Volare Travel Cyprus

Culture Groups 8 Days/7 Nigths DAY 1: ARRIVAL ► Distances Meeting with our tour guide at the airport and transfer to the hotel in Limassol. DAY 2 : PAPHOS ► Distances Named as 2017 Cultural European Capital, the entire town of Paphos is listed in the UNESCO heritage. First visit of at Agia Paraskevi, a five domed basilica which features frescoes dating to the XV century. Once in the town center we head to the church of Panagia Crysopolitissa , built in the 13th century over the ruins of the largest Early Byzantine basilica on the island. Within the compound one can see St. Paul's Pillar, where, according to tradition, Saint Paul was flogged before the Roman Governor Sergius Paulus was converted to Christianity. Next to the picturesque harbor, in the Houses of Dionysus, we have the chance to admire some of the finest Roman mosaics dating the 3rd to the 5th century AD. This restored Roman villa probably belonged to a member of the ruling Roman class or to a local wealthy family. We finally visit the Tombs of the Kings. Spread over a vast area, these impressive underground tombs date back to the 4th century BC. They are carved out of solid rock with some being decorated with Doric pillars. DAY 3: NICOSIA ► Distances We start our daily visits from the Cyprus Museum: a priceless and fascinating collection of Cypriot antiquities and treasures from the Neolithic Age to the early Byzantine period. We will have time to stroll down the narrow streets of Laiki Yitonia, the historical, popular quarter of the Capital and the famous Ledra Street. In the afternoon we visit the Cathedral of St.John finely decorated with outstanding frescoes and the unique Byzantine Museum which houses one of the largest collection of icons in Cyprus. We will drive then to Famagusta gate one of the three entrances in old Lefkosia (Nicosia ) through the Venetian walls. The walls have a perimeter of 4.5 km, with eleven heartshaped bastions and completely encircle the old city . DAY 4: FAMAGUSTA – SALAMIS ► Distances Crossing the “Green Line” we head eastwards to the historical town of Famagusta, once the island’s most popular tourist destination. The Old Town, surrounded by one of the best preserved Venetian fortification in the Mediterranean, features plenty of medieval/renaissance buildings. Within the walls we visit the Cathedral of St. Nicholas (converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest and re-named Lala Mustafa Paşa Mosque). Our tour continues to the ancient city of Salamis which, according to tradition, was founded by Teucer, son of Telamon, who could not return home after the Trojan war because he had failed to avenge his brother Ajax. During the Roman period, Salamis was a main commercial hub and became fertile base for early Christianity. Here the Apostles Barnabas and Paul, arriving from the Holy Land, began their journey together to spread the Gospel through Cyprus and Asia Minor. Just opposite, the Monastery of St. Barnabas was founded on the site of the apostle Barnabas, who was born in Salamis, as a reminder of the important role Cyprus played in the history of Christianity in the Mediterranean. On our way back we drive along the infamous “Ghost City”, the once touristic pride of Famagusta which has became inaccessible since 1974. DAY 5: St ILARION - BELLAPAIS –KYRENIA – Santa Sofia ► Distances Crossing the “Green Line” in Nicosia, we drive up to the St. Hilarion Castle, on the Kyrenia mountains range. It was originally a monastery, named after a monk who allegedly chose the site for his hermitage, with a monastery and a church built there in the 10th century. Under the Byzantines it became of the island strongholds against the Arab pirates attacking the coast. During the Lusignan period, together with Kantara and Bufavento castles, represented the defensive line to shelter the Crusaders. We stop then at the Bellapais Abbey, a fine example of Gothic architecture of the Lusignan period. The abbey comprises of a church, refectory, dormitory and storage . rooms grouped around an inner courtyard. Finally we reach the picturesque coastal town of Kyrenia. Strolling down its harbour we visit the Kyrenia Castle, built in the 16th century by the Venetians over a previous Crusader fortification. Arriving to Nicosia we head to the Selimiye Mosque, originally the Roman Catholic cathedral of Agia Sophia, a fine example of Gothic style with its monumental door and carved façade. DAY 6 : TROODOS: Byzantine Churches ► Distances Today we head up to the Troodos Mountains. Driving through orchards and vineyards we reach the Church of Agios Nicolao tis Stegis . It is covered entirely in wall paintings dating from 11th to the 17th centuries and is considered one of the most interesting Byzantine churches on the island. We proceed to Galata village and visit Panagia Tis Pothithou church. Next stop at Panagia Tis Asinou Church, in Nikitari village, one of the ten UNESCO World Heritage churches on the Troodos. Built in a pine-clad area, it has some of the finest examples of Byzantine wall painting on the island. DAY 7: KOURIUN – KOLOSSI – APOLLO YLATIS – OMODOS ► Distances Driving along the coast we head to the prominent archaeological site of Kourion. It is home of a magnificent Greco-Roman Theatre, stately villas and an early Christian Basilica with a baptistery attached to the north face, dating to the 5th century, which probably was the Cathedral of this city kingdom. Then we reach Kolossi and step into its medieval fortress, a fine example of military architecture. Of strategic importance, it was a Crusaders stronghold. As per 1291, It served as the Grand Commandery of the Knights of the order of St. John of Jerusalem. Next stop at the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates, one of the main religious centers of ancient Cyprus, where Apollo was worshipped as god of the woodlands and protector of the city of Kourion. Finally, we reach Omodos, a beautiful village renowned for its wine. Stroling down its cobblestone street we visit the Monastery of Stavros (Holy Cross). DAY 8: DEPARTURE ► Distances Breakfast. Transfer to the airport