The legendary birthplace of Aphrodite, Cyprus is one of the world's most heavenly holiday destinations. Beautiful beaches, friendly people and stunning historic sites make for a vacation that is nothing short of divine
Standing at the crossroads of three continents, Cyprus has served as a backdrop for thousands of years of civilisation. As a result, although just a four-hour flight from the UK and still showing traces of its days as a British colony, the beautiful island offers a total change of scene.
Cypriots are famous for their hospitality and friendliness - especially towards children - meaning visitors are assured a warm welcome. And with sunshine virtually guaranteed, the greatest challenge faced by most holidaymakers is how to tear themselves away from the sunlounger in order to explore the island’s many treasures.
ON THE BEACH
The prettiest strip of coastline is at Ayia Napa in the east of the island, an area immensely popular with tourists. Of the six beaches, Nissi is the busiest and Makronissos the mostpicturesque. There are great beaches at nearby Protaras, too. On the opposite side of theisland at Paphos, beachfront hotels abutt onto sandy strips, but many visitors prefer to take the bus to bustling Coral Bay, five miles away. The favourite local beach - which is pebbly rather than sandy - is at Pissouri. If you're looking to get off the beaten track, it's best to head for the less-frequented coves on theAkamas Peninsula.
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
The Akamas National Park on the west of the island is Cyprus' last unspoilt wilderness. Visitors can follow nature trails across its rolling hills and green fields to the Bathsof Aphrodite, where Adonis is said to have watched the goddess of love bathing in apool beneath a small waterfall. According to locals, women bathing in its waters benefit from the deity's eternal beauty. In the lesser-known hinterland are picture-postcard villages such as Tokhni, set among orchards and olive groves. Further north are the foothills of the Troodos mountains, a popularhaunt for hikers, which rise towards 6,404-foot-high Mount Olympus, the highest point on the island. Also worth a visit is the wineproducing village of Omodos, with its quaint cobbled market square where local produce is sold.
PAST GLORIES
Nearby Kourion boasts the Sanctuary of Apollo, one of the island's most significant historic sites, the ruins of which date back to the eighth century BC. It features a holy precinct and bathing complex as well as the Temple of Apollo itself. The mountains, which offer a cooler and more traditional Cyprus, and are dotted with little monasteries dating from the 12th century.
Nine of these “painted churches”, includingSt Nikolaos at Kakopetria and the lovelyAssinou Church at Nikitari, have also beengranted Heritage status by the UN. The island’s richest monastery, which boasts ajaw-dropping interior, is at Kykko.
Cyprus is steeped in history, and reminders of itsancient past are everywhere. The entire Paphos region was designated a United Nations World Heritage site in 1980. It includes the mysterious Tombs of the Kings, the House of Dionysuswith its vivid mosaics, and a pillar where, according to legend, St Paul was flogged.
