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Located strategically in the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus is the third
largest among all the Mediterranean islands. It offers easy access to
Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Rhodes and Turkey, among other countries.
Cyprus is mainly divided into the Republic of Cyprus in the south and
the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the north. There’s a buffer
zone which separates these two segments and two bases, namely, Akrotiri
and Dhekelia, are under British Sovereignty.
The climate in
Cyprus is described as subtropical so rains are expected in the winter
and summers are usually dry. It has a total land area of 3,572 square
miles and total population of 1,088,503 according to 2010 estimates. The
majority of the population is Greek (77 percent) and the minority is
composed of Turkish (18 percent) and others (5 percent). It follows that
the official languages in Cyprus are Greek and Turkish. The currency
used in Cyprus is the Euro. If you are planning to visit Cyprus, you
will be pleased to know that it has a lot of great attractions. Here’s a
quick guide to the best things to do in Cyprus.
Sun and Sea
If you love the sun and sea, you will surely fall in love
with Cyprus’ vast array of magnificent beaches and coasts. Whether you
want to go snorkelling, scuba diving, jogging or just spend some quality
time with your family, there’s a beach where you can fulfil all your
desires. One of the most popular beaches in Cyprus is Phinikoudes Beach.
Measured at 500 meters in length, the sand of the beach is described as
fine grey. There are lots of amenities at or around Phinikoudes such as
mini markets, shopping centre, restaurants, showers, toilets, changing
rooms, umbrellas, and water sports. For a more secluded beach, try
Kapparis Beach, which is frequented by the locals. The beach is
characterized by clear shallow waters and golden sand. Basic
facilities are available but they are not as plentiful as what you will
find at Phinikoudes Beach. Another interesting beach is Pachyammos Bay
located at the Pafos tourist area. This is a very good place to swim
because there are very few rocks on this narrow sandy beach. There are
lots of accommodations, restaurants, bars and facilities at Pachyammos
Bay. All these beaches hold the Blue Flag accreditation.
Paphos Harbour and Castle
It’s
no wonder that Paphos Harbour and Castle is one of the most visited
places in western Cyprus. At the harbour, you will get a sense of life
in Cyprus as you dine in one of the fine Mediterranean restaurants or
lose yourself in the many cultural and musical events. It’s a good idea
to try to time your Cyprus holiday so that you can take part in the
Paphos Aphrodite Festival, which
is the most anticipated event in the region. The most imposing structure
at the harbour is the Paphos Castle so it’s almost compulsory to pay a
visit to this historical building. A fort guarded the entrance to the
harbour since the times of the Byzantines. After the Ottomans invaded
Paphos, they rebuilt the fort which was destroyed by the Venetians in 1570, culminating in its present form. Today, Paphos Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Troodos Mountains
Located
in central Cyprus, the Troodos Mountain range offers an intoxicating
dose of Byzantine churches and monasteries, picturesque mountain
villages, pristine wonders of nature, and lots more. Some of Byzantine
churches listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Troodos Mountains are
Assinou, Tomiou Stvrou at Pelendri, Panayia Podithou, Panayia tou Araka,
Panayia tou Moutoula, and Stavros tou Ayiasmati. As for the mountain
villages, you can visit Galata, Arsos, Kourdali, Agros, Pelendri,
Omodos, Marathassa Valley, Dora, and others to gain a perspective on the
unique lifestyle of the people. During the winter, you can go up to
Mount Olympus for some skiing fun. In the summer, you can take a hike on
one of the trails to experience the diverse natural beauty of Troodos
Mountains.
Cyprus Museum
Possibly the most important
museum in the country, the Cyprus Museum is located in the Nicosia, the
capital. In the museum, you will find the world’s largest collection of Cypriot antiquities.
From the Stone Age, Bronze Age through to the Byzantine Empire, these
artefacts provide a vital glimpse into the history of Cyprus. Some of
the notable exhibits are the Status of Zeus, Neolithic artefacts, Enkomi
treasures, Mycenaean bronze and pottery, Statue of Spetimius Severus,
and Lambousa treasure.
Kyrenia Harbour and Castle
No
holiday in North Cyprus can be complete without a visit to Kyrenia
Harbour and Castle. Here, you will drink the rich, flavourful Turkish
coffee, and dine in restaurants with a distinctive Turkish influence.
It’s always a great pleasure to sit at the harbour and enjoy the
scenery, waiting for the sun to set. Once the sun sets, Kyrenia Harbour
bursts into live with live music and lots of activities. Then, there’s also the Kyrenia Castle which was believed to be originally built by the Byzantines to ward off the Arabian
invaders in the 7th century. Between 1208 to 1211, John d’lbelin
expanded and improved the castle by building a new entrance, dungeons,
embrasures for archers, and towers. When the Venetians conquered Cyprus
in 1540, they made additions, culminating in the present form. Inside
the Kyrenia Castle, you can visit the Shipwreck Museum and the Church of
St. George.
St. Hilarion Castle
Another top
attraction in North Cyprus is St. Hilarion Castle, located at the
Kyrenia mountain range. According to legend, the name of the castle was
derived from a monk who lived at the spot where the castle was built.
During his time, the mountain was infested with demons that tempted him
from day to night. However, their attempts fell on deaf ears because he
was stone deaf! Greatly discouraged, the demons left the mountain in
peace. After his death, St. Hilarion was buried at the site and a
Byzantine chapel and monastery was constructed around the 10th century.
St. Hilarion Castle is also famous because it was rumoured that Walt
Disney used it as a model for his
rendition of the castle in “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. As you
climb towards the castle, you may understand why he would do such a
thing.
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