Cyprus Towns and area
descriptions
Paphos
This south-west corner of
Cyprus has an ambience all of its own: soft breezes, old
stone, elusive enchantment and an air of antiquity. This is
the kingdom of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and her
presence seems to linger. Paphos itself is really two towns,
each with its own character; Ktima on the cliff and Kato
Paphos by the sea, two kilometres down the road. The one is
unchanged over centuries and thoroughly Cypriot while the
other has expanded over the last decade from a sleepy
fishing village and harbour into a bustling, busy, sprawling
cosmopolitan resort which is still growing.
Roman Paphos was the island's capital, and the 3rd century
mosaics here are the finest in the Mediterranean. The
atmosphere is fun loving and friendly, with plenty of bars,
pubs, discos, a few nightclubs and innumerable eating places
providing anything from choice Italian cuisine to sizzling
souvlaki off the spit.
Swimming in the bay's deep, clear waters is good. The
coastline to the north is peppered with small sandy coves
but the area's best beach is a 15 minute drive away at Coral
Bay. Paphos is an ideal centre from which to explore this
region of wild coastline, unspoilt hillside villages and
natural beauty; yet it takes less than an hour by car to
reach Limassol.
Pafos combine both culture and entertainment in a
conveniently sized package. In Paphos you will find some of
Cyprus's most stunning archaeological gems such as its Roman
mosaics and Tombs of the Kings situated amongst beach-front
resort hotels and golden beaches. Cultivated bananas grow in
profusion along the south-western litoral, yet the Akamas
Peninsula is one of the island's last unspoilt wildernesses
and is home to flora and fauna found only on Cyprus.
Small beach resorts that have not yet succumbed entirely to
commercialisation await discerning travellers and there are
abundant land and sea based activities to suit every taste. Kato Paphos (Lower Paphos) is the port annex of Ano
Paphos (Upper Paphos) and is home to the greatest number of
archaeological sites in the area. It provides a lively and
friendly ambience in its renovated port area where visitors
unlike elsewhere in Cyprus' ports, can actually swim. With
its palm tree lined boulevards, tasteful public and private
buildings, Paphos is downright pleasant place to spend a
holiday. There are ample restaurants and watering holes and
if you tire of the beach annex you can always retire to Ano
Paphos for an afternoon's stroll or evening meal.
Coral Bay
11 kilometres (15 minutes
drive) to the north of Paphos and 3 kilometres below the
friendly, hillside village of Peyia is Coral Bay, the best
natural beach in the area. This is an established resort
with many villas set apart from one another above a wide
curve of dark golden sand. The summer heat is often tempered
by a gentle breeze, the sea has a shallow margin where
children may play safely and, in the busier months, water
sports on offer include pedaloes, water skiing, banana
boats, wetbikes and windsurfing.
Close by the Bay you will find four large hotels, banks,
mini-markets for provisions and souvenirs, bars, restaurants
and other shops and, for casual alfresco meals, a couple of
tavernas/snack bars overlooking the sea and a large
restaurant in the next bay which is open during the day.
More tavernas and local shops are a short drive away. A
perfect location for a casual seaside holiday, this is also
an excellent base for touring the Paphos area, with all it
has to offer. European Blue Flag beach.
Peyia
A very large, almost
overwhelmingly friendly village, now designated a town with
its own municipality, and tucked away in the hills about
3.5kms from Coral Bay and 15kms from Paphos. There are
several coffee shops, grocers and heartily welcoming
tavernas which provide simple but excellent food (if you ask
in advance they will prepare special dishes or buy fresh
fish for you). A picturesque drive north along winding roads
through the Peyia forest and pretty villages brings you to
the Akamas peninsula and Latchi's beaches, giving the
possibility of countless memorable days out.
