Places of Interest

Cyprus and this part of Cyprus has much history to understand and explore and although this list of places to visit is far from exhaustive, it hopefully does provide something for everyone to experience beyond the beautiful scenery, superb climate and great hospitality of the Cypriot people.

• The Troodos Mountains offers spectacular scenery as well as many small, beautiful villages, monasteries and wineries. There is even a unique cycling route for the more energetic!
• As Cyprus is the island of goddess Aphrodite. a 'must see' is her birthplace along with the Rock of Romiou, which can be found near Paphos.
• Along the coastline close to the Akamss Villas properties and near to the Anassa Hotel are the 'Baths of Aphrodite', where the Goddess of Love used to take her bath in a cool pond. According to legend, after swimming in the crystal clear waters of the bay, Aphrodite used to bathe in this pond, surrounded by idyllic landscape with the sweet smelling flowers and it is here that she met Adonis for the first time. There are also some superb walking trails in this area.
• The 'Tombs of the Kings' in Paphos, where the rock dates back to the Hellenistic and early Roman periods.
• 'Maa-Palaeokastro' settlement is another important cultural monument on the western coast close to Coral Bay (near Paphos). This settlement is important for the understanding of the end of the Late Bronze Age in Cyprus
• In the capital of Nicosia, visit the Hamam Omeriye in the old part of the city, next to the Omeriye Mosque and not far from the Archbishop's Palace, it was built in 1570-71 as a donation by Lala Mustafa to the city after the island fell to the Ottomans. Take this opportunity and walk the nearby pathways of 'Laiki Yitonia' in Old Nicosia's city centre.
• Visit Limassol Medieval Castle. It is situated in the heart of the old town, 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.
• Experience the 'Choirokoitia' Neolithic Settlement. The ancient sites date back to the 6th millennium BC. It lies in the domain of the village form from which it takes its name In the Larnaka district. Included in UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list since 1988, Choirokoitia is one of the best preserved settlements of this period of Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean.
• There are a number of additional places of interest in Paphos, including the Catacombs The Odeion theatre, which has been partially restored to give an impression of how once it would have been during the Roman period, Mosaics and Paphos Fort, which has excellent views across the harbour.