The island of Aphrodite offers long beaches and lonely mountains, picturesque mountain villages and busy cities, great treasures of culture and untouched nature - are good for a mixture of beach holidays and excursions into culture. Pleasant water temperatures up to 26 É C and 340 sun days in the year make Cyprus the ideal target for carefree vacation, not only in the summer time. The history of the country is thousands of years old. It can be admired at many places of impressing culture.

The third biggest island in the Mediterranean possesses many charming facets. One vacation is not enough at all to become acquainted with all the small and large beauty-spots. Discover the island, on which once the foam-born Aphrodite emerged from the sea. Still today "Petra tou Romiou" south of Paphos is a magic place, at which Aphrodite stepped onto the earth for the first time.

After Sicily and Sardinia Cyprus is the third biggest and the most eastern situated island in the Mediterranean. Geographically it already belongs to Asia, culturally however definitely to Europe.

Tracks of first settlement can be retraced at least at 9000 B. C.

1570 - 1878: Turkish rule

1878 - 1960: British rule

On 16.08.1960 Cyprus become independent and archbishop Makarios III. is the first president. He governs the island for 17 years.

In the middle of 1974 Cyprus gets divided. A part of the republic (approx. 37%) is occupied by Turkey. 60% of the island are allotted to the Greek Cypriots. A buffer zone (3%) between both island sections is subordinated to be checked by the United Nations.

In 1993 Gl…fkos Klerides becomes president of the state and of the government.

Since February 2003 Tassos Papadopoulos is new elected president of the Greek Cypriots.

A paradise with dark sides

The island of Aphrodite could be a paradise on earth wouldn't be there the big policy. Since August 1974 the island and the capital Nicosia are divided.

Along a demarcation line from the bay of Morfu to the bay of Famagusta Greek and Greek-Cypriot and Turkish and Turkish-Cypriot soldiers face each other. Between them there are on patrol approx. 1.100 soldiers of the peacekeeping forces of the United Nation.

However the vacation peace on the island is not disturbed by political conditions . Cyprus appears to the visitor as an extremely peaceful island - and as a very wealthy as well. Everywhere on the island you can feel the southern joy of life - life as celebration.

Port of Paphos

Market

Agios Georgios

Lonely beaches

Various restaurants in the picturesque harbour, which is dominated by a Byzantine castle give you the opportunity to enjoy the culinary art and the well known hospitality of Cyprus.

The countryside is serenely beautiful throughout the year while the climate is always mild and enjoyable. Paphos is the ideal place for holidays.

 
Sightseeing & Excursions

Paphos consists of Kato Paphos near the sea and the harbour with important archaeological sites around them and the upper part of town which is named KtĂma with shopping area, market, several museums and public authority offices. The distance between both is approx. 3 km.

Fort

'Tombs of the kings'

Harbour

Mosaics

The location of the villas is very handy for a drive to all interesting points of Paphos and Paphos area.

Cyprus is the third biggest and the most eastern island in the Mediterranean.

Area total: 9.251 sq. km (including Turkish section). Population: 760.000 (including Turkish section). Coastline: 700 km

Various landscapes of the island offer to the visitor rugged coasts with crystal clear water, sandy beaches, rocky hills and wooded mountains. Two mountains characterize the face of the island: The great Troodos mountains in the middle rise up to 1.950 m and offers excellent skiing grounds in winter time. The alpine like mountains of KyrĂnia are located at the north coast with heights up to 1.024 m. The plain of Mesa€ria is located between these mountains.

Cyprus is a very fruitful island with vineyards, plantations of orange and bananas, although there are no rivers and only a few brooks water-leading all over the year. Many storage lakes have been built in the last 40 years for the winter precipitation.

Capital: Nicosia (Lefkosia), further important cities: Limassol as port and place of many offshore companies, Larnaka as port and airport city and Paphos (Pafos) as rising holiday resort since end of the 80's.