Polis
There are not too many places
left in Cyprus that haven't totally succumbed to the lure of
the fast buck and, in some cases, overdevelopment, but Polis
is one of those places. Polis is on the wide Hrysohou Bay
that runs along the north-west sweep of Cyprus. The small
town is ideally situated for holidays that actually leave
you time to relax. Polis is ideal base for trekking in the
Akamas, swimming at a number of nearby beaches, touring the
wine-making villages of the Akamas Heights or exploring the
often wild and under-visited north-west of Cyprus. The jewel
of the island, the Akamas National Park is in the northwest.
Ideal for walks and offering stunning views to both sides of
the island it has to be the main magnet for visiting this
quieter and less developed region. Development in the
northwest is only about 8 years old and the area still
retains its agricultural feel. Polis is much smaller and far
more intimate than Paphos and the razzamatazz of mass
tourism has not quite reached here yet. The northwest also
gives easy access to the Paphos mountains and has some very
large and interesting villages such as Droushia, Neohorio,
Pomos and Pyrgos. It is an area to be explored with a great
many beaches, many of them completely empty.
Latchi
Latchi with its coastal paved
walk is the picturesque harbour of Polis, known throughout
Cyprus for its fresh fish. In the past it served as a small
port for shipping carobs. The old stone carob warehouses
have been converted into restaurants, fish taverns and
places of recreation. From Latchi, travelers to Polis can go
on short cruises to the Akamas, a must for all visitors.
Neo Chorio
Neo Chorio is both a
traditional village with coffee-shops and tavernas as well
as a tourist one. In the hills just outside the village is
the entrance to an intricate cave system with beautiful
subterranean caverns filled with stalagmites and
stalactites.
Ayia Marina & Argaka
These two rural villages,
mainly agricultural, are approximately 5 minutes drive apart
on the way to Pomos Point. Each with a population of 1000 or
so, they have coffee shops and a couple of tavernas serving
locally grown food. Along the coastal road, a few minutes
away, there are more establishments catering for the hungry
visitor and local alike.Argaka has two churches, Ayia
Varvara being the oldest, whilst Ayia Marina has three
including a very old Byzantine church in the forest about 1
mile away. In the area there are several dams where fishing
(under licence) may be possible. This part of the island is
very fertile and has an abundance of fruit trees including
figs, grapes, prickly pears, apples, oranges and
lemons. Almost every weekend there is a wedding in the area
and visitors are always welcome to join the festivities.
Being rural, early morning walks are particularly enjoyable.
There are some extensive, good beaches in the area. Both
villages have mini-markets and a small Co-op store.
Pomos
A large, attractive seaside
village built on a slope between the sea and the wooded
foothills of the Paphos mountains. There is a variety of
restaurants in the area, two grocery stores in the village,
a few sandy coves for swimming and a small, recently
constructed fishing harbour with well known sea food
restaurant. This is a beautiful area of deserted beaches and
wild coastline with the Paphos forest and foothills as a
backdrop.
Pyrgos
Heading east from Polis
towards Pyrgos one enters the final frontier. This backwater
too promises to remain untouched by the ever-encroaching
spectre of high-rise blocks and tourist complexes for some
time to come. At the moment it is a long arduous drive to
Pyrgos along a road which goes up into the Troodos mountains
and meanders for miles through almost deserted woodland,
before descending to a coast again. This detour is necessary
in order to bypass the Turkish military enclave at
Kokkina. Driving through these villages along the coast one
can get an inkling of what Cyprus was like before the advent
of modern tourism - a country of tiny rural villages and
empty beaches. At the end of the road leading from the
village are the tragically familiar barbed wire and
fortifications which constitute the artificial 'border'
between the free and occupied areas of Cyprus.
Droushia
Droushia is rich in physical
and cultural landforms and monuments. Few huge rocks of past
geological eras are scattered in its landscape The
traditional architecture is very rich with a few old
peasants still wearing traditional "vraka" (baggy breeches),
while among the village craftsmen is a coppersmith.
