In the heart of the wine-growing region, on the southern flank of the Troodos massif, the village of Omodos charms with its steep, shady streets and its venerable lace-makers at work on the outskirts of the Monastery of the Holy Cross, whose relics include a few centimetres of the rope said to have been used to bind Christ at the Crucifixion, as well as a piece of the 'true cross'. From the caf\u00e9 terraces lining the village square, you can hear the masses being celebrated at the nearby monastery while sipping an ouzo or a local white wine. A typical village with a warm welcome for visitors, Omodos has a pretty stone-paved square that can be used for private parties, with traditional food and live music.<\/p>\n
The history of wine in Cyprus is lost in the mists of time, with archaeological excavations dating the start of its production to around 2000 BC. One of the oldest wines in the world, Commandaria owes its unique character to its terroir, the volcanic soils of Mount Troodos, and to the way it is produced. The grapes, a blend of the two local varieties, xynisteri (white) and mavro (black), are picked at minimum ripeness and then exposed to the sun for a week. The pressed juice ferments naturally in partially-buried earthenware jars, then matures in oak barrels for at least two years. This sweet, purple-coloured wine develops aromas of cooked fruit, caramel and spices...<\/p>\n
Having become the country's leading port since the Turkish occupation of the north of the island in 1974, Limassol continues to grow. The old town is full of charm, with its multitude of boutiques, trendy and more typical restaurants, lively terraces that go on late into the night and nineteenth-century buildings. The narrow streets around the castle, one of the many testimonies to the reign of the Poitevin dynasty of Lusignan in Cyprus, are a delight to stroll through.<\/p>\n
In this castle, built in the 13th century and home to the country's medieval museum, groups discover the wealth of Cyprus during the Frankish period, a prosperous island that built its cathedral to establish Christianity and fortified castles to contain invasions. Limassol, where Richard the Lionheart married Berang\u00e8re of Navarre in 1191, is now the country's wine capital and hosts a week of festivities each year where wine is the hero. Ekto, Keo, Loel and Sodap, the biggest Cypriot producers, hold open cellars in Limassol, giving groups the chance to taste some of the local varieties.<\/p>\n
An exceptional testimony to the Frankish era, the keep at Kolossi, just a few kilometres from Limassol, tells the story of a whole part of the country's history, that of the Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem, later Knights of Malta, a religious, humanitarian and military order that was one of the most powerful of its time.<\/p>\n
Driven out of the Holy Land by the Muslims, these Crusaders, who withdrew to Cyprus at the end of the 13th century, made Kolossi the headquarters of their order and then, after settling in Rhodes, the headquarters of their forces in the East. Although their motto was \"Defence of the faith and assistance to the poor\", the Hospitallers were also enlightened farmers, wine-growers and merchants.<\/p>\n
Mezz\u00e9s into the night<\/p>\n
Located in a former wine cellar in Limassol's old town, Istoriko is famous for its mezz\u00e9s, the dish that Cypriots share, in many variations, with their Greek and Lebanese neighbours. There are between 20 and 30 different dishes on the menu of a mezze evening, which generally begins with a 'Greek' salad of cabbage, lettuce, celery, cucumber, tomato, peppers, olives and feta, accompanied by hummus (chickpea pur\u00e9e), tahini (sesame pur\u00e9e with garlic) and tarama, vinegared octopus and halloumi, a grilled goat's cheese spiced with peppermint. This appetiser is followed by a procession of hot dishes, squid or fried fish and meat: afelia (pork marinated in coriander), slouvlakia (kebabs), sheftalia (sausages), etc.<\/p>\n
This rural tradition originated with a population of shepherds and farmers who had little opportunity to get together, apart from during religious ceremonies and village festivals. Hence the profusion of dishes served throughout the evening to encourage people to drink and chat, sing and dance the night away.<\/p>\n
The goddess of beauty, love and pleasure, but also of fertility, marriage and the family, the Woman-born-of-jokes was carried by the Zephyrs to Cyprus, according to mythology... And her legendary birthplace is located to the south of Paphos, on the reef of Petra tou Romiou: a trio of limestone rocks beaten by the waves between which the most romantic will not resist a swim in the cool waters. Even the most jaded can't resist a dip in the cool waters, because it's a pleasant place to be, and it's not every day you get to rub shoulders with the daughter of Zeus!<\/p>\n
The group visit continues nearby, at the sanctuary of Aphrodite of Palaipaphos, a vast excavation field bristling with column fragments, the remains of what was the most famous sanctuary dedicated to the goddess during the classical period (480 BC-330 AD). The museum, housed in the adjoining medieval castle, brings together the artefacts of a fervent cult that attracted thousands of pilgrims. Its beautiful inner courtyard is open to the public.<\/p>\n
From Paphos, a cruise in a private catamaran, a 22-metre Fontaine Pajot (80 people), offers a day's sailing along the west coast of the island. The proposed itinerary takes in Coral Bay and then the sea caves of Saint-Georges Island, with a stopover for swimming and diving, followed by lunch on board. The route continues to the area around Lara Beach, one of the island's most beautiful beaches, to observe the sea turtles that are being experimentally bred to protect the species from birds of prey. Depending on the timetable chosen, dinner can be organised on board off the small port of Latchi, not far from the Baths of Aphrodite, a natural pool where the goddess came to cool off and whose water is said to ensure eternal youth...<\/p>\n
A pleasant port protected by a medieval fortress, Paphos is a popular seaside resort and was a major urban centre in Roman times. The Kato Paphos site adjacent to the harbour is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains a series of important buildings, including the remains of villas, palaces, theatres, fortresses and tombs. The jewel in the crown are the ancient villas, which measure well over 1,500 m2 and boast mosaic floors whose graphic qualities and impressive surface areas are considered by specialists to be among the finest in the world.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Omodos, a typical village and its monastery In the heart of the wine-growing region, on the southern flank of the Troodos massif, the village of Omodos charms visitors with its steep, shady streets and its venerable lace-makers at work near the Monastery of the Holy Cross, whose relics include a few centimetres of the rope that is said to have [...].<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[99],"tags":[],"type-darticle":[],"n_magazine":[],"class_list":["post-9231","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-operations-incentive","vapo-free"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n