Cyprus Tourist Attractions
The Old and New Archbishop’s Palaces
This monument, which is of both political and religious significance, was built in the 1700s and is now home to the National Struggle Museum and the Folk Art Museum. It is located in the center of Lefkosia (also called Nicosia) beside the New Archbishop’s Palace, which was constructed in the mid-twentieth century in Neo-Byzantine style. The New Archbishop’s Palace contains the residence of the archbishop, the Library of the Archbishopric, the Byzantine Museum, and the offices of the archdiocese.
The Medieval (Frankish) and Venetian Walls
While you are in Lefkosia, you should also take a look at the old walls of the city, which were erected by the Franks in the 14th century. The later Venetian Walls (16th century) actually enclose a smaller area than do the Medieval Walls, due to the fact that the latter were not sufficiently defensible by the time of the Venetian occupation.
The Tombs of the Kings
This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Paphos. Although they probably held no actual kings, some of the tombs here are quite spectacular and were most likely commissioned by the upper classes of the time. The tombs are cut from rock and were constructed during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. There is a small entrance fee to the site, which opens at 8 am and closes at 5 pm in the winter, 6 pm in the spring and autumn, and 7:30 pm in the summer.
Maa-Palaeokastro
Maa-Palaeokastro is a settlement on the coast of the Paphos region dating back to 1200 B.C.E., the Late Bronze Age. Maa was a town established by the Mycenaean Greeks. The “Palaeokastro” part of the name means “old castle”. It is an impressive example of fortification, with walls that are more than three meters thick.
The Aphrodite Cultural Routes
A form of the goddess Aphrodite (Kyprida [Cyprian] Aphrodite) was worshipped in Cyprus, and there are now several designated cultural routes in the cities where this religion was practiced most. The Palaepaphos Aphrodite Cultural Route near Paphos and the Kition Aphrodite Cultural Route close to Larnaca are fairly easy walks that can be begun and ended at any point along the trail. The Amathous Aphrodite Cultural Route by the Bay of Lemesos, however, is a more strenuous walk, and a few sights can only be accessed through certain other parts of the trail.
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