Akaourdalia
A very small and attractive
village in two parts, ‘Pano' and ‘Kato', on the edge of the
spectacular Pitharolakkos gorge and close to the 16th
century chapel of Ayia Paraskevi. Each spring the village is
submerged in almond blossom. There is a folk museum in Kato
Akourdalia. The Laona Project is very active here and a
number of stone houses have been carefully restored. There
are no shops in the village, but a part-time coffee shop in
Kato Akourdalia serves snacks. The village of Miliou is a
short drive away, the beaches of Latchi 20 minutes and
Paphos 25 minutes.
Kathikas
To the north of the town of
Pafos, approximately 22km away, is the historical village of
Kathikas with roots dating back to the antiquity, built at
the top of a hill. As for its name, rumour has it that the
village was a stop-over for merchants and travellers since
it is mid-way between Pafos and Polis Chrysochous. Here,
they would rest along with their animals at the old inn
which existed at the time. Today Kathikas is still one of
the most attractive villages of the area, well known for its
great many vineyards, grapes being its main product and
their cultivation the main occupation of the villagers.
Notable is the church of Panayia Evangelistria (AD 1870).
The village forms part of the Laona project, whose concern
is the general improvement and boosting of the greater area
on the basis of its traditional character and nature.
Miliou
Nestling amongst the trees on
a Laona plateau north west of Paphos, is the pretty little
village of Miliou. It is one of the smallest villages in the
area with a population of about 60 and its limestone houses
are perfect examples of traditional rural architecture. Like
all rural communities in Cyprus the social life in Miliou
centers on the little coffee shop where the village men sit
in the leafy shade discussing politics and local issues. The
relatively unspoiled state of the countryside and the
village make it a real delight for the walker and
naturalist. In the space of 20 minutes you can find yourself
on the beaches of Polis and Latchi or amongst the natural
splendor of Akamas.
Kritou Terra
Kritou Terra is one of the
largest and most attractive traditional villages of the
region, famous for its plentiful water supply and fruit and
nut trees. It is an oasis of green even in the hottest
summer months. Traditional springs at the village's entrance
and the taverna next to them have been skillfully restored.
While Kritou Terra today has a population of 150, its
population topped 800 in the 1940s. As part of the efforts
to revive the village, Kritou Terra now hosts an Environment
Studies Centre, has a taverna, several coffee shops, and a
grocery store. It is five minute's drive from Droushia,
which has numerous small restaurants and a hotel, and is 20
minutes away from the beaches of Latchi and Polis on the
North Western coast of the island.
Pissouri
Pissouri is one of the most
attractive and friendly villages in south-west Cyprus. It is
situated in the principal vine growing area with sultana
grapes covering the surrounding countryside. This
south-facing village, set high up on the hillside about
1,000ft above the sea, commands the most magnificent view of
some 20 miles of Mediterranean coastline. To the south and
east there are panoramic views of the coast, across
vineyards, olive and carob trees and to the north one can
see the majestic Troodos Mountains. Pissouri is situated
just off the main Paphos to Limassol road. Pissouri Village
has a lovely flower-filled central square (right) for
pedestrians only. There is a Greek Orthodox church (above),
a good bakery, postal agency, banks and small supermarkets.
Several family-run tavernas and restaurants serve excellent
fresh food at competitive prices.In the summer months the
village holds a Cyprus Night in the square every Wednesday
evening. There's food and traditional Cypriot dancing;
everyone is welcome!In Pissouri village, where almost
everyone speaks English, one can enjoy the friendly
atmosphere and savour the relaxed and stress-free life of
the village.
Peristerona
Another village with old
churches and buildings. One of the churches Ayii Varnavas
and Hilarion – stunning five domes and three aisles (only
one in Cyprus like it) good woodcarvings can be admired and
beautiful relics only two of the original wall paintings
have been saved – that of King David and Virgin and Child.
Village known for its lush watermelons – Peristerona is
Greek for pigeons – inland west of Lefkosia close-ish to the
border.
