Cyprus is full of mystery, history and natural beauty, all just a
short hop from Bahrain, as REBECCA TORR discovered on a brief visit.
“Gulf Daily News”, Bahrain English daily newspaper, 22 July 2005
THE beautiful island of Cyprus offers something for everyone, whether
you want to search out historical secrets, explore pine-clad mountains
or just relax on the beach, this country has it all and more.
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean and stands at
the crossroads of three continents, Asia, Africa and Europe.
It's one of the oldest civilisations in the world, with a rich
cultural heritage that can be traced back over 10,000 years to the
Neolithic age.
The first Greeks came to the island 3,000 years ago, but many other
civilisations passed through including the Egyptians, Assyrians,
Persians, Romans, Crusaders, Venetians, Ottomans and the British.
Visitors can still trace the country's diverse history by visiting its
ancient settlements, Greek temples, Byzantine churches and
monasteries, Roman theatres and early Christian basilicas.
Although Cyprus had been controlled by various countries throughout
the centuries, it finally won its independence in 1960 and became an
independent sovereign Republic with a presidential system of
government.
In July 1974 Turkey invaded Cyprus and since then it has held 37 per
cent of the island, in the north.
Cyprus continues to flourish as a popular tourist destination.
Probably one of the main reasons that tourists are so drawn to Cyprus
is because it has so much to offer.
Nature lovers come to explore the pine forests, citrus orchards,
vineyards, mountain peaks, as well as the island's rare plants and
beautiful wild flowers.
Bird watchers come to see the country's endemic bird species and the
hundreds of migrating birds it attracts every year.
Partygoers come to worship the sun by day and set their spirits free
on the dance floor by night.
It was during a three-day familiarisation trip with a group of nine
Bahrain travel agents that I had the opportunity to discover some of
the island's appeal.
The trip was organised by Cyprus Tourism Organisation in co-operation
with Cyprus Airways and headed by Cyprus Airways station manager
Joseph Jacob.
We were flown by Cyprus Airways from Bahrain to Larnaca International
Airport and chauffeured around the island by Nicosia-based tourist bus
service Hadjilikos and Sons Limited.
Our guide was Cyprus Tourism Organisation assistant tourist officer
Alexander Nikolaou.
We stayed at the Limassol Holiday Inn, situated on the beach
overlooking Limassol Bay and only two kilometres from the town centre.
The five-storey hotel boasts 144 guest rooms, a restaurant, a gym,
health club, sauna, whirlpool, open-air pool, indoor pool, tennis
courts and a variety of outdoor and indoor facilities.
It also has a jogging path, park area and nightlife all on its
doorstep, but other tourist attractions can also easily be accessed.
The Troodos Mountains are only about 90 minutes drive from Limassol
and they are well worth the effort.
If you love walking, skiing (during the winter), following nature
trails, or finding out more about the island's rich history, then I
highly recommend the trip.
The Troodos Mountains quickly became one of the favourite places in
Cyprus, mainly because they are so picturesque and have such a
tranquil atmosphere.
Just walking amidst these pine scented forests and varieties of wild
flowers and birds is pure pleasure.
The mountains reach almost 2,000 metres and offer beautiful
viewpoints. There are picnic areas, waterfalls and villages to
discover, as well as activities such as horse riding and bird watching.
If you are more interested in learning about the history of Cyprus
there are plenty of Byzantine churches and monasteries in the
mountains.
Ten of the Byzantine churches are included in the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) World
Heritage List.
The location also provides visitors a welcomed escape from the heat of
the Cyprus summer, which can get as hot as 37C in August in some parts
of the island.
Five to 10 kilometres southwest of Limassol lie the Fasouri
plantations.
Many types of citrus fruit trees grow there including lemons, oranges
and grapefruit and if you have time it certainly deserves a visit.
Passing through the plantations we even had an invitation to pick our
own oranges right off the trees, which was certainly a first for me!
Back in Limassol a must-see attraction is the Time Elevator, a
simulated history ride spanning as far back as 10,000 years.
This ride gives you the opportunity to see, hear and feel the history
and culture of Cyprus (stationary seating is also available).
The multi-sensory ride integrates a custom-made film featuring key
episodes in local history including the creation of the island, the
first Greek settlers, the introduction of Christianity, times during
various rulers, the War of Independence and present day Cyprus.
For a more in-depth look into the history of the island tourists
should also visit the Cyprus Archaeological Museum in Nicosia.
