DK Travel : Cyprus : History & Culture

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Ancient Amathous

Standing aloof above the coastal highway east of Limassol, the ruined foundations of Amathous can only hint of its bygone glories. This was one of the very first of the island’s city-states – under the Romans it was a provincial capital, while under the Byzantine Empire it was the seat of one of the island’s bishops. The remnants of an early Christian basilica, a pagan temple and a spacious Hellenistic agora (marketplace) are the highlights of a site that, despite its accessibility, not far from the luxury resorts and beaches of Limassol’s tourist area, is almost always crowd-free (see Ancient Amathous).
Ancient Idalion

Dali is a farming village that takes its name from the ancient city-state of Idalion. Aphrodite’s lover, Adonis, was killed by the boar of Idalion and the red flowers that bloom here are deemed tokens of his death.
Archbishop Makarios

Makarios (1913–77) led the independence campaign and was Cyprus’s first president.
Art and Architecture

Each of the empires that ruled Cyprus influenced its art and architecture. The Byzantines embraced Orthodox Christianity, which endowed the Troodos churches with their frescoes (see Troodos Painted Churches); the Lusignans left abbeys and palaces with Gothic elements; and Venetian artists influenced Cypriot icon painters. The decorative Koranic inscriptions which adorn mosques and fountains are an Ottoman legacy, while the British left graceful 19th-century public buildings.
Bellapais Abbey

Perched above the sea, Bellapais would be worth the journey into the mountains just for the view. But the abbey, built by the Augustinian order in 1200, is also the most spectacular piece of Gothic architecture in Cyprus, with vaulted stonework decorated with elaborate carving.
Buffavento Castle

Almost 1,000 m (3,300 ft) above sea level, Buffavento’s dilapidated square tower and keep were built by the Byzantines to watch for Saracen raiders and alert the defenders of Kyrenia. Long abandoned, its windy battlements offer breathtaking views of the coast – even with no pirate sails in sight.
Byzantine Era

From AD 330 Cyprus was ruled by Constantinople. Earthquakes destroyed coastal cities in the 4th century, but otherwise it was a period of peace. From the mid-7th century the island was devastated by Arab pirates who were not defeated by Emperor Nicephoros Phocas until 965.
Castles

Cyprus is an island of castles. Built to guard harbours and mountain passes, some, such as St Hilarion (see St Hilarion Castle), have romantically dramatic backdrops. More grimly purposeful are the fortresses built by the Venetians in the 16th century.
Chapelle Royale

This village chapel, dedicated to St Catherine, was built by King Janus and his queen, Charlotte de Bourbon, in 1421. Within are colourful remnants of some unique frescoes.
Chirokitia

Stone “beehive huts” (tholoi ) and graves show that this settlement was home to as many as 2,000 people as early as 6800 BC (see Chirokitia Neolithic Settlement).