Cyprus Island

Here we are on the Cyprus island, the largest in the entire eastern Mediterranean. It is located in the south of Turkey and very close to the Middle East so as to absorb 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 in the south of the island in the Pafos area directly from the sea foam where Petra Tou Romiou stands, the rock that gave birth to her around the which spins a curious and mysterious belief. It is argued that by being able to complete three complete laps around the rock, youth can be conquered, but it is necessary to follow a long list of rules that are almost impossible to complete all of them.

Given its geographical position, Cyprus can be visited for at least ten months a 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 groves and citrus groves,

mountains where in winter you can even ski, 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 already 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 which one third 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 precisely Nicosia separated by a green line that divides the Turkish and Greek worlds.

Two impressive mountain ranges cross it, the Kyrenia to the north and the Troodos to the southwest 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 evocative 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 real cosmopolitan city where nothing is missing. Large modern buildings, all possible services and where all businesses are managed because let's remember that Cyprus is a semi-tax haven and taxes are very low compared to other European countries. To see the Archbishop's Palace, the Bayaraktar Mosque that of Selimiye as well as the Grand Bazaar and the Besten an old orthodox cathedral from the Venetian era. We then move on to Famagusta, the place where Shakespeare set the tragedy of Othello today in total abandonment and a ghost town. We then arrive at the transgressive Aya Napa, a mecca of fun and easy encounters but also with a coast 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 continuum of inlets and sea caves will be a playground 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 with an endless beach of soft sand in front of it which is cleaned and leveled every morning, fast food chains and shops of all kinds. If you go inland instead of the city everything changes, a mix of modern and ancient with the amazing Byzantine church of San Lazzaro with golden icons and an almost blinding magnificence and the ancient Al Kebir mosque. We advise you to move in Larnaca either on foot or by taxi it is very cheap and less stressful than driving a car which, among other things, is with the driver on the left since it was an English colony for a very long time.

Southern Cyprus is just as stunning. Breathtaking beaches, interesting archaeological sites, villages frozen in time but always with all possible comforts. The Paphos region is a pearl, it is not for nothing that it is part of the Unesco World Heritage Sites. To visit the archaeological park of Kato Paphos where the mosaics dedicated to the God Dionysos of the luxurious Roman villas dated from the 2nd to the 4th century AD are preserved, or the tombs of the Kings a necropolis of 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 in its beaches and enjoy the benefits of the sea.

Also towards the south you will also come across Limassol on the Arkotiri Bay. An active center teeming with shops, taverns and clubs. A medieval castle with an inspiring museum with artifacts 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 without disturbing each other, enriching its magnificence even more.

 If you want to jump into the beautiful and fascinating Turkish part, you will necessarily have to have a valid passport. There are seven points where you can get from one side to the other from Nicosia and they are respectively Ledra Palace Hotel and Ledra Street if you do it on foot. If, on the other hand, you want to go by car or vehicle, you will have to arrive at the crossroads of Agios Nikolaos, Limunitis-Yesilrmak, Agios Dometios and Zodhia. Attention you can enter by 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. If, on the other hand, you rent a car in the Turkish part, you will not be able to cross the border and enter the Greek part.

An alternative is to rely on a business traveler 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.