Cypriot Treasures

Day 1 London to Limassol, Cyprus.

Fly by scheduled flight. On arrival transfer to the Amathus Beach Hotel for a seven night stay. Enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel this evening. (D)

Day 2 Limassol.

Our first stop this morning is the Temple of Apollo, one of the main religious centres of ancient Cyprus, where Apollo was worshipped as God of the Woodlands. It seems that the worship of Apollo on this site began as early as the 8th century BC and continued until the 4th century AD. We will continue to the ruins of Kourion, a city built in 1200 BC. Of particular interest are the public baths, the necropolis, the Fountain House, House of Gladiators and House of Achilles. The most spectacular site at Kourion is the Greco-Roman Theatre that has been completely restored and is used today for open air musical and theatrical performances. We will also visit Kolossi Castle, which was built in the 15th century on the ruins of a former fortress dated to the beginning of the 13th century. Some of these ruins can still be seen east of the present castle. Continue through the wine-growing region around Limassol and through the fragrant citrus plantations to the old centre of Limassol for lunch and some free time before we visit Limassol Fort, just above the old harbour. According to tradition, this is where Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre and crowned her Queen of England in 1191. The fortified walls are of considerable archaeological interest and thought to be fragments of a much larger castle. Return to the hotel and meet later this evening for dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 3 Troodos Mountain Villages.

After breakfast, we will explore the Troodos Mountains. Our first stop will be the 11th century church of Saint Nicholas of the Roof which in 1985 was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list alongside nine other painted Byzantine churches of the Troodos range. It is completely painted with murals dating from the 11th to the 17th centuries and is considered one of the most interesting Byzantine churches on the island. The church took its name from the steep, pitched timber roof that was built to protect it from the weather. Close by is the beautifully cool and green village of Kakopetria where huge plane trees line the streets, squares and the banks of the river. We will continue to the picturesque village of Omodos, where we will take a walk past the monastery and restored houses before we stop for lunch. Omodos is also known for its traditional wine press known as ‘Linos’ and we will stop at a local winery where we will have the opportunity to taste the wine and other products produced on the estate. Return to the hotel for an evening at leisure. (B, L)

Day 4 Limassol.

Spend the day at leisure to enjoy the hotel’s facilities or take the local bus into Limassol town centre. Alternately, a short walk from the hotel will take you to the impressive remains of the archaeological site of Amathus, one of the ancient royal cities of Cyprus until about 300 BC. (B)

Day 5 Paphos.

We will depart for our guided excursion after breakfast and make a brief stop at the most famous landmark in Cyprus - Aphrodite’s Rock, the birthplace of the Goddess of Love and Beauty. We continue to Saint Neophytos Monastery founded by the Cypriot hermit and writer Neophytos. It is built in what used to be a secluded location at the head of a picturesque valley. The Egkleistra, an enclosure carved out of the mountain by the hermit at the end of the 12th century, contains some of the finest Byzantine frescoes from the 12th to the 15th centuries. The later monastery church contains some of the best examples of post Byzantine icons of the 16th century. Then on to Paphos where we will visit the 13th century Chrysopolitissa Church which is shared by the Anglican and Catholic congregations, who hold regular services at the invitation of the local Orthodox priest. Saint Paul visited Paphos in 45 AD in an attempt to convert the ruler of the time to Christianity. He was successful in his efforts, but not before being tied and whipped to an otherwise unremarkable lump of stone, the Pillar of Saint Paul which we will see during our visit. It is one of several popular stops for pilgrims who come to see the religious sites of this early bastion of the Christian faith. We continue to the archaeological park, known as the House of Dionysos with the fabulously preserved mosaics which date back to the 2nd century AD. The name House of Dionysos is mainly due to the many representations of Dionysos, the God of wine. Our final stop in Paphos is at the Tombs of the Kings. Spread over a vast area, these impressive underground tombs date back to the 4th century BC and are carved out of solid rock while some are decorated with Doric pillars. High officials rather than Kings were buried here, but the magnificence of the tombs gave the locality its name. After lunch and some free time in the picturesque fishing harbour of Paphos, return to the hotel. Enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening. (B, L, D)

Day 6 Nicosia.

Today we visit Nicosia, the only divided capital city left in the world, part of the city is under Turkish occupation. We begin the day with a visit to a handicraft centre where we can see traditional skills still performed, and then continue to the ‘Green Line’ which divides the city. We will have a panoramic view of the capital passing in front of the Venetian Walls, the Famagusta Gate, the Statue of Liberty and finally we will stop in front of the Archbishop’s Palace. We will visit Saint John’s Cathedral which was built in 1662 and is the only church in Nicosia in which the internal wall paintings have survived in their entirety. Then on to the Cyprus Archaeological Museum, founded in 1882 it is the oldest and largest archaeological museum in Cyprus. The museum houses artefacts discovered during numerous excavations on the island and is home to the most extensive collection of Cypriot antiquities in the world. The tour continues towards the newly restored ‘Laiki Gitonia’, an example of an old Cypriot neighbourhood, where we will stop for lunch and have time for shopping (folk art, jewels, pottery). Return to the hotel where the remainder of the afternoon and evening are at leisure. (B, L)

Day 7 Limassol.

Spend a final day at leisure to enjoy the hotel’s facilities or to explore further independently. Meet this evening for a farewell dinner at a local taverna. (B, D)

Day 8 Limassol to London.

Transfer to the airport for the return scheduled flight to London. (B)