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Welcome to
Cyprus……
Let us tell you a little about our
Island.
Four large cities punctuate the island, with Nicosia, the capital in the centre, and Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos
They are busy modern commercial and business centres, with old town centres with picturesque historical buildings, where you can wander along narrow streets and browse through interesting markets and shopping centres.
Nicosia combines both old and new, characterised by its old quarter surrounded by a Venetian sandstone fortress wall, beyond which spreads a cosmopolitan city. Limassol, the island’s second largest city, is the centre of the wine industry and a bustling holiday resort, renowned for its varied nightlife, while Larnaca, with its marina and palm-lined promenade, has important shrines to both Christianity and Islam. Paphos to the west is an archeological treasure trove, with some of the finest mosaics in the Mediterranean. along the southern coast.
With a wealth of beaches to choose from, you’re bound to find one that suits your taste. From the quiet backwaters of the western peninsula, to the lively resorts in the east, the island has something for everyone.
The eastern coast is famous for its fine white sandy beaches with shallow turquoise waters. Deep water bays with rocky outcrops are perfect for snorkelling or diving. The long finely packed grey sand of the southern coast lend themselves to long winter walks or jogging, while the secluded coves of the western coast beckon when you want to be alone.
Experience at first hand one of the oldest civilisations of the Mediterranean, one that goes back 10,000 years.
Conquered by foreign powers throughout its long history, the island is like a large open air museum where you can see evidence of its chequered past. Ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Venetians, Ottomans and British all left their mark, making the island a mosaic of different cultures and periods.
Famous for its copper in antiquity, Cyprus (‘Kypros’ in Greek) may even have given the metal its Latin name, cuprum. The cult of Aphrodite, the ancient Greek mythological goddess of love and beauty, flourished here and people came from miles around to take part in celebrations in her name.
The island was the first country the apostles Paul and Barnabas visited in their mission to spread Christianity and the first to come under Christian administration.
When Cyprus became part of the Byzantine Empire, art and architecture flourished here, especially in the 12th century, considered to be the Golden Age of Byzantine painting in Cyprus. As a distant outpost of Byzantium, Cyprus escaped the iconoclastic decrees of the 8th century and much of its Byzantine art has survived here.
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