Cyprus Landmarks

Cyprus – the divided island in the Mediterranean! The conflict between the Christian and Muslim islanders can be traced back to the 16th century. “The island of the gods” has many possibilities for you. Go hiking through the Pentadaktylos Mountains, through the beautiful cedar valley or discover the “Baths of Aphrodite”. In addition to the numerous ancient cultural sites, you can admire the extensive olive plantations or visit cheese factories and wineries and of course enjoy tastings. Admire the capital of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicosia (Lefkosia) with the seat of the Archbishop and Icon Museum, the Liberation Mark, the five kilometer long Venetian fortress wall, the Museum of the National Struggle or the Sultan Mahmut Library. But don’t miss the other cities of Cyprus like Lemesos (Limassol) with the Agia Napa Church, the Old Fortress, the seafront and the Ethnological Museum; the city of Strovolos or Pafos (Paphos) with the royal tombs and the landmark of the city, the medieval castle at the port. Let yourself be carried away by the hospitality of the Cypriots on a tour!

Sightseeing in Cyprus

Tombs of the Kings of Nea Paphos

The royal tombs of Nea Paphos are located on the west coast of Cyprus, near the port city of Paphos. They date from the third century BC. Contrary to their name, they did not serve as the final resting place of kings, but rather high-ranking personalities of the Cypriot upper class. The architecture of the tombs is in the Greek style. The grave goods found included an ivory pyxis, gold myrtle leaves and ceramics from the third century BC. For holidaymakers on a trip or study trip through Cyprus, a visit to all eight tombs and a detour to the burial mound are worthwhile. The graves number three and number six are particularly worth seeing.

Doric style burial place

Grave number three was built in the Doric style, probably the oldest in Greek architecture. Stone steps lead into the inside of the grave, past a cistern. There are two chambers to the west and north-east of the tomb. The northeast shows damage caused by grave robbers. Remnants of the plaster can be seen here and there on the vaulted ceiling of the grave. On the one hand, the rooms should be protected by the plaster, on the other hand this served as decoration. At the time of the completion of the grave it resembled the highest quality marble. Like parts of the tomb, the portico in the east was restored in the past. That is why the Doric frieze can still be seen here.

Grave site with sacrificial site

The partly covered path with stone steps, the longest ever excavated in Cyprus, leads to tomb number six. A nine-step staircase leads visitors past a cistern. Opposite this are two niches and a sacrificial table. Gifts such as wine, milk, water or honey were then offered. Wood ash remains were also found in the grave. Archaeologists concluded from this that fires were once lit here and burnt offerings were brought to the dead. The path ends in the atrium, in front of the burial chamber with a shaft grave and three niches. The once closed niches were decorated with paintings depicting wooden doors.

Chirokitia

Cyprus is still a real insider tip for many tourists. But if you are visiting the beautiful Mediterranean island, you will find a lot of things to see here. For example, if you are visiting the Larnaka region on the south coast of Cyprus, you should definitely take the time to visit the Chirokitia settlement. The archaeological excavation site, which attracts many thousands of tourists and locals every year, is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the eastern Mediterranean and above all a real paradise for adventurers and history lovers. Since 1998, Chirokitia has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its impressive prehistoric remains. In the course of extensive excavations it has been possible to research here in recent years how people used to live in the Stone Age. Some remains of the round buildings in which people lived in the Stone Age can still be seen today. The 6th century BC Christ-derived archaeological settlement is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The entrance fee is 2.50 euros. And the area around Chirokitia also has numerous other small and large attractions in store. When staying in the region, you should visit the old Stavrovouni monastery, the large Angeloktisti church in Kiti and of course the city of Larnaka. And the area around Chirokitia also has numerous other small and large attractions in store. When staying in the region, you should visit the old Stavrovouni monastery, the large Angeloktisti church in Kiti and of course the city of Larnaka. And the area around Chirokitia also has numerous other small and large attractions in store. When staying in the region, you should visit the old Stavrovouni monastery, the large Angeloktisti church in Kiti and of course the city of Larnaka.

Painted churches in the Troodos area

These sights are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are located in the Republic of Cyprus and are a popular tourist destination there. A total of ten barn roof churches belong to the world heritage site, which are located in the Troodos Mountains. If you are here on vacation or are spending your time there on a study trip, then you absolutely have to visit these impressive buildings. They are important witnesses to the varied and interesting history of this island. The masterful pictorial representations of Christian motifs are interesting and say a lot about the culture of the region. The frescoes painted in the Byzantine style convince with their many small details and the great coloring.

The historical context and the naming

The Church of Cyprus has been an autocephalous denomination since the Council of Ephesus in 431. The island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, which is why the predominant art style there was also used in the houses of worship. The barn roof churches got their name from the roofs that were attached to the prayer houses. The shingles used are pulled down a long way and are intended to protect the walls from the rainfalls that often occur there. The exterior is kept simple. Coarse, unplastered stones form the walls and a bell tower is also missing, which is why the churches give the appearance of a barn.

More details worth knowing

The pictures there are in stark contrast to the external appearance of the houses. The paintings are colorful and glow. They show a wide variety of Christian occurrences. In 1985 it was accepted into the UNSECO world cultural heritage. Buildings or works of art that are particularly worthy of protection are on this list and are therefore under special protection. Another church was added in 2001. The buildings are very old and show how Christian culture spread in the Mediterranean and determined everyday life. For example, the church “Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis” dates from the 11th century and is therefore one of the oldest contemporary witnesses.

Visit worth seeing cities in Cyprus

Here you will find study trips and round trips through the metropolises of the country of Cyprus

Nicosia

Visit Nicosia, the capital of the Republic of Cyprus, as part of a group tour! During a city tour, discover the most important sights of Nicosia, such as the old town, the Venetian fortress wall, the Faneromeni Church, St. John’s Cathedral, the Icon Museum, the Liberation Monument, the Arabahmet Mosque, the Selimiye Mosque, the Sultan Mahmut Library, the old Büyük Han caravanserai, the library of Sultan Mahmud II, the Cyprus Museum, and much more. Take a city trip through Nicosia!