Cyprus
is European Country, is the third largest island in the Mediterranean,
after Sicily and Sardinia, with an area of 3.572 sq. miles (9.251
sq. kms). It is situated at the north-eastern corner of the
Mediterranean Sea, at a distance of 300 km north of Egypt, 90
km west of Syria and Lebanon, and 60 km south of Turkey. Cyprus
is an island of spectacular beauty with sandy beaches enclosed
by rugged cliffs, cool cedar forests, scented orange groves
and gentle meadows blanketed in wildflowers, rich Greek history,
spectacular night life, and that’s what makes the Cyprus
island the holiday destination of Europe. Paphos (Pafos) is
located in the South West corner of Cyprus and is the most tourist
area offering one of the best holiday destinations of Europe,
excellent scenery, and many activities for all ages,good food,
good service and great hospitality. Cyprus is an island to be
enjoyed by all who visit her.
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Limassol
Sprawling below the
Troodos Mountains , the modern resort of Limassol
has become a destination for those who are looking
to unwind in the clubs and bars that crowd the port.
It's a boisterous place that's both Cyprus ' main
commercial hub and the second biggest resort on the
island.
Limassol's charms are almost exclusively hedonistic
and anyone
looking for culture (or peace and quite) would do well
to give Limassol a wide berth. In recent years Limassol
has lost the Cypriot partying crown to Ayia Napa and
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Paphos (Pafos), but the city still knows how to have
a good time.
The
Mayor has been working hard to clean up Limassol's image,
but attempts to appeal to a more sophisticated clientele
have been slow to bear fruit. |
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Much has changed since
Richard the Lionheart first put Limassol on the map in 1191.
The then ruler Isaac Komnenos made the mistake of refusing hospitality
to King Richard's shipwrecked fiancé. A snubbed Richard
landed on the island, married at Limassol and then marched on
Amathus where he deposed Isaac. Selling the island to the Knights
Templar he headed off to the Holy Land and left Limassol to
flourish in his wake. A combination of earthquakes, Genoese
raiders and the Ottomans forced the city into decline and it
was only the arrival of the British in the late nineteenth century
that revived the city's fortunes.
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Despite
its rich past; Limassol has little of the classical heritage
that survives in other Cypriot cities. Aside form the
castle, the bazaar and a couple of museums there isn't
all that much to see. However, visitors to Limassol usually
have a much livelier agenda. Limassol is well-placed to
access some of the island's best beaches, although those
nearest to the city aren't the most salubrious. Overlooking
the city the Troodos Mountains are a haven of tranquillity
that provide welcome respite form the relative bustle
below (as well as a number of interesting days out). Limassol
is one of the busiest ferry ports in Cyprus , with regular
sailings to destinations across the Middle East . |
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Nicosia
Nicosia is the Capital
of Cyprus, without a doubt the 1000 year old City should be
on every visitors agenda, it lies roughly in the center of the
island within easy reach from the other towns and a day in Nicosia
will be a day well spent!
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Troodos
The impressive
Troodos Mountains hasten to surprise us with the idyllic
forests stretching across most of western side of Cyprus
offering a cool sanctuary in the hot summer months with
opportunities for winter sports such as skiing tobogganing
and mountain climbing throughout the months of January
to March
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Larnaca
Although very much
a working city; the palm-lined waterfront promenade, ancient
fort and historic quarter imbue Larnaca with a distinct antique
flavour. Today the city is a relaxed place well-loved for
its easy going attitude and friendly people.
Dubbed Kition in classical times Larnaca first entered the
history books as the birthplace of the Stoic philosopher Zeno.
A few hundred years later Lazarus decided to settle
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here
(post-resurrection) and became Larnaca’s first bishop
and the city’s patron saint. Arab raids in the seventh
century forced the citizens inland and the city into decline
and it wasn’t until the end of the Middle Ages that its
fortunes revived. Under the Ottomans Larnaca became the island’s
premiere port and commercial hub, only to be eclipsed by Limassol
and Famagusta in the middle of the 20th century. |
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Modern
Larnaca is a bustling town with its own international
airport, yet it has somehow managed to retain a good
deal of historic Levantine charm. Tourism is beginning
to catch on in a big way and hotels and resort-complexes
are springing up on the outskirts of the town. The nearby
beaches aren’t the best that Cyprus has to offer,
but they improve markedly along the coast; makingLarnaca
a good base for exploring the island. Larnaca’s
nightlife
is also on the up and the town centre
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corrals
together
an enviable collection of bars, cafes and tavernas. |
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| Larnaca
lacks the polish of other Cypriot resorts and often gets branded
as ‘shabby’ or ‘dilapidated’ by guidebook
writers. Despite, or perhaps because of this, the city has a
charmingly laid-back attitude. Larnaca’s main tourist
attraction is the the nearby mosque of Hala Sultan Tekke, which
draws pilgrims from across the Moslem world. The mosque is located
next to a salt-lake southwest of the city and both can be visited
in a day-trip. Heading out of town towards Limassol takes you into
the verdant foothills of the Troodos
Mountains,while to
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the west the frenetic charms of Ayia Napa await. Scuba divers
are in for a treat in the shape of the Zenobia, a passenger
ferry which sank in 1983 and is no rated as one of the world’s
top ten wrecks.
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