Language: Greek in the Greek Cypriot community. English is widely spoken and understood and regularly used in commerce and government. German and French are often understood and spoken mostly in holiday resorts.

Climate and travelling time

Cyprus is a destination for each season with 340 days of sunshine in the year because of its favourable geographical location.

Occasional showers of rain are noticed in the time from December to February. Average daytime temperatures are pleasant 15É C, at night not less than 8É C. Snowfall is possible during this time in the Troodos mountains and there exists a chance for skiing.

From May until September temperatures are between 26 - 29É C. In August sometimes 35É C can be reached. The water temperatures slowly rise from 18-22É in spring time up to approx. 26É possible still in October-November.

Cyprus belongs to the most healthful climatical regions in the world.

Flora and Fauna

The extraordinary and varied vegetation extends from the fruitful coast plains over the desert hill country, grain-fields, vine yards and fruit plantations up to pine woods in the Troodos mountains. The different soils, various altitudes with their climatic characteristics and the change of dry mountains and damp valleys contributed to this diversity of species. Cyprus is one of the most densely wooded islands in the Mediterranean. Meanwhile one fifth of its area is tree-covered again. For thousands of years the forests were felled for building ships and houses, for use as charcoal and for the domestic stove.

Altogether there are approx. 1.800 wild living plants domestic on Cyprus, among them 40 types of orchids. The Troodos-pine, the Cyprus-cedar, the Cyprus-tulip and the Akamas-stone herb belong to the 120 endemic plants. In springtime the island is changing into a carpet of flowers and the visitors are pleased with bright colours everywhere and with the natural beauty of the island. On Cyprus you will find olive and carob trees, eucalyptus, lemon and orange trees, bananas (near Paphos), plane trees, oak trees and Aleppo pines. Cedar trees can be found in the western mountain country.

Cherries, peaches, pears, apples, walnuts, almonds and quinces are growing at the northern slopes of the Troodos mountains. Growing wine gives the south side of the mountains its characteristic appearance. The Akamas peninsula is a still untouched natural paradise and a preferred area for hikers. There are special natural paths showing the extraordinary flora. At the west coast there are two types of threatened sea turtles laying down their eggs in the bay of Lara. The Lara project is well known also outside of Cyprus and is supported by the World Wildlife Fund of Nature (WWF).

The island is a paradise for ornithologists. They find about 375 types of birds, among them many migratory birds. To the most impressive migratory birds belong flamingos and swans. They are to be seen in winter time on the two salt lakes of Larnaka and Akrotiri. Emperer eagles are circling over the Troodos mountains and over the peninsula of Akamas goose vultures are to be seen. The Cypriot wild sheep is the most well known endemic animal species. They are living in the forests of Paphos. Lizards in different sizes and shapes are living there. If the hiker comes too close to them while they are taking their sun bath, they withdraw very quickly.

Culinary

Many influences from Turkey, Orient, Italy and Britain combined with the local food produced on the island make up the traditional cuisine, which provides various and delicious spiciness.

• From the grill: minced meat (scheftalia), grill spit (suflaki), pork chop (brisola), lamb chop (paidaklia), goat cheese (halloumi).
• From the sealed oven: lamb or goat (kleftiko)
• Composite dishes of casseroles: pork in red wine (afelia), stuffed noodles (ravioles), pork, beef or rabbit with onions (stifado), aubergines souffle (moussaka).
• Starters: village salad (salata noriatiki), dip of chick peas (humus), dip of aubergines (melindsanosalata), dip of sesame (tachini), dip of cucumber and yoghurt (talaturi), dip of fish (taramosalata).
• Specialities: Octopus in red wine (octapdi krasato), snails in tomato sauce (karaoli yahni), brawn (zalatina).
• Fish: Tiny sardine type fish (marida), red mullet (barbouni), rings of squid (kalamari).
• Dessert: Fresh fruit (fruta), pastry filled with cheese and honey (bourekia), filled puff-paste (baklawa), semolina cake (skamali), pudding (galatobureko).