L’Larnaca Airport is the classic hub for those who want to devote themselves to the sea and tanning: it opens up to the wide range of coasts, beaches, and fishing villages of the south, from Aya Napa to Limassol, from Paphos to the Akamas Peninsula. A mosaic of shores with soft, talcum-like light sand, solitary rocks, and imposing cliffs, expertly shaped by the wind; coves and inlets perfect for the goddess Venus, who according to tradition was born right here. One beauty after another, in short, even if, from time to time, along the coastal route, there are questionable examples of urban and building development in sight. The Paphos district, in the west of the island, boasts the greatest number of historical sites, traditions, ancient myths, and sites of indisputable natural beauty. Paphos city is divided into two sectors, the upper one or Pano Paphos, and the lower one, Nea Paphos, the port city founded by the Romans, where most of the historical monuments, luxury hotels, restaurants, pubs, and nightclubs are located. Not to be missed is a visit to the Roman mosaics of the 3rd century BC, with the houses of Dionysus, Orpheus, and Aion, considered the most beautiful and lavish in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The extreme eastern west opens up the Akamas peninsula, the first Cypriot national park, one of the last corners of wild and unspoiled nature, a paradise for hiking and nature tourism lovers. Inland on the island, the Troodos Mountains, another gem of nature, rise, dominated by the massif of Mount Olympus. This is a region where the air is fine and light, the roads wind through lush woods, mouflons jump on the most rugged rocks, and lovers of walks and mountain biking find a dense network of trails. In the villages, women embroider tablecloths and make lace for tourists; everything flows according to the simple but authentic rhythms of a time gone by. In winter, the Troodos become a preferred destination for skiers and lovers of snow sports. Another treasure of these mountains are the frescoed Byzantine churches and ancient monasteries, such as that of Kikkos (perhaps the most touristy but also the best known), which dates back to the 12th century and also houses a museum of ancient icons. Nicosia, the capital, is located in the center of the island, it is the most populous city, the seat of government, and the main economic and cultural center. Unfortunately, it is divided in two by the Green Line, the so-called Green Line, made up of military checkpoints, barbed wire, and sections of walls, which separate the Greek-Cypriot area from the Turkish-influenced area.
The old city, within the sixteenth-century Venetian walls, is the part that has most retained its original charm. Among the museums, the municipal Leventis museum stands out, which retraces the city’s history from the Stone Age to the present day, offering a useful overview. A visit to the Byzantine frescoes in the church of Ayios Joannis and to the Byzantine Museum in the Archbishop’s Palace, once the Benedictine abbey of Saint John the Evangelist, is not to be missed.
Cyprus Fact Sheet
- Country: Cyprus
- Area: 9,250 km²
- Capital: Nicosia
- Population: 720,000 inhabitants
- Language: Greek and Turkish
- Religion: the majority is Orthodox, the minority is Muslim
- Form of government: presidential republic
- Major cities: Nicosia, Famagusta, Limassol, Kyrenia
Useful information about Cyprus
- Currency: Cypriot Pound (Euro €1= £ 0.58)
- International dialing code: +357
- International plate: CY
- Driving lane: left
- Entry documents: Passport or Identity Card
- Required vaccination: None
- Electric current: 240V 50 Hz
- Unit of measure: metric decimal
- Time zone: + 1 hour compared to Italy
- Fixed date holidays: January 1: New Year’s Day; January 6: Epiphany; 50 days before Orthodox Easter: Clean Monday, Green Monday; March 25: Greek National Day; April 1: Greek-Cypriot National Day; May 1: Labor Day; 50 days after Easter: Pentecost – Kataklysmos (Festival of the Universal Flood); August 15: Assumption of Mary; October 1: Independence Day of Cyprus; October 28: Greek National Day (Ohi Day); December 24: Christmas Eve; December 25: Christmas
- Climate: The climate of Cyprus is mainly Mediterranean; climatologically, April and May and September and October are the best periods to visit the country. Summer, from June to August, is hot though mitigated by a light breeze, while winter is sometimes humid but still pleasant
- Average temperatures: the annual average in the country ranges from 12 °C to 30 °C.
- Transport: National airline Cyprus Airways; main ports in Cyprus Famagusta, Kyrenia, Limassol, Paphos and Vasiliskos
- Airports: Larnaca, Paphos, Ercan, Agia Napa, Nicosia, Limassol
