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HISTORICAL SITES & MUSEUMS

 
Cyprus is filled with ancient sites and treasures; you don't need to travel to far off the beaten path to find Kourion, with its mosaics and outdoor theater built entirely of stone, overlooking the magnificent Mediterranean Sea, or the Ancient Paphos Fort.
In Limassol, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the Cyprus Medieval Museum, or the Folk Art Museum, and Lemesos Castle, which contains artefacts housed in an old mansion. 14km west of Limassol lies Kolossi Castle,a medieval fortress, the walls of which not only contain an imposing tower and surrounding living quarters but also an ancient sugar factory. Just l.9km west of town, you may visit the Kourion archaeological site, an ancient city/kingdom where you can take in a play or concert at the ancient Greco-Roman Theatre, overlooking the blue Mediterranean Sea. And, a bit further on, explore a treasure-trove of centuries-old Greek and Roman sites, such as the Sanctuary of Apollo.
Nicosia's Famagusta Gate, once the main entrance to Nicosia, is now a cultural center and the venue for exhibitions, lectures, plays and concerts. The beautifully restored vaults of the original gate are worth seeing for themselves. The Cyprus Museum, built as a memorial to Queen Victoria, contains a rich collection of finds from all over the island, including an urn of ancient coins just recently discovered in Paphos, and five stone sphinx found in early 1997 which are in near-perfect condition.
The Archbishop’s Palace is an impressive three story building, a modern construction in the Venetian style.  Apart from being the official residence of the Archbishop of Cyprus, it also houses the Makarios III Cultural Foundation.  This contains three art galleries, including the superb Byzantine Museum, a unique collection of Byzantine icons, representing the full range of Byzantine painting.  Next to the Archbishop’s Palace is St. John’s Cathedral, built in 1655 on the site of a former Benedictine Abbey.  Its interior is covered with 18th century wall paintings.
Larnaca has many historical sites to offer, including the Church of St. Lazarus, Larnaca’s most impressive old building.  It was constructed in the 17th century and stands on the site of the original 9th century church, which itself was built over the tomb of Lazarus, whom Christ resurrected.  Lazarus is said to have sailed to Kition where he eventually died. The Pierides Museum is another place of interest.  It contains a large collection of archaeological finds amassed by the Pierides family and the thousands of objects on show span Cypriot history from Neolithic to Byzantine times. Khirokitia is the oldest site that one may visit in the south of Cyprus today, dating back to Neolithic times (7000-8000 BC).
The Hala Sultan Tekke, an important Moslem shrine, is said to contain the remains of Hala Sultan, the maternal aunt of the Prophet Mohammed.  The mosque was built by the Turks in 1816, and is located amid rich greenery creating an impressive sight, especially when viewed across the Salt Lake.  The famous church of Panagia Angeloktistos or ‘Built by Angels’.  This 11th century building replaced an earlier one, whilst the chapel at the entrance is from the 14th century and houses a splendid collection of early Byzantine mosaics.
The Old Aqueduct was built in 1745 to provide Larnaca with water. It was the largest of three and is known in Greek as ‘Kamares’ which means ‘arches’.
Paphos is perhaps the town with the most historical sites; the best preserved mosaics are there in the House of Dionysos and the House of Theseus.  There also lies the Odeon, a reconstruction of the original 2nd century Roman theatre which was destroyed by an earthquake. The so-called Tombs of the Kings were never royal but are nonetheless impressive.  Built between the 3rd century BC and the 3rd century AD, when there were no kings in Paphos, they are burial chambers that were carved out of rock.
Along the sea between Paphos and Limassol lies the birthplace of Aphrodite, Petra tou Romiou.  This beautiful site alone is enough to bring visitors from all over the world.