Popular for centuries - Cyprus!
Since recorded time began, folk have been making the trip to Cyprus. Turn left at Gibraltar, trek towards Turkey and you're there, just off the coast of Greece. And therein lies Cyprus' ancient popularity. Right in the strategic hotspot of East meets West. Since the 10th century BC, Cyprus has been repelling invaders, been invaded, rebelled, been invaded again and fought off suitors left, right and centre.
Today it's much more friendly to visitors and the curious can enjoy all those ancient forts, soaring battlements and the monuments, churches and buildings wrought by various mediaeval visitors. Holiday Supermarket can help you sort out the when and where. Cyprus holidays today are all about beaches, food, bars and history. Wandering the old town in Limassol is a step back in history. Holidays to Cyprus can be romantic too; legend has it that Richard the Lion heart married in Limassol Castle. Check it out as you head to one of the many cafes lining the squares and streets.
While you're enjoying cheap holidays to Cyprus get some exercise in and stroll the 8km beach promenade. It stretches along the beachfront area and is an enjoyable walk past green lawns, flowerbeds and fountains and pools. There are plenty of cafes on the roadside to stop and enjoy something cold, and plenty of beautiful scenery to look at as you walk.
Cyprus holidays are a crossover into two worlds - the old and the new. The history in this place is quite incredible. Just outside Limassol, for example, are the Amathus Ruins. You'll see the ruins of an ancient basilica, the temple of Aphrodite, the old town's water supply and the Amathus Agora. It's worth some time out from a beach holiday to explore the sites - they're easily accessible and offer a unique look at life from hundreds of years ago.
Larnaca boasts equally incredible history for your holidays to Cyprus trip. The interior of the Ayios Lazarus is extraordinary. Bare rock walls, magnificent chandelier, the grandeur of an important church. The impressive tower of this mediaeval church is just one aspect of how early Christianity impacted upon the local population. Probably built by Crusaders, it lies in the narrow streets of old town and is well worth the effort of finding it.
Holidays to Cyprus aren't just about the beaches.... did you know there's an amazing shipwreck you can dive just off the coast of Larnaca in the bay? It's about 1.5 kms out and is an incredible dive. The Zenobia sank on her maiden voyage as a roll-on roll-off ferry when the ballast tank software malfunctioned. The highest dive point is 17 metres and the lowest about 42 metres so all levels of diver will see something.
What's the best thing about holidays in Cyprus? The beach! And one of the best beaches in Cyprus is Finikoudes Beach in Larnaca town. The beauty of this place is it's easy to enjoy the beach and the old town, the restaurants and bars and cafes. Everything is close and it makes for great cheap holidays to Cyprus when you can just stay in the one place and enjoy everything within walking distance. Fringed by palm trees, Finikoudes is close to the marina and is a big, long beach. If you love crowds, partying and life - Finikoudes during summer is chaotic!
Hala Sultan Tekke is set on Salt lake and to see it across the lake fringed by palms is a beautiful sight. It's quite a simple building, yet the minaret and the solidity of the dome set it apart. Walking through the main gate will take you back centuries to the crusades and the on again, off again wars. The big block walls are cool even in the peak summer heat. It's on the road from Larnaca to the airport. Doing a circuit of the Salt lake will take about 3 hours. Keen photographers will love the flamingos that settle on the Lake in winter.
Holidays in Cyprus are truly the best of both worlds in that Larnaca old city, for example, is close to one of the best beaches in the Mediterranean and some of the most incredible mediaeval ruins in Europe. Larnaca Castle is a mediaeval fort that looks out across the bay and is within easy walking distance. The ruins of ancient Kition are exciting for anyone who loves archaeology. They date back approximately 8000 years and you'll walk the ruins of old streets and see the outlines and remains of old homes and shops. This is where civilisation in Cyprus began and it's a thought-provoking place.
If you want to see the updated version of the Crusades and the battles in mediaeval Europe, check out the Selimiye Mosque in Nicosia. It was the St Sophia Cathedral until the 1970s when Turkey invaded the northern part of Cyprus. It's safe to visit the northern end but you'll need to bring your passport. The statues have been removed from outside the cathedral and the internal walls painted white and inscribed with scripts from the Koran. It's a beautiful old building and well worth visiting if you don't buy into the local politics.
Cyprus is an ancient country passed from Greeks to Turks to British and many more in between. The architecture displays this never-ending battle and the history of the place cant help but affect you. The Cypriots are a proud people and they'll enjoy telling you their version of the story. But if you're just in Cyprus for a wonderful holiday in the sun, you'll thoroughly enjoy this warm, vibrant, chaotic, peaceful place. The water is cool and clear; the resorts are very comfortable and cater well for the tourist. Don't hesitate - see Cyprus today!