Home | Travel | Air Travel

Cyprus – The Insider's Guide To An Island Of Beauty And History

By: Mark Bartley

Read More About Air Travel

In the warm waters of the eastern Mediterranean, south of Turkey and nearer to the Lebanon and Syria than the Greek islands, Cyprus is an island of scenic mountain ranges, ancient and historical cities, and breathtaking coastlines. With a history as varied as it's geography, Cyprus' past goes back tens of thousands of years, right back to some of the earliest recorded examples of civilised communities.

Cypriot history also has a place in Greek Mythology, being the birthplace and centre of worship of the fertility Goddess Aphrodite, while Phoenician settlements have been discovered dating from the 8th Century BC. After rule by the Assyrians, Persians, and Greeks, Cyprus came under Roman control from around 58BC for the next 1000 years. The island also came under Venetian and Ottoman Empire rule during the Middle Ages, and eventually the British in the 19th Century. Cyprus finally gained independence in 1960, and today is known as the Republic of Cyprus, while Turkey recognises the northern part of the island separately.

Hundreds of years of conflict and drama have presented Cyprus with an amazingly varied culture and historical relics, many of which are now protected with UNESCO's world heritage status, and make holidays in Cyprus an ideal combination of good weather, fine sights and peaceful landscapes and seascapes.

The relaxing pace of life in Cyprus is very evident. The day-to-day pace of Cypriot life is leisurely but still refreshing. Based at one of many new stylish villas in Cyprus, visitors usually take little time in establishing that this island is all about appreciating the unspoilt countryside, either on foot or on horseback. The cool and refreshing air of the Troodos mountain range, and the tranquil sandy beaches where the opportunity to swim, windsurf or scuba dive can quickly turn a laid back holiday into an action packed vacation.

Visitors looking for boutiques and the latest fashion will find all the world class names and brands in the cities, as well as smaller, specialist local retailers offering quality and style with a distinctive Cypriot flavour. At night the tempo takes a lively and musical upward shift, with all styles of music performance being promoted and enjoyed by locals and visitors alike and plenty of restaurants and bars offering both contemporary and traditional fine food and drink. With this heady mixture of ancient history, writers and artists especially head for Cyprus for inspiration and the freedom to be creative. The small villages in particular each have their own unique charm and personality. Tucked away in little coves, mountain valleys and often near the main resorts on the island, places like Potamus Liopetriou, where the freshly caught fish is served straight away in village bars, are definitive of the beauty of Cypriot village life.

If you want to experience the best of Cyprus' artistic culture, head to the tiny village Lania, locally known as the 'painter's village.' Here you will find a good range of art galleries and studios, including a Mosaic workshop. Bird watchers will love the bird sanctuary that is Diarizos valley in the settlement of Nikokleia, where all around lie vineyards and fruit farms. . Getting to know Cyprus is the best way to appreciate it's charms.

If you want style and comfort as part of your holiday in Cyprus, then there is also a good range of quality accommodation. Whether you're after luxury or style, very few locations can match Cypriot accommodation.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

One way to enjoy a great Mediterranean holiday is hiring one of the many villas in Cyprus and using it as a base to investigate many of the attractions, both cultural and historical, the island has to offer.

Please Rate this Article

 

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Air Travel Articles Via RSS!
Additional Articles From - Home | Travel | Air Travel
Sign Up for a free account.
Our other websites
All about SEO
Beauty Tips Forum
Submit Articles
Member Login
Link Us
Submission Guidelines
Ezine Notifications
Article RSS Feeds
Sitemap
New Stuff
About Us
Developer
Good shopping portal
Link to Us
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service

counter easy hit

Powered by Article Dashboard