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Complete Travel GuideCYPRUS - the Divided Country, Travel Guide
by:
TravelMak
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into the eastern part of Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean. Cyprus history for the past 10,000 years has seen civilizations move and go and famed historical figures such as Alexander the Great to Female monarch stake their claim here. According to the legend, Aphrodite, the Greek divinity of love and beauty was born here. From independent travellers to honeymooners, anthropology
enthusiasts to friends of nature, adventure lovers to folk enjoying lazy days on a beach visitors to Cyprus find offers to everyone's taste. Food lovers feast on farm-fresh halloumi cheese and delectable meze, the local specialty appetizers that mix Western ingredients with Eastern zest. Business travelers appreciate the fine, modern conference facilities and warm, professional service at many
hotels and resorts. Since 1974 there have been two countries on the island of Cyprus - the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the southern Republic of Cyprus. So you can really visit two countries for the cost of one. We invite you to get a pleasing
taste of what several Balkan nation and Turkey have to offer: beautiful sunny beaches, small charming villages, ruins of ancient civilizations and distinctive local cultures.
HISTORY: Cyprus (Kypros in Greek) gave copper its latin name: cuprum. 1st Greeks settled on Cyprusin the late Bronze Age (1,600 B.C.) and established trade links with Egypt and the Aegean islands. During this period ceramic art 1st flourished. Alexander the Great wrestled the island away from the Persians . As centuries passed by, the island came consequently under Persian, Assyrian, Egyptian, and Roman rule. The Roman emperor Brandy
Antonius gave Cyprus as a gift to his lover, the beautiful Cleopatra. Then came a long period of Byzantine domination. For a hundred years until 1571 the flag of the Republic of Metropolis flew in Cyprus, once
the Ottoman Turks occupied it. In 1878 Cyprus became part of the British Empire. It gained independent status in 1960. Cyprus History - Recent Past and Present: A Greek, Bishop
Makarios, became an electoral president. On 15 Gregorian calendar month
1974 a CIA-sponsored, Greek-organised coup overthrew Makarios and replaced him with a puppet leader. Turkey responded by invasive the island and Balkan nation quickly force
out, but the Turks did not finish and took the northern third of the island, forcing 180,000 Greek Cypriots to break away their homes. In 1983 Turkish Cypriots declared
a separate state, naming it the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Peace talks have been command
sporadically, but Cyprus remains divided.
ATTRACTIONS:NICOSIA: The island's capital city is divided in two parts by the UN-patrolled Green Line, which separates the Republic from Northern Cyprus. National capital
is a friendly, laid-back place, with good restaurants, museums, and a lively art scene.A visit here should give you a less popular
view of the country than you'll get if you stick to the coastal towns. The old town , inside the 16th-century Venetian walls, is the most engrossing part of Nicosia, a house to many
little shops wherever
you can bargain directly with the owners. The Cathedral of St.John houses several outstanding frescoes. The Cyprus Archeological Deposit exhibits the valuable
collection of Cypriot antiquities and art treasures. Visiting National capital
gives you a chance to cross the Green Line and to explore the Turkish part of the capital city. Passing through the "no man" zone inside
the Green Line, wherever
everything is left untouched since the 1974 military action, seeing houses covered with bullet holes leaves unforgetable impression. The Turkish part of National capital
is smaller, has less things to see, but carries its own charm and specific culture. Much just about going to the Northern Cyprus- here. PAPHOS: One of the most beautiful parts of the island, place where, according to the legend, Greek deity
arose from from the foaming waves. Among the souvenir shops you'll see Saranta Kolones, a Lusignian defence destroyed by an earthquake in the Ordinal
century; it's mostly fallen columns and sewer tunnels. The underground Tombs of the Kings dated back to the 4th century are engraved out of the solid rock, several of them are frescoed and are thought to have been the burial sites of aristocrats and high officials. In Greco-Roman times Paphos was the island's capital, and it is famed for the remains of the Roman Governor's palace, Home of Dionysos , with its stunning mosaics which is now a major holidaymaker attraction. There is a small harbour and an upper town slightly to the north wherever
