Cyprus With love to the sea

Cyprus is a real treasure for those who need a vacation: active or relaxed, on the beach or in the mountains. Health, gastronomy, pilgrimage tours - this island has everything.

Cyprus, the third largest island in the Mediterranean, is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa. This is a great place for the whole family to relax. There is a warm sea and incredible beaches (over 74 of them are awarded the Blue Flag), as well as a bright excursion and entertainment program.

Journeys into the past

The history of Cyprus spans over 11,000 years, and just walking through the streets you will see the ruins of ancient cities, Byzantine churches, monasteries and mosques, Crusader castles, medieval fortresses, aqueducts, Gothic monuments and colonial architecture reminiscent of the days of British rule. To plunge into the depths of the ages, it is not necessary to go to the capital - Nicosia. Almost every resort town is an open-air museum with a mosaic of architectural styles.

Limassol is the main center of recreation and at the same time the center of business life. It is a modern cosmopolitan city with a wide palm-lined promenade, a new marina and historic port, a lively nightlife, and an exciting cultural and historical component. So, in the Limassol Castle in the Old Town, Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre, and today a medieval museum operates in this castle.

A stately estate in the style of the French Riviera - the decoration of the historic center - sheltered the municipal library. A cozy square is nearby.

The city has opened the Museum of Classic and Historic Cars, which has a collection of cars from the end of the 19th century, including the world's first car - the Benz Motorwagen 1886 - and the first Ford Model T Roadster available to middle-income families.

In the vicinity of Limassol, you can see the Colossi Castle, the ancient city-states of Kourion and Amathus. An amphitheater built in the 2nd-3rd century AD and the only one in Cyprus has been preserved within Kourion. Nowadays, the International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama, recognized by the EFFE as one of the best in Europe, takes place on its stage from the end of June to the beginning of August.

Picturesque beaches

Cypriot beaches are very different. Whichever resort you choose, you will find beaches for relaxing or active recreation, windsurfing and sailing, snorkeling and diving, family or fashionable parties. In the eastern part of the island there are well-equipped beaches with fine light sand and shallow water. The depth here increases very gradually, so it is safe here with small children. And cozy bays in the west of the island facilitate romantic walks away from the crowds of tourists.

The Queen of Cyprus is the Blue Lagoon in Akamas Peninsula National Park on the west coast, north of Paphos. Taking a boat, you can explore numerous bays from the water. Green and loggerhead turtles lay their eggs on the spacious sandy Lara Beach in the park, so beach umbrellas are prohibited here, but you can swim. Also on the Akamas Peninsula, there are trekking routes with spectacular views: you will see the Baths of Aphrodite and the Avakas gorge, meet foxes, porcupines, hares and 168 species of birds. Pines, pistachio trees, wild figs and oaks, oleanders and many flowers grow in the park.

It makes no sense to list the best beaches in Cyprus, because there are a lot of them, and each resort will offer its top 3, five or ten.

To the east of Limassol is the resort of Larnaca, which is the oldest city in Cyprus and is a great solution for a family holiday. A little further east is the resort of Ayia Napa with picturesque sandy beaches, a variety of water activities and a vibrant nightlife. Nearby is the young resort of Protaras, ideal for a vacation with children. It is home to one of the most beautiful beaches in Cyprus - Fig Tree Bay. Between these two resorts is the cozy beach of Konnos Bay, as if created for children, as well as the National Park of Cavo Greco: rocky coast, caves and arches over the water, the "Bridge of Love" and observation decks turn this park into a Cypriot business card.

Diving

An interesting and diverse natural world awaits diving fans, dominated by barracudas, lionfish, sea bass and other fish, corals, molluscs and octopuses. There are dive sites near the shore and those accessible by boat.

Of particular interest are sunken ships, i.e. artificial reefs, near each resort. One of the ten best rivers in the world is at a depth of 19-42 m near Larnaca, and it is the Swedish ferry "Zenobia". To explore the 172-meter-long ship and its cargo: hundreds of cars, trucks, military equipment, telecommunications systems and even provisions, you will have to dive at least twice. That is why many divers repeatedly return to "Zenobia".

Another artificial reef was created 200 meters from Pernera beach in Protaras. There, at a depth of 8-10 meters, the MUSAN underwater forest by Jason deCaires Taylor "grew up". His 93 sculptures of trees, people and strange creatures reflect the unity of man and nature.

Winemaking

The traditions of winemaking in Cyprus are more than six thousand years old. Today, the country has seven winemaking regions and 41 farms. During the excursions, you will visit vineyards, get to know the terroir, see ancient grape presses and other exhibits in wine museums, taste generous Cypriot dishes in local taverns and restaurants. This is all in addition to the tasting. During the season, you can join the harvest and folk celebrations on this occasion. Some farms have a spa with wine therapy. They also offer walking tours along wine routes. One of these runs through the Akamas Peninsula, the other draws attention to the winemaking traditions of the Hospitallers.

The main center of wine production is Krasochoria near Limassol. The route through this region includes 20 picturesque villages on the southern slopes of Troodos and 16 farms open to tourists. 23 varieties of grapes are grown here, including Malvasia, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, for the production of white and red wines.

Bright leisure time

In Cyprus, you can get a load of impressions in the modern hydroparks of Limassol, Paphos and Ayia Napa. Ayia Napa also has an amusement park with 25 attractions, including a 45-meter observation wheel. With children and the adults themselves, it is interesting to visit the zoos in Paphos and Limassol, the Camel Farm near Larnaca and the Donkey Farm halfway from Larnaca to Limassol.

And finally, Cyprus is a great place for bicycle tours. The island has such amazing nature, so many architectural and historical charms, beautiful cities, towns and villages that new landscapes constantly appear before our eyes. And in the mountains, it is worth taking a walk through lush forests, visiting high-altitude villages, devoting time to agrotourism or being filled with grace in mountain monasteries. Cyprus is wonderful in every way.