About Cyprus

People: The people owe their individuality and warmth to the fact that they are the product of an amazingly colourful history. This sun drenched island has been at the crossroads of world events for centuries. Roman, Byzantine, Greek and British influences (to name just a few) have all had a bearing on life in Cyprus. Perhaps that’s why Cypriots have a special knack of making visitors feel at home as soon as they step off the plane or ship. That warm welcome, plus the unhurried pace of daily life, makes Cyprus an instant favourite of anyone who goes there.

The island nation is a fascinating land of contrasts. It has some of the most sophisticated cities in the region, and yet, a short distance away, you can feel as if you have stepped back into a previous century, not just the 19th, but far back to a time when people pursued simpler pleasures. Drop into almost any country tavern, or join the locals at a town market, and you will feel the atmosphere of a way of life that has remained essentially the same for centuries.

The island has proved irresistible to many famous historical personalities, such as Cleopatra, Alexander the Great, Leonard da Vinci and Richard the Lion Heart. When Richard freed his imprisoned bride-to-be, Berengaria of Navarre, in 1191, Cypriots all across the island seized on the opportunity to have a party!

As you can see, a delight in having a good time is at the heart of the Cypriot personality. Observe the fun Cypriots have when they go out — perhaps in large family groups — to eat and drink, and you will see how important a lust for life is on this enchanted island. Get to know the people, and you will probably be invited back to a Cypriot home to enjoy a meal of meze. Then, you’ll truly learn the meaning of the word “hospitality.” Cyprus is deservedly called the “Island of Love.” Come and find out for yourself!

Cyprus Archaeology

It has been said that if you “scratch the soil anywhere in Cyprus you will find traces of the islands civilizations.” To prove the point, look at an archaeological map, and you’ll see that Cyprus is studded with sites from every period of its turbulent history, going back to the Neolithic Age. A visit to Choirokoitia, near Larnaca proves the point. There you’ll find excavations that reveal the whole society of a Neolithic settlement dating from 7000 BC: defensive walls, circular houses, and tombs. One of the most fascinating aspects of archaeology in Cyprus is the gradual unearthing of the ten “city kingdoms” that were established in the Geometric Period (1050-325 BC). 19 km’s west of Limassol, you’ll find Kourion, one of the most spectacular sites on the island. The magnificent Greco-Roman Theatre was designed in the 2nd century BC. The site is rich in archaeological lore, including a private Roman villa, an Early Christian Basilica, and the houses of Achilles and the Gladiators, which have fine mosaic floors. Another nine City Kingdoms are to be found in different parts of the island, including Idalion near Nicosia where legend has it that Adonis, the lover of Aphrodite, was killed by a wild boar sent by her jealous husband, Kition near Larnaca with its cyclopean walls and a five-temple complex, and 11 km’s from Limassol, the city Kingdom of Amathous where it is said that Theseus left the pregnant Ariadne after his battle with the Minotaur.

Teams of archaeologists are constantly working on new excavations that uncover not only Neolithic remains, but those from The Bronze Age, and the Roman and Byzantine periods. A good example can be found near Pafos — the famous underground Tombs of the Kings, some complete with Doric columns, which date back to the fourth century BC.