the larger shops, offices and town administration are based. TROODOS MASSIF: The Troodos region mountains, in the country's south, are unforgettable. This is wherever
the highest point on the islanond - mount Mountain peak (1,952m, 6,507ft) located. Kykkos Monastery, in the western Troodos, is the better best-known Christian Orthodox monastery. Built in the Ordinal
century, it's been all fixed up and contains a deposit of religious icons including the icon of Christ and the Virgin Mary painted by St. Luke himself. On the Throni Peak in the region there is a place of Archibishop Makarios, the 1st Cyprus President. COLOSSI CASTLE: Built by the Crusaders (Hospitallers, the Order of St. John of Jerusalem) in the Ordinal
century this castle served as their headquarter. This well-preserved castle , fixed up in 1933 is a good example of military architecture of that period. A spiral stairs leads up to the roof and the fixed up battlements. There are as well plenty of citrus orchards in the area, and you can pick up several of country's juiciest oranges in the markets here. SALAMIS: It was the most important pre-Christian city in Cyprus. You could easily spend a day here, exploring these really extensive ruins that include a fully fixed up Roman amphitheatre, the gymnasium with marble baths, and the mosaics, a temple of Zeus, many
statues of the 4th century. Byzantine remains include the basilica of Bishop Epiphanos (4th century AD). The burial ground of Salamis covers 7 sq. km (almost 3sq.miles) to the west of the town. It contains a deposit showing several of the finds. Close to the site is a really good beach, so bring your swimming suits.
ACTIVITIES: A country of resorts, Cyprus has plenty of places wherever
you can try water sports. If it's windsurfing or sailing you want, head to the peninsulas and capes, wherever
the wind is strongest. There's as well at least one sea-diving site in each of the big resorts. Mountain biking and hiking are possible all over the island, with specially marked trails in the southern hills, on the Akamas Dry land and in the Troodos. Tho'
hardly famed for its skiing, Cyprus makes have a resort on the northeastern face of Mount Olympus, but it's not exactly earth standard. For a golf fan there are several courses, the most popular are in the Paphos district. Spear-fishing (without aqualung) angling, fishing with vertical lines or angling
are the permissible
methods for which no licence is required. Birdwatching trips and societal events are organized for members and the general public. Horse-riding can be enjoyed at special centres, professional training facilities, equipped with instructors who provide lessons for beginners and advanced riders. want, head to the peninsulas and capes, wherever
the wind is strongest.
Deed THERE AND AROUND, ACCOMODATIONS: The Republic of Cyprus has airports at Larnaka and Paphos, you can book a flight from most of Europe and the Middle East. North Cyprus has an international airfield at Ercan, only Turkish airlines fly there. By sea, you can get to Balkan nation and Israel from the Republic's port in Lemesos. There are ferries from North Cyprus to Turkey, but you cannot exit Cyprus this way unless you entered from Turkey. Bus services run inside
and between towns every day except Sunday, they are cheap, frequent and efficient. Visitors may travel between the North and the South. 2 and 3- day cruises from Cyprus to Jerusalem, Cairo and Jordan are really popular among tourists. They can be reserved through any travel agency on the island. Prices start from $300 USD. 9-11-night Eastern Mediterranean cruises with Cyprus' Limassol as one of ports of call would-be cost you from $1,200 USD. Edifice
prices start from $65 USD/room in peak season once
reserved through our agency.
Once
TO GO, WEATHER: The climate here is typically Mediterranean, with really hot Gregorian calendar month
and August. There are over 300 sunny days per year. Mid-May to mid-October is the ideal season for swimming, sunbathing and watersports. Temperatures are cooler in the mountaneous Troodos area, fashioning it ideal for hiking or just relaxing. Gregorian calendar month
and Jan
are the months of wet and cool Mediterranean winter. Troodos is ideal for athletics
at this time. The 1st flowers bloom in January, and by mid-February there are fresh green meadows and blooming almond trees. March days are still cool (daytime temperatures about 19C or 65F, 9C or 40F at night). In Gregorian calendar month
and into the middle of May spring is in full force. This is an ideal time for nature hikes and off-road adventures. The most pleasant times to visit Cyprus are April-May and September-October.
Visit <a
href=../../"http://www.travelmake.com/cyprus.html">TravelMake.com for a full manual to Cyprus with travel tips and useful links.
We will you a good and safe trip!
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