127 cyprusdreamweddings bro_new

Cyprus is an island of breathtaking scenery, with beautiful sandy
beaches set against a landscape of rugged cliffs, dense pine forests,
field after field of vines, citrus and banana trees, and 127 endemic
flower varieties found nowhere else in the world. Steeped in
mythology and widely believed to be Anthony's gift to Cleopatra
and the birthplace of Aphrodite, this island, with its high standard
of modern-day living, still retains a strong sense of the historic
– in the smaller mountain villages, it is as though time has stood
still for centuries.
throughout the island. The currency is in pounds and cents in the
same denominations as the British pounds and pence, driving is on
the left; electricity is 240v using 3-pin plugs and telecommunication
services are good. No vaccinations are required and both public and
private healthcare services are of a very high standard.
Probably one of the nicest areas of Cyprus is the western region of
Paphos and, as this is also where we are based, we have focussed
mostly on our region in this guide. However, throughout Cyprus
you will find scenic, cultural, historical and, of course, romantic
locations – all of which are easily accessible by car.
Rolling vineyards are typical of the Paphos region
The Paphos Region
Part of the UNESCO listed Heritage site at Kato Paphos
Recognised as the most sun-sure spot in the eastern mediterranean,
Cyprus enjoys an average of 340 sunny days per year and low
annual rainfall. Wherever you go, you will find that the local people
are friendly and welcoming, and that English is widely spoken
13
Strike out in any direction from the main towns and, within a
few kilometres, you are in an area of rugged hills and rolling
countryside or long stretches of sandy beaches.The Paphos region,
which spans the whole western area beginning just a short distance
east of Paphos International airport, includes monasteries, mosaics,
nature reserves, gorges, pine forests, vine-yards and wineries, small
mountain villages and golf courses, as well as the beaches, shops,
bars and restaurants in and around the main resorts of Paphos,
Coral Bay, Polis and Latchi.
Well-connected to the rest of the island by scenic coastal routes or
motorway, the furthest-most resorts of Ayia Napa and Protaras are
reachable within three hours, Larnaca and Nicosia within two hours
and Limassol within 45 minutes of Paphos. The beautiful Troodos
mountain resorts of Omodos, Platres and Kakopetria are just one or
two hours away.
Charming and picturesque in Kato is the pedestrianised harbour
area adjacent to the Byzantine Fort, built to protect the harbour
from invaders in times past. From here you can take local cruises
and glass-bottom-boat trips, which run several times daily in
the long summer season, or just relax and enjoy the view from
one of the harbour-side fish restaurants or cafes. Scuba-diving is
particularly good in this area and there are many interesting sites
and wrecks to explore.
Places of interest/activities in Kato include: The mosaics of
Paphos; The Tombs of the Kings; The Medieval Fort; Panayia
Chrysopolitissa Church and Byzantine Basilica; Aphrodite
Waterpark; Paphos Aquarium; scuba diving and watersports.
Ktima
The serenity of the harbour at Kato Paphos
Paphos
Once divided into two geographically-separate areas, Kato (lower)
Paphos and Ktima or Pano (upper) Paphos have gradually expanded
and joined to form one large town. There are so many historical
and archaelogical sites within upper and lower Paphos that UNESCO
decided against listing them all separately and simply added the
whole town to it's world Cultural Heritage List.Characteristically,
however, Kato Paphos and Ktima remain very distinct from each
other. Both have their own historic and cultural sites and attractions
but Kato Paphos is the beach, harbour and tourist resort, whilst
Ktima is the residential, retail and commercial area.
Kato Paphos
Under Roman rule, Kato Paphos was the capital of Cyprus. With
the decline of the Roman Empire, the capital moved to and remains
at Nicosia. Nowadays, Kato Paphos is the 'Western Cyprus Riviera'
and most hotels, bars, nightclubs etc, in the Region are situated
along this coastal strip. Many Cypriots, as well as international
tourists, choose to spend their holidays here and there can be no
better recommendation than local recommendation.
Despite its abundance of bars, restaurants and tavernas, much of
Kato remains relatively quiet after-hours. Most establishments close
by midnight, by request from the local population, and only the
nightclubs and licensed late-night bars continue till the early hours.
These tend to be based in or around the lively 'Bar Street' area so
are easy to find, or avoiding, depending on your point of view.