Troodos
The mountains of the Troodos
rise grandly above the scorching plains and coastal strips
of Cyprus' south, culminating in Mt Olympus, the country's
highest peak at 1952m. In the past the mountains
haveprovided refuge to religious communities, colonial civil
servants and the wealthy of the Levant seeking respite from
the heat. More recently it attracts skiers in winter and, in
summer, hikers and weekend picnickers throng the spiralling
mountain roads. Visitors to the Trodos should allow
themselves at least a week to see most of what the region
has to offer.
Limassol
Limassolians have a
reputation for being fun loving and always ready to party.
The wine festival in September and the Carnival in March are
major events on the island. Limassol is a large,
cosmopolitan port and resort with some of the best hotels in
Cyprus and an enormous selection of restaurants, night
clubs, discos and shops. This the gateway to the mountain
resorts which can easily be reached via a very good road
from Limassol. Pissouri and Governor's beaches are within
easy reach as is the enormous beach at Curium. The villages
in the mountains around Limassol are set in the midst of
vineyards and several are featured in our programme. The
crusader castle of Kolossi, the headquarters of the Knights
Templar and St John of Jerusalem, is within easy reach as
are the ancient kingdoms of Curium to the west and Amathus
to the east. It was in Limassol castle that Richard the
Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre.
Nicosia
The capital and the main
commercial centre, Nicosia, the last divided capital in the
world, is often ignored when visiting Cyprus because it is
not on the beach. A very dynamic mayor has, over the last 10
to 15 years, forced the renovation of the old town which is
now quite charming with many cafes, open-air restaurants and
shops within the narrow streets and gracious old buildings.
Nicosia is only a half hour drive from Larnaca and it is
very easy to reach the Troodos mountains from here too. The
archaeological museum is world famous and must be visited.
The Cyprus tourist office runs free walking tours every
Thursday. The restaurants in Nicosia, because they cater for
the home market, are the best on the island. The historic,
divided inland capital and centre of the island's
activities. Not a resort but a place of interest and a
useful base for excursions. The old quarters are coming
alive with courtyard restaurants, craft shops and houses as
traditional buildings are renovated to stand side by side
with excellent modern shops. A visit to the Archaeological
Museum is a must, the restored 18th century House of
Hadjigeorgakis is worth a visit and guided tours within the
walls of the old city are run regularly.
Lefkara
One of Cyprus' most famous
exports is its exquisite lace and most of it comes from the
pretty mountain villages Pano Lfkara and Kato Lefkara. The
village is pretty enough even if you are not keen on frilly
patterns or intricately designed tablecloths. A wander
around its picturesque streets is almost certain to
guarantee an invitation to 'see my lace' from the many women
who sit at doorways, seemingly whiling away their hours in a
relaxing hobby. The lace is undoubtedly of high quality and
exquisite, but not necessarily dirt cheap.
Larnaca
Larnaca was once the main
port of Cyprus and the wealth still shows in some very
beautiful and gracious buildings in the old town. Larnaca
has a very interesting salt lake which in spring is pink
with flamingos. Like Paphos and Limassol, Larnaca has
developed into a busy resort with many hotels and apartments
built on the beaches that stretch away from the town. The
town is a very central spot on the island and an ideal base
from which to visit Nicosia, Limassol, Protaras and Ayia
Napa and even Paphos which is a two hour drive away along
the excellent new motorway. Larnaca has a very traditional,
palm fringed harbour promenade and a very large marina.
There is a wealth of historical interest around the town
including the church of St Lazarus, the Teke muslim shrine,
Kiti church and the monastery of Stavrovouni.
Ayia Napa
From its humble beginning as
a small, insignificant fishing village, Agia Nappa now
shoulders the mantle of Cyprus' prime sun-and-fun tourist
resort. Agia Napa is not everyone's cup of tea and 90% of
people visiting here are overseas tourists on packages
intent on specific and limited pleasures - drinking, eating
and sunning themselves. The beach, while crowded, is good
and the nightlife never stops.
