CYPRUS

Cyprus is located in the northeast corner of Mediterranean Sea.The capital of the island is Nicosia. Cyprus has emerged from the sea before million years but has never been united with Asia Minor. Due to its good position, many people from ancient times until today, thirsty for power in the East and the Mediterranean, invaded in the island. Cypriot culture is among the oldest in the Mediterranean. By 3700 BC, the island was well inhabited, a crossroads between East and West. The island fell successively under Assyrian, Egyptian, Persian, Greek, and Roman domination.

Nicosia (Greek Levkosía) the capital of Cyprus, is now Europe's only militarily divided city.

The Venetian Walls are like Nicosia's logo. They form a border around the Old City that is so unique that when you see it once, on a map or from a high viewpoint, you'll never forget it. Despite its impressive appearance, this circular defence wall that surrounds both the northern and southern halves of Old Nicosia unfortunately failed in the purpose for which it was built. The Venetian rulers erected the walls between 1567 and 1570 with the express aim of keeping the feared Ottoman invaders out of Nicosia.

The name of the place in Greek, Petra tou Romiou, has nothing to do with Aphrodite, but alludes to the Greek folk hero, Digenis Akritas. He apparently used to hurl large rocks, like the ones here, at his enemies. The actual rock that he is supposed to have thrown is the westernmost one and not the others that seem to be somehow split down the middle. All are equally beautiful. The reason the spot is called the 'Rock of Aphrodite' in English is because legend has it that Aphrodite, ancient patron goddess of Cyprus, emerged from the sea at this point in a surge of sea foam before, no doubt, going off to entertain some lovers.

The Tombs of the Kings, a Unesco World Heritage site, is Pafos' main attraction. Despite the name, the tombs were not actually used by royalty. Instead, they earned the title 'Tombs of the Kings' for their grand appearance and the Doric pillars that help support the structures. Members of the higher social classes were buried here. The seven excavated tombs are scattered over a wide area and all are accessible to the public. The most impressive is No 3, recently restored, which has an open atrium below ground level, surrounded by impressive Doric columns. A wooden staircase has been added for easier entrance.

Lemesos' tourist appeal starts 30km east of the city, at Governor's Beach. With a private bus serving the area from Lemesos, many decide to spend their day chilling out on the several coves of dark sand, contrasted by the white chalk cliffs behind them. There are a couple of restaurants here and at least one place to stay, though the overall ambience is slightly marred by the sight of the large Vasilikos power station looming 3km to the west.

Ancient Kourion was most likely founded in Neolithic times, probably because of its strategic position high on a bluff overlooking the sea. It became a permanent settlement in about the 13th century BC, when Mycenaean colonisers established themselves here.The settlement also prospered under the Ptolemies and Romans. A pre-Christian cult of Apollo was active among the inhabitants of Kourion in Roman times, as documented by the nearby Sanctuary of Apollon Ylatis.

This archaeological site, 11km east of Lemesos, belies its original importance. Ancient Amathous was one of Cyprus' original four kingdoms. Legend has it that the city was founded by Kinyras, the son of Pafos. It is also said that Kinyras introduced the cult of Aphrodite to Cyprus. Founded in about 1000 BC, the city had an unbroken history of settlement until about the 14th century AD, despite depredation at the hands of Corsairs during the 7th and 8th centuries. In 1191, when Richard the Lionheart appeared on the scene, the city was already on the decline. Since its harbour was silted up, King Richard was obliged to disembark on the beach to claim the once proud and wealthy city. He promptly applied the royal coup de grâce by destroying it, and Amathous was no more.

Less of a castle and more a fortified tower house, Kolossi Castle perches incongruously between the vineyards and houses of the village of the same name. It is an interesting reminder of the rule of the Knights of St John in the 13th century, who started producing wine and processing sugar cane at a commandery that stood on this land. The famous Cypriot wine, Commandaria, took its name from here.

The Unesco-listed Agios Ioannis Lambadistis Monastery is signposted from the long main street of Kalopanayiotis and is reached by following a road downwards and then upwards again at the opposite side of the valley. Built in the traditional Troödos style with a large barnlike roof, it is actually three churches in one, built side-on to one another over 400 years from the 11th century. The original Orthodox church has a double nave, to which has been added a narthex and a Latin chapel. This composite church is one of the better preserved of the Troödos churches and has the most intricate and colourful frescoes. The best are the 13th-century works in the main domed Orthodox church, especially those dedicated to Agios Irakleidios.

38 years have elapsed since the Turkish invasion against the Republic of Cyprus, official member of the E.U. Nowadays, nearly half of the island is still under Turkish occupation, with Nicosia remaining the only divided capital in Europe and Famagusta, a ghost city.