Capturing Cyprus

32

 Beautiful island

By Farah Amin

The sights worth seeing around Cyprus are equally plenty in history, culture, and beauty. The island’s story is told through its historic sites, Roman ruins, museums, and dusty urban streets.

Pafos
The history of the Cyprus is highlighted vividly in Pafos, specifically in the vibrant coastal town, where it’s archaeological sites like Tombs of the Kings are astonishing and sprawls like an ancient theme park.
The island’s past has uncovered fascinating relics, including Neolithic dwellings, Bronze Age and Phoenician tombs, and exquisite Roman mosaics. Venetian walls, Byzantine castles and churches, Roman monasteries and Islamic mosques dominate the streets of the island.

Pafos is also known for its Mosaics, specifically in Nea Pafos (New Pafos)
There is a superb collection of mosaics located in the southern sector of the archaeological site, immediately to the south of the Agora, where it was discovered by accident in 1962 by a farmer ploughing his field. These exquisite mosaics decorated the extensive floor area of a large, wealthy residence from the Roman period.  The most wonderful thing about the mosaics is thatapart from their artistic and aesthetic merits, each tells a story, mostly based on ancient Greek myths.

Hrysopolitissa Basilica & St Paul’s Pillar
This fascinating site was home to one of Pafos’ largest religious structures. What remains are the foundations of a 4th century Christian basilica , which fittingly demonstrates the size and magnificence of the original church; it was ultimately destroyed during Arab raids in 653. What is left is magnificent marble columns remain from the colonnades, while others lie scattered around the site, and mosaics are still visible.

Kyrenia (Girne)
Kyrenia a natural harbour governed by the sea, once so attractive to those with empirical ambitions, is today just as popular to whom only desire is to stroll the seaside strand and hop on a boat cruise around the bay.

Climb up the honey-coloured fortifications of the Byzantine castle, and look down at the fishing boats bobbing in the water. Then join travellers residing outside the former carob warehouses that house harbour-side cafes and restaurants to ponder this ancient port’s mammoth history while staring out to sea.
Stroll the area in the early morning before business starts for the day and you’ll experience Kyrenia at its most picturesque. Or join everyone else promenading shoreside in the evening to witness the town’s buzzing holidaymaker modern soul.

Kyrenia Castle
The outstanding fortifications of Kyrenia Castle, first built by the Byzantines, possibly over the remains of an earlier Roman fort; every era of conquerors from Richard the Lion-heart to the Ottomans has added their own touch to its bulk.
A large rectangular structure, the castle contains a cistern, dungeon, chapel and museum, though the real highlight is walking along the ramparts high above the harbour. 

Lara Beach
If you’re not one of those beach-goers obsessed with golden sand, the greyish sand of Lara Beach will be perfectly fine. This is a good swimming spot, which also has clean toilets and changing-room facilities as well as a small snack bar.

Salamis
Salamis was Cyprus’ most important pre-Christian city, and it’s still the country’s best archaeological site. You could easily spend a day here, checking out the fully restored Roman amphitheatre, the gymnasium with marble baths, and the fascinating mosaics. Salamis’ history provides a crosssection of the many civilisations that have contended with each other over thousands of years in the Mediterranean.

Zanettos Taverna
Now to experience the culinary side of Cyprus you must grab a bite at the Zanettos Taverna. This place has a great reputation in the city, as it’s supposedly one of the city’s oldest traditional taverns, dating back to 1932.
Locals gather here by the dozen for the succulent Greek-Cypriot meze, and it’s definitely worth joining them – once you find the place, as it’s hidden away in the back streets.
There’s no menu, but ask to read about the history of the place because it’s fascinating. Also portions are huge, so you’d better be hungry.