- Pilgrimage excursions in Cyprus
- Excursions to the world of nature and man
- Adventure-flavored excursions
Russian tourists in Cypriot resorts have long felt at home. Coming here many times in a row, they, in addition to spending time on the beach, sunbathing and swimming in the sea, begin to explore the blessed island. Excursions in Cyprus are becoming one of the most popular types of recreation; they are associated with history, culture, natural landscapes.
Most of the tourists who come to Cyprus for the first time on vacation choose Nicosia from the list of excursion offers, the capital of the country, which has managed to maintain its colorful atmosphere. Pilgrimage tours associated with Christian monasteries and shrines, natural and ethnographic routes are very popular.
Pilgrimage excursions in Cyprus
The island of Cyprus is known throughout the Christian world as the keeper of shrines, among which the main one is the Kikskaya icon - the miraculous image of the Mother of God, written by the evangelist Luke. In one of the Cypriot churches, the holy cross and ropes taken from the cross of the Lord are kept, in various monastic complexes and churches there are the relics of Christian saints.
The duration of the pilgrimage tour is about 6-8 hours, the cost is 80 € if the route is for one person and 25 € each, if a company of 4 people gathers. During this excursion, guests of the island will be able to see the church of St. Paraskeva, the catacombs that bear the name of St. Solomon, the Kykkos monastery, located in Troodos.
The monastery of Kykkos is located on a hill of 1318 meters, it is one of the most important places for Christians around the world, since it was here that the icon of the Virgin of the Apostle Luke was born. During its long life, the monastery complex survived four fires, but each time the miraculous icon escaped destruction.
In addition to the icon itself, the architecture of the complex and the interior design are of interest to tourists: beautiful frescoes, paintings and mosaics that adorn the walls of the monastery, numerous corridors, passages, and a refectory. On the murals, you can see paintings from the Old and New Testaments, the life of the monastery itself.
An important attraction on such a pilgrimage excursion is the Church of St. Paraskeva, erected by ancient Byzantine architects in the 9th century. It has an architecture that is unusual for these places, is decorated with five domes; inside it, tourists can see ancient frescoes painted on the themes of Holy Scripture. Interestingly, for centuries, artists have been decorating the walls of the temple, painting frescoes over the old ones, so today restorers are trying to show different images, both the earliest and those that appeared later.
Excursions to the world of nature and man
You can enjoy the picturesque landscapes in Cyprus not only on the beach or near the hotel, many guests choose excursions that introduce the richest flora and fauna of the island. This route combines the automobile and pedestrian parts and lasts about 8 hours. Many travel companies offer to visit the national reserve "Akamas", and then go out to the open sea on a boat with a walk off the north-western coast of Cyprus. During the route, stops are possible at the following points: St. George Island; Chamili Island, famous for its blue valley; the village of Fiti, where the ancient traditions of weaving are preserved; fishing village Latchi.
An excursion around the village of Galataria, which is famous throughout the island for its delicious cheeses, can be interesting. The hosts have long been not only producing tasty and healthy products, but with great pleasure they acquaint guests with production technologies, at the end - a mandatory tasting.
Another pleasant to taste excursion will be the acquaintance with the winery. In Cyprus, grapes are a traditional crop that has been cultivated for over 4000 years. A trip to the Kolios winery will significantly expand your knowledge of the amazing plant, its cultivation and processing. Tasting the famous Cypriot meze wine will be one of the most enjoyable moments on this trip.
Adventure-flavored excursions
Another type of excursion routes is intended for tourists who prefer an active lifestyle. In Cyprus, they tried to restore the atmosphere of the ancient state, known for its rigid system of education - Sparta. This is the name given to the adventure park, located in a mountain forest and offering a variety of challenges to its guests.
By the way, the route offers overcoming various obstacles and intellectual games, acquaintance with the traditional village of Platres, a hike to the most beautiful alpine waterfall, swimming in a mountain river. Such a trip is suitable for both adult tourists and young people; there are routes for children from three years old.