Protaras
Protaras is a slightly
watered-down version of Agia Napa. It is another beach
resort area, but is more spread out, has a better range of
beaches and tends to give visitors more breathing space.
Paralimni
Paralimni has reluctantly
taken over from as the capital of the eastern
section of Cyprus. Its a pleasant little town seemingly a
universe away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist
scene only a few kilometres away on the coast. There is a
pleasantly paved central square with two versions of the
church of Agios Georgios, a sprinkling of restaurants and
shops and perhaps a gaggle of curious tourists.
Agios Georgios
No more than a tiny fishing
harbour and a bay overlooked by a large, sea-facing taverna
and church. A simple and wonderful spot to relax and unwind
or watch the night's catch being unloaded in the early
mornings. A bird sanctuary is within a short drive. There
are several tavernas nearby and Coral Bay is close.About 8
km north-west of Pegia, the traveller will encounter a tiny
settlement with cafes, restaurants, a few isolated
households, a guest house and a mondern whitewashed church
of St George.
Kathikas
Kathikas is situated in the
southern part of the Laona plateau, and can be visited from
Paphos town through Pegia and Stroumpi. It surrounded by
vineyards, which constitute the principal income of the
village.
Kissonerga
Kissonerga is rich in
physical and cultural features. Close to the church of
Transfiguration lie the ruins of a tiny chapel. The area has
many banana plantations which run from the outskirsts of
Paphos twn, alomng the coast, as far as Agios Georgios.
Chlorakas
Chlorakas is located just
past the outskirts of Ppahos town and before Kissonerga and
Coral Bay. the centre of Chlorakas has a supermarket and a
traditional Cypriot Coffee shop. On the coast, there are
sevral goos hotels and apartments, shops and restaurants.
Empa
Approximately three
kilometres from Paphos was a mediaeval estate known for its
vast production of sugar, now mainly agricultural area,
although Emba hosts a lovely village market and has a very
interesting church built on the foundations of an ancient
Christian Basilican probably 12 th Century.
Tala
Tala is lies south-west of
the monastery of Agios Neofytos. Large abandoned areas are
being converted into tourist villas and country houses for
locals and foreigners alike. Kamares Village, include about
500 villas, built in traditional architecture, with all
services and facilities including swimming pools, gardens,
squares, arches made of hewn limestone blocks, verandas.
Konia
Konia is close to the
built-up area of Paphos with many urban services lying
within its administrative boundaries. On a cliff facing the
sea lies the chapel of Five Saints.
Anarita
Anarita is located about 15
minutes drive upon leaving Paphos heading towards Limassol.
It is a flat area which in recent years is seeing more
development.
Geroskipou
Geroskipou is located on the
outskirsts of Paphos in the direction towards Paphos
airport. It has many shops, post office and is famous for
its shops selling Loucomi.
Episkopi
A large village of 4,000
people with a good variety of tavernas, coffee shops and
several supermarkets. Episkopi is only a 15 minute drive
from Limassol, 40 minutes from Paphos and a short drive from
the archaeological site of Curium and the Crusader Colossi
castle. Curium beach is a five minute drive away. The
village is ideally located for visiting Limassol, without
being in the centre of this bustling, large resort and also
affords easy access to the Troodos mountains. The Secret
Valley and Aphrodite Hills Golf Courses are a 20 minute
drive away.
Phiti & Lasa
Set deep in the Paphos hills,
away from the souvenir shops, ice cream and hamburgers, the
region is stumbled upon by only a handful of travellers,
passing to or from Khrysorroyiatissa Monastery. The warmth
and rich hospitality you'll find here are as sincere and old
as Cyprus itself.
With thanks to
Rent Cyprus villas for the base outline of the edited
details in these descriptions.
|
