Cyprus

April 26-30, 2015:

On this tour of Cyprus we visited Paphos, Limassol, Omodos, Matatos, Larnaka, Nicosia, and the Troödos mountains.

Cyprus is a former English Colony:

The British Empire ruled Cyprus from 1878 to 1960, first as a protectorate, then as a military occupation, and finally as a Crown colony.

Consequently, I had to adjust to driving our rental car on the “right side of the car, left side of the road” and to shift with my left hand (while balancing our GPS instructions with my right hand).

Needless to say, we burned out the clutch on our rental car half-way through our Cyprus trip, but fortunately the rental car company brought us a replacement rental car with an automatic shift.

Driving on the left side of the road in Cyprus

Paphos Archaeological Park:

Paphos Archaeological Park, still under excavation, is within the Nea Pafos section of the coastal city. Its sites and monuments date from prehistoric times through the Middle Ages.

Paphos Archaeological Park

Paphos Archaeological Park Mosaics

Tomb of the Kings, Paphos:

The Tombs of the Kings, a Unesco World Heritage Site, contains a set of well-preserved underground tombs and chambers used by residents of Nea Pafos during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, from the 3rd century BC to the 3rd century AD.

Tomb of the Kings

Agia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa Church, Paphos:

This is a Roman Catholic Church. Most of the Paphos churches are Greek Orthodox…

Agia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa Church

Kourian Archaeological Site, Limassol:

Kourion, also known as Curium, is an impressive archaeological site near Limassol in Cyprus containing mostly Ancient Roman and Byzantine ruins.

Kourian Archaeological Site

Bed & Breakfast in Limassol:

We stayed in a cute Bed & Breakfast in Limassol…

Bed & Breakfast in Limassol

Omodos:

Center of the wine country in Cyprus.

We did wine tasting at Zenon Winery in Omodos.

Zenon Winery

Matotos Camel Park:

It is the only camel park in Cyprus and the biggest camel park in Europe.

Riding our camel

Matotos Camel Park

Hala Sultan Tekkesi, Larnaka:

Hala Sultan Tekke is a mosque and takya (or Tekke in Turkish) on the west bank of Larnaca Salt Lake, in Larnaca, Cyprus. Umm Haram, known as Hala Sultan in Turkish tradition, was the wife of Ubada bin al-Samit, a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and foster sister of Muhammad’s mother, Amina.

Hala Sultan Tekkesi

Larnaka:

Larnaca (Larnarka) is a port city on the south coast of Cyprus. It’s known for Finikoudes Beach, a sandy strip in the city center backed by a palm-lined seaside promenade.

Larnaka

We were fortunate to be able to stay close to the beach at the Les Palmiers Hotel.

Les Palmiers Hotel, Larnaka

Nicosia:

Nicosia, also known as Lefkosia, is the divided capital city of Cyprus. There is actually a wall dividing the city with the Greek side on the south and the Turkish side on the north.

Nicosia Self-Guided Walking Tour

Enjoying drinks and backgammon – Nicosia

Nicosia Churches, Monasteries, Mosques and Monuments:

Monastery of St. Clare (Casteliotissa), Nicosia

St. John’s Cathedral

Omeriye Mosque (Augustinian Church)

The Liberty Monument

Archbishop’s Palace

Woman and children statue

Interior – St. John’s Cathedral, Nicosia:

St. John’s Cathedral has beautiful frescoes.

Interior – St. John’s Cathedral

Cyprus Museum, Nicosia:

The Cyprus Museum is the oldest and largest archaeological museum in Cyprus, home to the most extensive collection of Cypriot antiquities in the world, and houses artifacts discovered during numerous excavations on the island.

Cyprus Museum

Agios Ioannis Lampadistis Monastery, Troödos Mountains:

Centuries-old complex with a chapel featuring Italian Renaissance-influenced Byzantine frescoes.

Agios Ioannis Lampadistis Monastery

Kykkos Monastery, Troödos Mountains:

The Holy Monastery of the Virgin of Kykkos was founded around the end of the 11th century by the Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos. It has beautiful frescoes.