14
Built on an elevated, rocky escarpment, the central town area of
Ktima was perfectly designed to make itself virtually impenetrable
from attack. Apart from the panoramic views you can enjoy from
this height, you will find that the cobbled-street market area has
many cafes and tavernas offering more traditional Cypriot food at
very low prices, beautifully-crafted silver jewellery and a variety of
local crafts and ceramics. Familiar shops in the surrounding area
include Next, M&S, Mothercare, Reebok, Mango etc, and there are
many smaller boutiques offering designer clothes and footware of
very high quality at exceptional value for money. Cypriots take their
health and appearance very seriously and here, as across much of
the island, hairstylists, nail technicians, gyms and alternative
therapy centres are easy to find and affordably-priced.
Places of interest/activities include: Archaeological museum;
Neo-classical architecture; central market, the Hammam and,
of course, some serious relaxation and retail therapy
Agios Georgios/
Coral Bay
Kato Paphos has its own beaches but many visitors prefer to head
for Coral Bay and its 2km stretch of sand that gently slopes into the
sea. (Near the edge of the beach you can sometimes see deposits of
what looks like salmon-pink sand but is actually fine coral - hence
the name!) The beach has all the amenities that you would expect
from such a popular beach, including beach beds and umbrellas, a
couple of cafes and all the usual water sports. Swimming is particularly
pleasant here and the sea remains warm early into December.
Heading west just a short drive down the coast is the small fishing
harbour of Agios Georgios, which sits in a breakwater in front of a
small island, and was formerly the important settlement of
'Drepanum' in Roman times. It is now primarily known for its
quiet and small shingle beach and its three or four good souvla and
fish restaurants.If you only have a short time to spare, it’s
worthwhile timing your visit to coincide with sundown. From late
spring to early winter the sunset here must be one of the most
dramatic in Cyprus – the horizon seems to explode for miles in rich
and vibrant shades of amber and red. Just up from the shingle bay
are some natural rock caves through which you can clamber if you’re
sufficiently agile and energetic and, to the north, you can see the
start of the totally unspoilt nature reserve of the Akamas peninsula.
The lively resort of Coral Bay offers self-catering and hotel
accommodation, shops, bars and restaurants and is easily accessible
by public transport.
The fishing harbour of Ayios Georgios, right on the edge of the Akamas
national park
Toxeftra, the Avakas gorges and Cape Lara
Coralia
Located 1km further along the main road from Coral Bay is Coralia
(the local Paphos buses 10 and 15 terminate here). The long stretch
of its sandy beach curves round two bays and there are a couple of
small islands in the first bay which form a natural wind break.
Quieter than Coral Bay, the area has just a few shops and
restaurants and is a very peaceful location.
A few kilometres north from Agios Georgios, Toxeftra beach is
essentially the mouth of the Avakas gorge and can be reached
(somewhat bumpily) in an ordinary car. As part of the turtle
conservation area, Toxeftra has no amenities so peace and seclusion
are virtually guaranteed. The nearby gorges of Avakas and Koufon
are well worth the time and energy needed to explore them fully both are spectacularly steep-sided and home to rare, endemic
vegetation, birds and wildlife. Past Toxeftra the track to Cape Lara
Places of interest/activities in and around the Coral Bay/Coralia
area include: Snake George Reptile Park; sandy beaches; the Sea
Caves, watersports and go-karting
The turtle hatching beach at Lara
15
C
yprusdreamweddings.com
is often deeply rutted and this journey is only really advisable in a
4-wheel drive or as part of a jeep safari excursion. At Cape Lara,
apart from fabulous scenery and unspoilt beaches, you will find
Lara Turtle Station on the northerly bay, which is one of several
local nesting grounds of the endangered green and loggerhead
turtles. In 1978 the Lara Turtle Conservation Project and its field
station were established in an attempt to reverse the decline in the
mortality rate and the coastal area from Toxeftra to a few kilometres
beyond Lara declared a protected area. So far, the project volunteers
have managed to quadruple the yearly survival rate for hatchlings.
Peyia
Heading inland and upwards from Coral Bay you soon come to the
hillside village of Peyia, overlooking the sea. One of the most
popular residential villages, it has an attractive cistern-fountain
square and a number of good cafes and tavernas from where you
can relax after an excursion to the nearby Akamas, or just continue
to relax after a day on the beach...
