Cyprus

Here we are on the Cyprus island, the largest in the entire eastern Mediterranean. It is located south of Turkey and very close to the Middle East, so much so that it absorbs many influences both from the point of view of traditions and other aspects.

Place of legends and myths where it is said that the Goddess Aphrodite was born, the goddess of love and beauty precisely to the south of the island in the Pafos area directly from the foam of the sea where Petra Tou Romiou stands, the rock that gave her birth around the which revolves around a curious and mysterious belief. It is claimed that by managing to do three complete laps around the rock you can achieve youth, but it is necessary to follow a long list of rules that are almost impossible to complete.

Given its geographical position, Cyprus can be visited for at least ten months of the year, the temperatures are almost always very pleasant and allow you to enjoy holidays or long weekends until late autumn. A varied landscape with rocky coasts, fertile valleys, expanses of olive and citrus groves, mountains where you can also ski in winter, fabulous beaches and an enchanting sea. The island is home to more than one thousand two hundred species of different flowers and is one of the main migratory routes for many birds, on the other hand we can say that it is precisely the crossroads between Europe, Asia and Africa.

It is rich in history, sometimes even turbulent, starting with the Mycenaean period which appeared three thousand years ago, to then pass under the Phoenicians, Egyptians, Assyrians, Persians, Romans, Crusaders and Ottomans who visibly influenced the island. In 1974 it was invaded by the Turks, thus dividing the area in two, one third of which is Turkish (illegally occupied and never recognized by the International Community) while two thirds is Greek. Cyprus is the only place in the world where there is a city, namely Nicosia, separated by a green line, the green line that divides the Turkish and Greek worlds.

Two imposing mountain ranges cross it, Kyrenia to the north and Troodos to the south west which hosts Mount Olympus, the highest peak in Cyprus. In the middle, the fertile plain of Mesaria is also perfect for walks or mountain bike rides, where you can go bird watching, visit suggestive monasteries and its picturesque rural villages where ancient customs and traditions are still carried on.

In the northern part of the island there are the two most important cities Nicosia and Larnaca. The capital is Nicosia and it is a truly cosmopolitan city where nothing is missing. Large modern buildings, all possible services and where all the businesses are managed because let's remember that Cyprus is a semi tax haven, taxes are very low compared to other European countries. Worth seeing are the Archbishop's Palace, the Bayaraktar Mosque, the Selimiye Mosque as well as the Grand Bazaar and the Besten, an old Orthodox cathedral from the Venetian era. Let's then move to Famagusta, the place where Shakespeare set the tragedy of Othello, which today is completely abandoned and a ghost town. We then arrive at the transgressive Aya Napa, a mecca for fun and easy encounters but also with a coastline that offers magnificent beaches equipped with any type of entertainment. Snorkelling lovers will be able to find immense satisfaction in Capo Greco, reachable either by sea or on foot, where a continuous series of inlets and sea caves will be a playground waiting to be discovered. Moving instead to the Turkish side you arrive at the Karpas peninsula, a nature reserve with stone villages and a fabulous sea.

Larnaca, on the other hand, almost seems like a small Miami, a long avenue of palm trees fronted by an endless beach of soft sand that is cleaned and leveled every morning, fast food chains and shops of all kinds. However, if you go into the interior of the city everything changes, a mix of modern and ancient with the astonishing Byzantine church of San Lazzaro with golden icons and an almost blinding splendor and the ancient mosque of Al Kebir. We advise you to move around Larnaca either on foot or by taxi, it is very cheap and less stressful than driving a car which, among other things, has the driver on the left given that for a long time it was an English colony.

Southern Cyprus is equally stunning. Breathtaking beaches, interesting archaeological sites, villages frozen in time but always with all possible comforts. The Paphos region is a pearl and it is not for nothing that it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Worth visiting is the archaeological park of Kato Paphos where the mosaics dedicated to the God Dionysus of the luxurious Roman villas dating from the 2nd to the 4th century AD are preserved, or the tombs of the Kings, a necropolis from the 3rd century BC where high-ranking officials were buried. Besides the archaeological part, Paphos is known worldwide for its delicious cuisine. Taste the mèze appetizers based on vegetables, fish or meat. Finally, lose yourself among its beaches and enjoy the benefits of the sea.

Still towards the south you will also encounter Limassol on Arkotiri Bay. An active center teeming with shops, taverns and clubs. A medieval castle with an inspiring museum of artefacts dating from the 5th to the 19th century and don't miss the nearby chapel where Richard the Lionheart married Princess Berengaria of Navarre before the Crusades.

And then beaches, beaches and beaches suitable for anyone and which will satisfy even the most difficult.

A large island where ancient and modern blend together without disturbing each other, enriching its magnificence even further.

How to cross the border: if you want to take a trip to the beautiful and fascinating Turkish part, you will necessarily need to have a valid passport. There are seven points where it is possible to go from one side of Nicosia to the other and they are respectively Ledra Palace Hotel and Ledra Street if you do it on foot. If instead you want to go by car or vehicle you will have to arrive at the intersections of Agios Nikolaos, Limunitis-Yesilrmak, Agios Dometios and Zodhia. Attention, you can enter the car with a rented vehicle in the Greek part but it will be necessary to take out supplementary insurance and know that if you need assistance in the event of an accident it will be very difficult for them to give you support. However, if you rent a car in the Turkish side you will not be able to cross the border and enter the Greek side.

An alternative is to rely on a travel agent but it has much higher costs. The good thing is that you will be calmer and safer and above all you will avoid wasting time for checks.