Countries of the World/COUNTRYS.BIN/dp/0104/01049.txt

Text File | 1991-06-25 | 18KB | 347 lines

$Unique_ID{COW01049}
$Pretitle{222}
$Title{Cyprus
Cyprus Tourist Information}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Embassy of Cyprus, Washington DC}
$Affiliation{Embassy of Cyprus, Washington DC}
$Subject{cyprus
district
museum
centre
island
monastery
village
limassol
nicosia
art}
$Date{1988}
$Log{Petra Tou Romiou*0104901.scf
Dherina Churchy*0104902.scf
Table 1.*0104901.tab
}
Country:     Cyprus
Book:        Cyprus Tourist Information
Author:      Embassy of Cyprus, Washington DC
Affiliation: Embassy of Cyprus, Washington DC
Date:        1988

Cyprus Tourist Information

[See Petra Tou Romiou: Courtesy Embassy of Cyprus, Washington DC]

[See Dherina Churchy: Courtesy Embassy of Cyprus, Washington DC]

     Cyprus - an island tucked away in the top right hand corner of the
Mediterranean, close to Europe, Asia and Africa, stepping stone to three
continents.

     An island whose civilisation can visibly be traced back over 9,000 years;
where Alexander the Great left his mark, as were left the marks of Greeks,
Phoenicians, Romans, Crusaders, Lusignans, Venetians and many others. An
island whose turbulent history inscribes a story as dramatic and compelling as
anywhere in the world. And an island where those mythical Gods and Goddesses
of Ancient Greece indulged themselves in sport, pleasure and tragedy; where
Aphrodite, Goddess of love and beauty emerged from the foam, later to become
the centre of attraction for the first tourists to flock to the island in
their thousands.

     With such a background, Cyprus could not fail to develop a character that
is quite unique. Add to this the superb natural beauty of the island, its
rugged coast line interspersed with fine beaches that are never crowded, its
rolling hills and forest clad mountains, its picturesque villages where the
inhabitants offer true hospitality in the tradition that has been handed down
from generation to generation, where the real meaning of Philoxenia,
Friendship towards the Guest, is evident; the result is inevitably a holiday
maker's paradise to suit all tastes.

     Then there is the climate - the finest in the Mediterranean. Do you want
to spend a summer holiday lazing on the beach with swimming, sailing, water
skiing or cruising along the coast as a diversion? Or do you want to enjoy the
cool fresh air of the pine scented hill resorts at anything from 2000 to 6000
feet above sea level? The choice is yours - or you can do both for, although
there are 3.572 square miles of Cyprus for the tourist to enjoy, no two
places are that far apart and self drive cars are cheap compared with most
countries.

     Do you want a 'White Christmas', free of all work and worry in a
centrally heated luxurious hotel with all the traditional fare, and skiing on
Mount Olympus? Or would you prefer to absorb the warmth of the sunshine at a
seaside resort? Cyprus can offer both.

     In spring time the sight of the wild flowers, the fruit blossoms and the
flowering trees and shrubs, has to be seen to be believed; fields of brilliant
gold relieved by splashes of scarlet and white, blue and mauve. And over all,
the exotic perfume of the citrus blossoms pervading the atmosphere.

     For the archaeologist, Cyprus is a place of enormous interest. Every
day, during the 'digging' season, more and more treasures of a by-gone age
are being discovered by experts from all over the world; even the uninitiated
must be impressed by some of the finest mosaics in the Mediterranean nearly
2000 years old.

     In the field of gastronomy, Cyprus lives up to its reputation for
variety. Cypriot tavernas provide an extensive range of local dishes that may
sound strange at first, but are all very appetising. These contrast with
restaurants offering European cuisine or Arabic, Chinese and Indian food. The
wines of Cyprus have been known far and wide for centuries and, like
everything else in the island, there is something to suit every taste, table
wines, dessert wines, aperitifs, brandies and liquers - all at very reasonable
prices.

     And as a conference centre, Cyprus is enhancing its reputation with fully
equipped conference halls offering every facility.

NICOSIA

     Nicosia, the capital since the 12th century AD, lies roughly in the
centre of the island. It combines the fascination of the old city, surrounded
by the Venetian-built walls still in an excellent state of preservation, with
the modern sophisticated developments that have sprung up to the south and
west. Here are new hotels of international standard, apartment blocks,
restaurants, shops, supermarkets, discos and night clubs.

     There are also many places of great historic interest-the Cyprus Museum
displaying works of art dating from the Neolithic period (6800 BC) to the
Roman period (300 AD); the Cathedral of St. John, containing a number of wall
paintings including the Discovery of the Tomb of St. Barnabas who, with St.
Paul, brought Christianity to Cyprus, the Archbishopric which is the seat of
the Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus; the Folk Art Museum; the Museum of
National Struggle; the Makarios Cultural Centre (Byzantine Icons Museum and
Art Gallery); the House of Hadjigeorgakis Kornessios; the Cyprus Handicrafts
Centre; the Famagusta Gate, and Laiki Yitonia.

     In Nicosia there are also Sports Centres, a Bowling Centre, a Horse
Racing Club. 7 miles from Nicosia, near Deftera, there is a new Riding School
and Sports Centre.

     Every year at the end of May the International State Fair is held, while
the Nicosia Art Festival takes place in September.

NICOSIA DISTRICT

     Nicosia district extends westwards into the Troodos mountains,
into country of magnificent scenery, forests, valleys, and hill resorts such
as Kakopetria, and Galata with their Byzantine churches.

     Other interesting features include: Tamassos, the Royal Tombs and Ayios
Heraklidios Monastery; Peristerona village, the five dome church and the
mosque; Nikitari, the 12th century church of Assinou, one of the finest
examples of Byzantine art in the Middle East; Platanistassa, Stavros tou
Ayiasmati church; Kalopanayiotis St. John Lampadistis Monastery; Lagoudera,
Panayia tou Araka monastery; Dhali, the ancient Idalion, and Macheras
monastery, about an hour's drive into the hills southwest of Nicosia.

LIMASSOL

     Limassol, the second largest town in Cyprus, is the island's main port.
The newly constructed harbour is constantly being extended to meet the
requirements of the latest Roll On - Roll Off techniques as trade develops and
passenger traffic increases. It is also the centre of the wine industry, most
of the vines used in the production of wines growing on the slopes of the
Troodos mountains. The grapes, when harvested, have to be conveyed by the
nimble donkeys down the steep tracks to the lorries waiting on the road
below - then to the main wineries situated on the outskirst of the town.

     It is thus natural that Limassol should be famed for its
festivities - the Wine Festival in September when free wine flows in quantity
accompanied by all the local dishes; the pre-Lenten Carnival with bands, gaily
decorated floats, dancing and song, and many other occasions.

     Limassol is also rapidly developing as the main tourist centre with its
public Tourist beach at Dhassoudi backed by every facility including cafes
and changing rooms. New hotels and hotel apartments are being built close to
the sea; restaurants, tavernas, discos and night clubs can meet the increasing
demands of the sophisticated tourist.

     There is also the local Archaelogical Museum the Folk Art Museum, the
medicated Castle where according to tradition Richard I the Lionheart married
Berengaria of Navarre and the public gardens with a small zoo.

LIMASSOL DISTRICT

     There are also many places of great historic and archaeological interest
to be seen in and around Limassol; Amathus, 7 miles East of Limassol, once
capital of a former city-kingdom, now ruined and partly under the sea; the
Acropolis, Necropolis and remains of an earl