The fantastic views from just above Peyia.
Driving further upwards out of Peyia the road becomes steep and
winding and the views down the valley towards the coast are simply
stunning. As you continue, the road cuts inland through
agricultural land and then, further on, to extensive vineyards
around the village of Kathikas and the Akamas ridge.
Kathikas
A short detour from the Peyia to Polis road lies Kathikas which,
though just a small village, has a couple of restaurants deserving of
their regional acclaim.It is worth noting that, in some village cafes
and restaurants, you may not get a menu and the English language
is not as fluently spoken as in the towns and resorts. However, don’t
let this put you off - the welcome is equally, if not more, warm. Just
sit down, let them bring you meze or the special of the day and
enjoy yourselves!
16
The picturesque harbour at Latchi, with some very good fish tavernas.
Polis and Latchi
The road to Polis begins its descent just after the Kathikas turn-off
and is flanked by vineyards and views of the distant Paphos forest.
Polis is a small town overlooking the Chrysochou Bay and is very
popular with those who prefer a quieter, more relaxed pace of life
but don’t want to be too far from all the usual amenities. In town is
a shady, stone-built, central square which offers a welcome respite
from the midday sun, as well as a variety of places to eat or drink. A
short distance away lies the pretty fishing village of Latchi. There is
a good pebble beach and several sea and harbour-side tavernas
offering freshly caught produce - an excellent place to spend a few
hours enjoying a leisurely fish meze and magnificent scenery. A few
miles further along the coast takes you to the Baths of Aphrodite,
almost at the most northerly tip of the Akamas peninsula Although
the Bath itself is little more than a small pool, the surrounding area
is delightfully pretty, the views from the cliff-top are breath-taking
and the small, shallow bay below is perfect for swimming and
snorkelling.
On returning to Paphos, you can take the more direct route via
Goudi and Stroumpi. This again is very scenic and passes through
orchard after orchard of citrus trees, equally beautiful when in
blossom or laden with fruit. All of a sudden you round a bend just
after Tsada and the view down to Paphos is fantastic.
Places of interest/activities in and around Polis and Latchi include:
the Baths of Aphrodite; the Fountain of Love; scuba-diving;
snorkelling; boat trips; Akamas nature trails, Neokhorio village
stone houses and the Petratis Gorge.
spanning Frankish to Venetian to Ottoman eras, styles and
influences –and, though not the most immediately obvious of
tourist destinations, has a certain atmospheric appeal, particularly
in the old town still enclosed in Venetian ramparts.
Places of interest in Nicosia include: The Ramparts; Cyprus
Museum; Kanakaria Mosaics; Gothic church of Ayios Mamas;
Ledra shopping street and the ‘viewing point into no-mans land at
the end of it, and the cross-border city views from the top of the
Woolworth building.
The Cavocle museum at Kouklia and the remains of the temple of Aphrodite
are not far from Paphos on the way to Limassol.
Petra tou Romiou/Paelo Paphos
18kms east of Paphos is Petra tou Romiou (otherwise known as
Aphrodite’s Rock), which is widely believed to be the birthplace of
Aphrodite.This imposing monolith is part of an incredibly scenic
shoreline, which can be visited up-close or seen from a number of
hilltop or roadside viewing platforms. Although there is little here
to actually ‘do’, this is a truly atmospheric place and definitely not
one to visit without a camera.
Places of interest/activities around Petra tou Romiou include:
Kouklia and the ancient city of Palea Paphos; Byzantine grotto and
frescoes of Palea Enklistra;and the Secret Valley golf course.
Further afield
Although this guide is mostly about the Region in which you will
be staying, you will probably want to travel a bit further afield
during your stay on the island. We have, therefore, included this
section to cover general background and sight-seeing information
about the major towns and resorts in Cyprus, as well as a few of our
own personal favourites.
A shady spot in the heart of old Nicosia..
Limassol
At first impression, the city of Limassol appears to be a vast and
sprawling residential, business and tourist resort. Ignoring this
initial aspect, the old centre of Levantine stone buildings and
alleyways lends a certain amount of charm to the city and the
gardens and sculptures along the lengthy seaside promenade make
for a pleasant, sunny stroll.
