Sites to Enjoy in Cyprus
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily and Sardinia. Cyprus is one of the favourite tourist destinations due to it being a breathtaking and tranquil country. Allow Cyprus Events become the starting place in locating the must see sites in Cyprus.
1 – Cyprus Museum
This museum is located in Nicosia and is a must see. It holds some of the most beautiful and fascinating collection of Cypriot artefacts and archaeological finds from the Neolithic Age through to the Early Byzantine period. Enjoying a snack in the museums café before exploring the museum’s treasures is also a great idea.
2 – Byzantine Museum
This museum has the largest collection of Orthodox icons on the island. The icons span the period of the ninth to the eighteenth centuries. Outside of the museum stands a huge statue of Archbishop Makarios which makes the museum hard to miss. The museum also contains oil paintings maps and lithographs in its art galleries.
3 – National Struggle Museum
For some Cypriot history this museum in Nicosia covers mainly three areas of history. The first covers the British occupation and the Cypriot independence, the second covers the EOKA guerrilla movement and the third covers the Turkish invasion of the island.
4 – House of Dragoman Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios
This is a beautiful 18th century mansion that was the official residence of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios. This remarkable building has an amazing reception room with a carved and gilded ceiling. The entire complex has been beautifully restored to its former glory and is now home to an ethnological museum.
5 – Municipal Arts Centre, Nicosia
This is a special building as it is one of the finest illustrations of industrial architecture in Cyprus and is unique in its kind. It was built in the late nineteen twenties and was restored to its original state with as few alterations as possible to create a fashionable art gallery. The large exhibition hall is used to stage exhibitions of recognised artists as well as high standard international events being hosted here. The centre also contains a library that is home to 6000 volumes of books on art. There is also a lovely restaurant where one can enjoy a leisurely meal after enjoying the architecture of the centre.
6 – Ledra Observatory & Museum
This observatory and museum is located on the 11th floor of the Shakolas Building in Nicosia and gives a spectacular view of the city. There are a number of telescopes to use and many photographs depicting old Nicosia. There are also multilingual taped histories of Nicosia making this the place to visit to learn about the city itself.
7 – Town of Larnaca
This is a small town on the coast where an enjoyable and pleasant walk along the Larnaca promenade next to the seafront can be enjoyed. There are many things to see in this town like the Church of St. Lazarus and the Larnaca Salt Lake where in the winter season pink flamingos can be seen. Kition Archeological site, one of the most important historic sites can be found in Larnaca. Five temples dated from the 13th and 12th century BC was uncovered here along with a number of other structures.
8 – City of Limassol
This is Cyprus’ second largest city that is fast becoming a major spot for tourists. The Limassol castle can be seen here where it is said that Richard the Lionheart married his wife, Queen Berengaria of Navarre and is home to an interesting medieval museum. The Limassol sculpture park is located on the waterfront and is the only one of its kind in Cyprus. It hosts 20 sculptures ranging in size and was created between 1999 and 2001. Other places of interest would be the ancient cities of Amathus and Curium which are home to some amazing ruins.
9 – Town of Paphos
Paphos is the place that is said to have been the birth place of the famous Greek goddess Aphrodite. The Paphos Archaeological Park can also be found in Paphos which contains the ruins of two Roman villas that were the houses of Dionysis and Thesus which are both renowned for their mosaics. The Paphos fort is also a great place to visit where you can learn about its vigorous history.
10 – Tombs of the Kings
This is the burial site of Cyprus’ most prominent and wealthy citizens as well as officials and not the burial ground for kings and queens of olden times. It is disappointing that the sites have been pillaged of their many treasures but it is still a wonderful place to visit. The wealthier the citizen that was buried the more complex and grand the tomb is.