Christmas, New Year & Epiphany in Cyprus. Discover with us the island of Aphrodite, with its rich history and culture, and enjoy wonderful experiences on our in-depth guided tours.
Christmas, New Year & Epiphany in Cyprus. Discover with us the island of Aphrodite, with its rich history and culture, and enjoy wonderful experiences on our in-depth guided tours. We stay in glittering Limassol, the southernmost city in Europe, with tours ranging from Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, and the Finikoudes promenade with its palm trees, to the enchanting beauty of the Troodos mountains, Kykkos Monastery and legendary Paphos. Cyprus is an island of contrasts with a long tradition of hospitality, where the big cities embrace modern life while offering a wealth of sights that we will see on our thorough journey.
Departure and return point: Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”
Departure time: 07.45
Meet at the airport and fly to Larnaca. On arrival, transfer to Limassol and a first introduction to the old town, whose narrow streets radiate out towards the old fishing harbour, today an ultra-modern, ultra-luxurious marina. Limassol’s medieval castle was where Richard the Lionheart, King of England, was married, and today it houses the Cyprus Medieval Museum. Transfer to our hotel. Dinner, overnight stay.
After breakfast, departure for Nicosia. Our first stop is the Tomb of Makedonitissa, a military cemetery and memorial to the defenders of Cyprus during the Turkish invasion of 1974. We continue to the Central Prison and the Imprisoned Graves, with the tombs and cells of the 9 heroes and the British gallows. At the Archaeological Museum we will follow the development of Cypriot civilisation from the Neolithic period onwards. We continue with the Archbishop’s Palace, the church of St John with its remarkable frescoes, the Venetian walls, the Laiki Geitonia quarter and the Green Line that divides Nicosia. Free time for lunch and shopping. Return to our hotel, dinner, overnight stay.
After breakfast, departure for a tour of the green mountain resorts of Cyprus. We will stop at much-celebrated Platres, also known from the poetry of Seferis. Crossing the Troodos range, which rises 1,750 metres above sea level, we will visit Trikoukia Monastery and continue to the best-known and richest monastery in Cyprus, the Holy Monastery of Kykkos. It was founded in 1100 and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It houses one of the three surviving icons of the Virgin Mary attributed to the Apostle Luke. There, at Throni tis Panagias, we will visit the tomb of Archbishop Makarios III, the first President of Cyprus, and finish at the most beautiful and traditional village, Omodos. Free time. Return to our hotel late in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay.
After breakfast we will set off on a full-day excursion to the lovely town of Paphos. Crossing the vast vineyards and orange groves of Fasouri, we reach the Tower of the Knights at Kolossi. It was originally built in the 13th century, but the building that survives today dates from the mid-15th century. We will have a guided tour of Kourion, once an important ancient city-kingdom and one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Cyprus. Then, passing through the British bases, we will stop for photos at Petra tou Romiou, where according to mythology Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love, rose from the foam of the waves. We will then visit the Monastery and the Enkleistra (hermitage) of St Neophytos. We continue our visit to the pillar where the Apostle Paul was flogged, passing by Agia Solomoni, which is considered to be the chapel of the Seven Sleepers and was a place of pilgrimage for every Christian in the Middle Ages. We will visit the Villa of Dionysus with its mosaics of unique beauty. We will finish at the beautiful harbour of Paphos with its wonderful fort. Free time. Late in the afternoon, return to the hotel. Dinner. Overnight stay.
Breakfast at the hotel. Optionally, you can visit Deryneia, Ayia Napa and the Finikoudes in Larnaca. Free time until we leave for Larnaca airport for our return flight to Athens, taking the very best memories with us.