It holds sculptures, pottery, coins, bronzes and other items from the
Neolithic period through the Bronze Age, the Iron Age and the Graeco-
Roman period.
Some of the must-sees on show are: a marble statue of the legendary
goddess of love and beauty Aphrodite from Soloi dating back to the
first century BC; a fourth century BC marble head of the ancient Greek
mythical goddess discovered at Salamis; and a 12th century solid
bronze statue of a 'horned god' found in a shrine at Enkomi.
Our historical tour of Cyprus also took us to the Kourion ancient
site, Petra tou Romiou (The Rock of the Greek) - legendary birthplace
of Aphrodite (25 kilometres east of Paphos) and to visit the mosaics
at the Villa of Dionysos.
The Kourion site, located on the south-western coast between Limassol
and Paphos, dates back to the second century BC.
It has a spectacular second century BC Graeco-Roman theatre, which is
now completely restored and used to stage concerts and theatrical
events.
Just as impressive at the site is the House of Eustolios, which was
once a private Roman villa.
It consists of magnificent fifth century AD mosaic floors covering
several baths and rooms.
Other historical treasures at Kourion include the House of Gladiators,
House of Achilles, Early Christian Basilica and the Nymphaeum.
The House of Dionysos in Paphos is another magnificent ancient Roman
site to explore.
Dated around the late second century BC it displays spectacular
mosaics portraying many ancient Greek myths and legends, as well as
everyday scenes of village life.
In addition to its vast history the country is keen to preserve its
long traditions and culture and many of them have been kept alive
through the promotion of local handicrafts and folk art.
The Cyprus Handicraft Service based in Nicosia helps to preserve and
promote handicrafts through its Handicraft Centre.
The centre has experimental workshops for woodwork, pottery,
metalwork, general handicrafts, weaving, tapestry, leatherworks and
others.
Tourists are welcome to visit the workshops, archives and exhibition
hall free of charge.
In the centre there is also a souvenir shop where items made at the
workshops are sold. Similar centres and shops are also located in
various towns and there are several workshops in refugee camps and
villages.
On top of all its history and culture the country has amazing
authentic restaurants and local delicacies to die for.
There are a wide variety of Arabic, European and Asian restaurants to
choose from, but you really shouldn't visit the island without trying
its own delicious cuisine.
The local food is a combination of Greek and Oriental dishes and the
best way to try them is to opt for the meat, or seafood mezze, which
comprises 25 to 30 small dishes.
The dishes come with accompaniments including Greek specialities such
as moussaka (aubergine, minced lamb, tomato sauce and cheese bake),
taramosalata (fish egg salad) and Greek salad, as well as olives and
pickled vegetables. We had the opportunity to sample some of these
delights during dinner at the friendly Istoriko Restaurant, in
Limassol.
During our three-day trip we were also able to check out the food and
facilities at some of the country's top quality hotels.
We were invited to St Raphael Resort in Limassol for its international
buffet night and traditional live music, Le Meridien Limassol Spa and
Resort for its evening seafood buffet and live entertainment and to
the Elysium in Paphos for a specially created three course lunch.
The facilities offered in each hotel are impressive.
One of the highlights of the St Raphael Resort are its conference
facilities, which include a purpose built, pillar-free hall that can
accommodate up to 500 guests.
The hotel also has 37,000 square metres of landscaped property, a
health and fitness centre, and most impressive of all is the hotel's
marina, which can accommodate yachts up to 30 metres long.
The Elysium resort is a building like no other. Every part of it
evokes the country's rich history and culture.
It combines Byzantine architecture with choice elements from
Mediaeval, Venetian, Roman and Greek eras.
Even its name 'Elysium' conjures the spirit of the place, which in
Greek mythology refers to a place of delight and eternal bliss.
Most memorable is the entrance to the resort, which is complete with a
drawbridge and a mediaeval archway.
Le Meridien Limassol Spa and Resort is also beautiful. It is situated
on a 300-metre stretch beach and its design comprises stone arches,
waterfalls and mosaic-tiled pools.
There are also facilities and services to suit all tastes and ages
including Penguin Village for children, a nightclub, a spa, fitness
club, shopping arcade, sports activities and entertainment piazza.
It is also a resident-only resort and therefore offers guests complete
privacy.
The friendly island of Cyprus is a year round tourist destination that
clearly offers something for everyone.
