cyprus

The magazine of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation
www.visitcyprus.com
Issue no.3 Autumn 2008
CONTENTS
DESTINATION CYPRUS
CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
2.
Discovering Cyprus
4. Forest Recreation and
Nature Tourism
6. Phoebe Katsouri
Looking Forward
8.
Christmas Shopping
10. Orchids
Tourism: Responding to the
Challenge of Climate Change
Climate change, specifically sustainable
development and the UN Millennium Development
Goals, is one of the greatest global challenges.
Catalyzing grassroots action by the tourism sector
to face this challenge is at the centre of this year’s
World Tourism Day.
Tourism is one of the few sectors that cuts across
a whole spectrum of economic and social activities.
Furthermore, it is a key economic and job driver in
the developing world. We can and must therefore,
play an active role in tackling the double challenge
of climate response and poverty alleviation.
As the leading UN agency for tourism, UNWTO’s
input from Davos to Bali 2007 has shown our
determination to carry out rigorous action to
implement a carbon-neutral roadmap in tourism. We
encourage the urgent adaptation of a range of
policies which promote sustainable tourism that
reflects environmental, socio-economic and climate
responsiveness.
Our call to action is to change habits and position
renewable energy at the forefront of international
response by promoting the action-oriented Davos
Declaration Process, encouraging tourism stakeholders to adapt, to mitigate and to use new
technology and secure financing for the poorest
countries to face the challenge of climate change.
Our call to respond to the challenge of climate
change consists of a year-long campaign during
2008, with World Tourism Day on 27 September
in Peru as one of its highlights. A global high-level
meeting around this subject will gather public and
private stakeholders and contribute to the evolving
planning and action towards overall sustainability.
I am certain that we all share these concerns,
and that we share the belief that now is the
time to effectively respond to the challenges.
I look forward to celebrating World Tourism Day
with you!
Francesco Frangialli
UNWTO Secretary - General
12. Treasures of the Past
16. Hala Sultan Tekke
& Larnaka Salt Lake
18. Raising Lazarus
20. Run in the Sun
22. Anogyra
24. Ancient Idalion
25. The Museums of the
Pancyprian Gymnasium
26. The Cyprus Wine Museum
28. Gifts from a Small Island
30. Success for Cyprus in the
UEFA Competitions
31. Winter Tourism
32. Rural Tourism
34. Charming Pegeia
36. A Cultural Feast
Music and Theatre
40. Sustainable Tourism, Sia
42. Save the Earth
43. Troodos Events
44. The New Tastes of Cyprus
46. Earth: Mother of us all
47. The Exotic Taste of Nashi
48. Cyprus News
50. CTO News from Abroad
52. CTO Management
Editor’s note
Dear Friends
It is with great pleasure that I welcome
the third edition of the Love Cyprus
magazine. We are enthusiastic about
it because of all the positive and
encouraging comments we have
received until now. This motivates
us to enhance and improve the
forthcoming editions.
The current issue includes a
variety of interesting subjects and
we are pleased to offer you a number of
suggestions for a fascinating and enjoyable stay.
Through these pages you can, without doubt, find out for
yourselves that Cyprus is an island of truly amazing diversity.
We invite you to visit an oasis of tranquility and one of the island’s
most important Islamic Shrines – the picturesque Hala Sultan Tekke,
which sits on the edge of the famous Larnaka Salt Lake, a winter
home for many migratory birds including flamingoes. We urge you
to enjoy the spectacular view from the traditional village of Anogyra
and discover the exceptional taste of “black gold”. We encourage
you to take a look at some of our fascinating museums and to visit
one of our finest places of worship, the impressive church of the
resurrected ‘friend of Christ’, St. Lazarus.
Nature lovers are invited to learn about our orchids and to explore
the Troodos mountains as well as many of our other rural treasures.
Moreover, we have included sections that offer shopping suggestions
and unique product purchase ideas, information about important
cultural productions, articles about sports and a presentation
on Ancient Idalion which is one of the 10 ancient city kingdoms
of Cyprus.
We are also happy because this edition coincides with the World
Tourism Day that has an environmental theme. It is a fact that
Cyprus is transforming into a destination that offers tourist activities
across a variety of sectors and we are making sure that all developments respect the environment. This is why we have implemented
contemporary but sustainable models of development, highlighting
quality in all parameters of our tourist product.
Environmental protection is a crucial component of our strategy and
we have the highest respect for areas that are ecologically sensitive.
I should highlight that Cyprus has scored top marks for its beach
and coastal water quality and that a considerable number of
beaches have been awarded the exclusive Blue Flag eco-label.
I hope you enjoy our magazine and I assure you that we will
continue our efforts to ensure that every visitor who leaves our
island feels enriched by the experience.
Panos Englezos
Chairman
Cyprus Tourism Organisation
01
Autumn in Cyprus may not be as flamboyant as spring, but it
has its own special charm. This is the time for harvesting.
Olives, carobs and grapes are all ready to be picked and whole
families, from toddlers to grandparents, can be seen working in
their fields. If you’re in the winemaking region, head for one of
the small wineries to see how our great wines are made. For
those who really enjoy the rural lifestyle, there are some
exceptional accommodation options in many of
our villages. Information on these is
available from any of the CTO
offices listed at the back of
this magazine.