Nicosia
Nicosia is the capital city of Cyprus and, as you would expect, is the
business and commercial hub of the country. Without dwelling too
heavily on the political aspects of the island, it can’t be left unsaid
that Nicosia is the only remaining divided city in Europe and, as
such, is of interest on that basis alone. However, Nicosia has much
to offer of cultural and architectural interest in its own right –
The seafront promenade in Limassol
17
Places of interest in and around Limassol include: The castle and
mediaeval museum; the bazaar; municipal gardens and achaeological
museum; winery tours and the September wine festival; waterparks;
the nightlife of Potamos Yermasoyias; the ancient site of Kourion
(approx 12km west); Kolossi Castle (approx 9km west); Pissouri
beach, village and amphitheatre (approx 35km west) and the
Troodos foothill village of Omodos (approx 35km northwest).
Ayia Napa
Widely known as the dance capital of Europe, Ayia Napa needs
little introduction as a lively, vibrant resort. However, recognition as
such has only occurred over recent years and it still remains a
popular destination for visitors of all ages who remain faithful to
the area despite its newly-found popularity. It is, without doubt, the
area of the island most geared towards mass tourism and it is pretty
much what you would expect it to be. Much as we hate to admit it,
the beaches in this region, though at times overcrowded, are some
of the best that you will find on the island - calm, shallow seas and
silky sands which stretch for miles along the coast. Our personal
recommendation is to enjoy Ayia Napa for a short visit out of the
high season.
Timeless village backstreets to explore and fall in love with
Omodos
Situated in the foothills of the Troodos mountains, this lovely
village is popular with tour operators for very good reason. Centred
around its monastery, this quaint village is made up of a warren of
small cobbled alleyways, all of which seem to contain picturepostcard vistas of traditional Cypriot life.It is hard to believe that
somewhere so often visited has retained so much of its own identity.
Platres
Heading deep into the pine forests and the upper Troodos, Platres is
a town of cool climate and, in some instances, seemingly gravitydefying, mountain-side accommodation. Very popular throughout
the year, Platres is the ideal escape-from-the-heat as well as the place
to enjoy-the-snow resort.
Fig tree bay at Protaras
Protaras
A short distance east from Ayia Napa, Protaras is a similar, but
smaller resort geared slightly more towards families. Again, the beaches
are fabulous,particularly Fig Tree Bay, and all amenities are at your
disposal. A great place to visit, but definitely not the real Cyprus.
18
Kakopetria
Travelling down from the peak of the Troodos mountains, a slight
detour will take you to Kakopetria – a village which welcomes
tourism but doesn’t owe everything to it. Built on a steep cliff, the
town centre has a flowing mountain stream running through the
middle – on one side is a large but nice, luxury alpine-style
hotel/restaurant offering mainly international cuisine and, on the
other, traditional, stone-built houses and smaller hotels offering
four-poster beds in traditional surroundings. Whatever you choose
here, its a win-win situation.
The top of the Caledonian falls - a 2km mountain gentle climb through
beautiful scenery just outside the hill resort of Platres
Caledonian Falls
Just north of Platres lies the foot of the Caledonian Falls.
Depending upon which time of year you visit, the 2km walk up to
the top of the falls is either the mildly-exertive dry climb or the
more-challenging, slippery, stepping-stone version. Either way, it’s a
stunning and rewarding climb and you needn’t be ultra-fit to enjoy
it. Once you reach the top, you can return to the bottom and
perhaps stop at the restaurant below which offers very local and
very fresh trout, or continue some 5km further up-hill along the
track which will almost bring you to the resort of Troodos.
Troodos/Mount Olympus
Visitors often expect more from the top of the Troodos mountains,
which is Troodos/Olympus itself but, apart from a number of
eateries and stalls, there isn’t all that much here. It’s a nice enough
place to stop for a break though. You can while away some time just
enjoying a drink and people-watching; go pony-trekking; or you
can, for about six weeks of the year, enjoy good skiing. It’s not that
Troodos/Olympus isn’t fantastic – it’s just that expectations are
often so high that it’s hard for the area to live up to them.
19
There ends our guide. We hope that you find it
both informative and useful. If, however, you
require details about any area not covered in this
guide, then please do contact us and we will do our
utmost to help you in every way we can.