Cyprus, strategically located at the crossroads of civilisations, has a rich history going back 10,000 years. It is reflected through Neolithic sites, Greek temples, Roman mosaics, Byzantine churches, Gothic monuments, Medieval castles, Venetian fortifications, Ottoman mosques and baths and British colonial buildings. Although military and political division still persists, it is now possible since 2003 to visit the whole island. This tour will be a true journey through the centuries which will show the cultural diversity of Cyprus where the successive powers that occupied it left their mark. It will also be a journey to meet the most significant religious figure of ancient times Aphrodite, the Cyprian Goddess.

Our first day will be dedicated to Nicosia. In the old city of Nicosia within the Venetian walls, we will be shown the acclaimed Leventis Museum, the historical museum of the city, the Byzantine Museum, Saint John’s Cathedral and the Church of Saint Michael (Tripiotis). Before lunch in the Arts Centre, winner of a Europa Nostra Award, we will visit three projects which also won the Europa Nostra Heritage Award: the Lions House, the Omeriye Turkish Baths and the Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios House. The day will end with a short introduction on Byzantine and Medieval Cyprus at the Cultural Foundation of the Bank of Cyprus with a private visit to the George and Nefeli Giabra Pierides Collection which forms part of the Cultural Route of Aphrodite.

On the second day, we will travel to Kyrenia on the north coast of Cyprus. Bounded to the north by the sea and to the south by the greenery of the Pentadactylos (Five-finger) Mountain range, it offers the most magnificent scenery. At the charming harbour of Kyrenia, we will visit the Castle which dates from the time of the Byzantines, reconstructed by the French and the Venetians. We will continue to the enchanting village of Bellapais to the north-east of Kyrenia and visit the 14 th century abbey which is a fine example of Gothic architecture of the Lusignan period. In the afternoon, we will return to Nicosia and walk through the Turkish sector of the city to see among others the Selimiye Mosque (Saint Sophia Cathedral), the Haidar Pasha Mosque ( Church of Saint Catherine ) and the Arab Ahmet neighbourhood (Nicosia Master Plan). In the evening, we have arranged a private visit to a converted shoe factory on the Green Line owned by the Pharos Trust, a cultural foundation based in Cyprus.

A day will be spent in the Troodos Mountains where we will first walk through the picturesque Palaeochorio village to see its small Byzantine and historical museums and then visit several Byzantine churches from the UNESCO World Heritage list, to view their famous frescoes. Lunch will take place at the old village of Kakopetria.

On the way back to Nicosia, we shall be hosted by Costas and Rita Severis who will show us their private collection of paintings of views of the island by foreign artists from the 18th - 20th centuries including three superb David Bombergs.

The following day, we will drive to Salamis, the ancient city kingdom on the east coast. Here, we will be shown the Theatre and the Agora and visit the Monastery of Saint Barnabas. We will continue to the walled city of Famagusta to see the Othello Tower and Saint Nicholas Cathedral.

The same evening in Nicosia, we will be taken on a private tour of the Cyprus Museum and the headquarters of the A.G. Leventis Foundation.

The next day, we will travel to the historic coastal town of Paphos , the island’s capital in Greco-Roman times and now a World Heritage site. Here we shall stay for the two remaining days of the tour. On the way to Paphos, we will stop to visit the Choirokoitia Neolithic Site, another World Heritage Site. We will continue through the splendid vineyard scenery around Limassol and have lunch at the charming village of Omodhos. In the afternoon, we will visit Kolossi Castle and the ancient city kingdom of Kourion. On the way to the hotel we will visit the well known Cypriot printmaker Hambis in his private workshop at Platanisteia village.

On our second day in Paphos, we shall go to the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite, the Temple of Aphrodite, as well as the secluded Monastery of Saint Neophytos containing some of the most important Byzantine frescoes. After lunch by the sea-side, we will be shown the mysterious rock-cut Tombs of the Kings, the well-preserved Roman mosaics and Saint Paul ’s pillar in Paphos.

The tour starts on Thursday 16 October with a welcome dinner at the hotel and ends on Thursday 23 October after lunch in Larnaka.

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