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Unique among the island’s monasteries because it has changed little since its foundation some time during the 11th century, Agios Ioannis Lampadistis is set beside a sacred spring and is incredibly well preserved. A riot of colourful 13th- to 15th-century frescoes, covering the walls of the three chapels that nestle together under one pitched roof, depicts much of the gospel (see Agios Ioannis Lampadistis).

One of the oldest Christian communities in Cyprus, the chapel here dates from the 15th century. It lay in ruins before being restored in the 1960s.

In the deserted village of Agios Sozomenos is the medieval church of Agios Mamas, with Gothic arches.

Not so long ago, Aglandjia, which dates back as far as 3888 BC, was a village community in its own right, thriving on agriculture, stockbreeding and quarrying. Today, although it has become virtually a suburb of Nicosia, it still retains a village ambience, with a handful of pretty 18th-century churches. Among these is the one-domed, arch-roofed Agiou Georgiou church, which contains a woodcut iconostasis decorated with images of baskets and flowers.

From Roman times aqueducts were built to bring water from the mountains to fertile lowland. Grapes were grown from the earliest times; oranges were a Venetian import; cotton and tobacco plantations were Ottoman innovations; and potatoes and tomatoes probably arrived with the British.

The Akamas Peninsula is a beachcomber’s heaven. A four-wheel drive vehicle is needed to reach this rugged spine of hills, covered with pine and juniper trees, but it’s worth the effort. Along its south shore are southern Cyprus’s only empty beaches, while from its western-most tip are fine coastal views. There’s excellent snorkelling off its rocky shores, while divers favour the offshore islets, such as St George’s Island (see St George’s Island). For something less energetic, boat trips are possible from Pafos and Lakki (see Akamas Peninsula).

Cyprus welcomed Alexander as a liberator from Persian dominance in 325 BC.

Founded around 1000 BC, Amathous flourished under the Romans and Byzantines (see Ancient Amathous).