sites in Cyprus. While the earliest ruins date back to earliest ruins date back to the 8th century B.C., the the 8th century B.C., the temple site was dedicated temple site was dedicated to Apollo in the 5th century to Apollo in the 5th century B.C. Apollo was a god of B.C. Apollo was a god of beauty, music, woodlands, beauty, music, woodlands, prophecy and archery, and prophecy and archery, and he was a protector of he was a protector of forests. Yforests. Ylatislatis derives from derives from an ancient Greek word an ancient Greek word meaning woodland, and meaning woodland, and this was also the old name this was also the old name for the forest which for the forest which surrounds the sanctuary surrounds the sanctuary even today. even today.

Akamas area, PafosAkamas area, Pafos

Akamas, a Akamas, a natural natural wilderness wilderness of of incredible incredible beauty with beauty with breathtakinbreathtaking gorges, g gorges, spectacular spectacular coastlines coastlines and and enjoyable enjoyable nature nature trails.trails.

Petra tou Romiou, Aphrodite's BirthplacePetra tou Romiou, Aphrodite's Birthplace

Petra tou RomiouPetra tou Romiou You can channel You can channel the spirit of the spirit of Aphrodite here at Aphrodite here at the spot where the spot where the goddess of the goddess of love and beauty love and beauty emerged from the emerged from the sea. One of the sea. One of the legends of the legends of the rock is that if you rock is that if you swim around it swim around it three times naked three times naked under a full moon, under a full moon, you’ll fall in love. you’ll fall in love. While the legend While the legend probably isn’t probably isn’t true, the rock is a true, the rock is a suitable spot for a suitable spot for a romantic interlude romantic interlude midway between midway between Lemesos and Lemesos and Pafos. Pafos.

Sunset at Petra tou RomiouSunset at Petra tou Romiou

Nature Trail, AkamasNature Trail, Akamas

Larnaka Palm Tree PromenadeLarnaka Palm Tree Promenade

Palm Tree Palm Tree Promenade, Promenade, Larnaka's Larnaka's seafront with its seafront with its line of nature line of nature palm trees and palm trees and its languid air of its languid air of sleepy beauty. sleepy beauty. Cafes and Cafes and tavernas line tavernas line the area near the area near the sea, making the sea, making this a popular this a popular spot for visitors spot for visitors and Cypriots. and Cypriots.

Traditional Village HouseTraditional Village House

Village HouseVillage House

TraditionalTraditional Cypriot RoomCypriot Room

Lefkara VillageLefkara Village

Lefkara LaceLefkara Lace The Lefkara lace is The Lefkara lace is the best known the best known Cypriot traditional Cypriot traditional embroidery with a embroidery with a world-wide world-wide reputation. It has reputation. It has evolved through the evolved through the ages having ages having undergone changes undergone changes brought about by the brought about by the history of the island. history of the island. By studying its By studying its technique, motifs, technique, motifs, local names, raw local names, raw materials and materials and arrangement of arrangement of designs, one can find designs, one can find traces of the past traces of the past which enable us to which enable us to discover our history discover our history and identity.and identity.

Agia Napa BeachAgia Napa Beach

Agia Agia Napa, Napa, with its with its superb superb golden golden sandy sandy beaches, beaches, has has become a become a big draw big draw for sun for sun seekers.seekers.

Protaras Protaras

Pissouri Bay, West of LemesosPissouri Bay, West of Lemesos

Pissouri Bay, a secluded beach located half way on the Pissouri Bay, a secluded beach located half way on the motorway from Lemesos to Pafos. An ideal place for motorway from Lemesos to Pafos. An ideal place for

honeymoons and romance. honeymoons and romance.

Agia NapaAgia Napa

Sunset, Agios Georgios, Chlorakas, PafosSunset, Agios Georgios, Chlorakas, Pafos

Cape GrecoCape Greco

Cape GrecoCape Greco

Mountain VillageMountain Village

A Troodos A Troodos mountainous mountainous village, is an village, is an absolute absolute charm and charm and the people the people are friendly are friendly and and hospitable. A hospitable. A stay in the stay in the mountains is mountains is definitely definitely recommenderecommended. d.

Old Kakopetria VillageOld Kakopetria Village