Autumn brings many visitors to Cyprus.
They come to enjoy the warm sunshine,
walk or cycle the beautiful mountain
trails, play a few rounds of golf, go diving,
or just take a relaxing break away from
the modern-day rat-race of city living.
Whatever their reasons for coming, they
are welcome.
The beaches are quieter at this time of year, yet the water is
still warm – in fact, it really is the best time for scuba diving.
Cyprus is justly proud of its clean beaches and, in 2008, was
awarded the ‘Blue Flag’ for 52 of its beaches – that’s an
impressive 99% of all beaches tested. Being a symbol of
environmental quality, the Blue Flag serves as an incentive for
local authorities and the private sector to take measures for the
overall improvement of the coastal areas, thereby ensuring that
our beaches are safe and clean for all to enjoy.
We are also on the migration route for millions of birds from
northern Europe. Every autumn they descend on the island for
a stopover – a place to recharge their
batteries before they head further
south. Their arrival heralds
great excitement and is
one of the reasons so
many bird lovers come
here at this time of year.
Bird watchers usually head
for the remote Akamas
peninsular, or to the island’s
two large salt lakes at
Larnaka and Akrotiri, where
water birds and flocks of pink
flamingos can be seen
enjoying the warm shallow
waters.
This is certainly one of the best times to visit the island. The
temperatures have dropped from their summer highs but the
winter chills have not yet arrived, so it’s a great time for getting
around and seeing the sights – the choices are all out there just
waiting for you, whether it’s taking a walk in the
wilderness, browsing the shops or playing a
round or two of golf. Come, we’ll show you
around – you’ll love it!
Come and discover
Cyprus.
T
Getting Around
he relatively short distances
between major towns and
attractions make Cyprus the ideal
place to go exploring. Regular bus
services operate between the major
towns and coastal resorts along with
further services to the rural communities.
Taxis are commonplace and offer a
relatively inexpensive means of getting
from A to B. Coach excursions are a
popular way of seeing the major local
attractions, while many tourists choose to
hire cars or motorcycles to explore the
island at their own pace.
C
Seeing the Sites
yprus is a dream come true for budding archaeologists and adventurers
because, wherever you go on this beautiful island, you’re never far from one historical site or another. Whether it’s gazing
out across the Mediterranean from the
Roman amphitheatre at Kourion, climbing the winding stairs of Kolossi Castle,
or seeing the outstanding mosaics of
Pafos for the first time, you’re in for an
unforgettable experience. Autumn is the
perfect time to explore the many historical sites dotted around Cyprus, but please
remember to take suitable precautions.
Days are bright and sunny, so make sure
you wear protective clothing and apply
suntan lotion, and when exploring any of
the island’s sites, it’s always a good idea
to wear comfortable, supportive footwear.
Please also take into account that
disabled access to certain sites is limited,
so it’s worth checking in advance.
Info: keconomidou@visitcyprus.com
03
DISCOVERING CYPRUS
Discovering Cyprus
Cost Action E33 and
Nature Tourism
The Cyprus Tourism Organisation has
successfully participated as a project partner
in the European Programme ‘Cost Action E33:
Forest Recreation and Nature Tourism’, which
commenced in January 2004 and will be
completed by the end of 2008. The project
involves a network of over 80 experts from
all over Europe.
A total of 26 countries are participating in the project: Austria,
Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Serbia, Slovak Republic, Sweden, Switzerland and the United
Kingdom.
The main objective of the project is to improve the quality of
information available to policy-makers and forest managers on
the recreation and tourism benefits of forestry and to increase
the cost-effectiveness of techniques for delivering recreation
and tourism benefits from forestry. More specifically, the project
aims to improve knowledge of the benefits to urbanized
societies, to improve the understanding of the economic
and social impacts of forest recreation and nature
tourism in Europe, and to assess its
potential as a tool for rural
development.
Ms Maro Kazepi, Tourist
Officer, with Mr. Simon Bell,
Chairman of the Cost Action
E33 project “Forest Recreation
and Nature Tourism”, at the
Cyprus exhibition stand in
Finland during the ‘Final
Conference’.
04 Info: mkazepi@visitcyprus.com
The project enables the
integration of knowledge in the
fields of recreation research,
planning and management and
the promotion of models of best
practice for Forest Recreation and
Nature Tourism in Europe. Its work
programme included a series of project
meetings in different partner countries,
including Cyprus. The project’s outputs
included various papers, publications and
presentations given at meetings, all related
to forest recreation and nature tourism
issues concerning different countries or
Tourism in Europe is changing as new areas become popular
and new types of tourism activities are developed.
Environment and landscape are important attraction factors
for nature-based tourism. Tourists' expectations of the
environment are to a certain extent different: some look for
cultural landscapes and a traditional, living countryside,
whereas others hope to be able to find nature in a pure and
original condition.
Troodos Visitor Centre
T
here’s no doubt that the stunning mountain
range in the western part of Cyprus is a
great place to visit. The cool, scented air and
quiet, pine-clad slopes offer a welcome change
from the beaches and busy towns. There are
timeless villages, mountain walks and cycling routes, tiny
painted churches and a wealth of places to discover and
explore. But there’s a lot more to the Troodos than initially
meets the eye. To really understand the nature and geology
of the area it’s necessary to know a little bit about it before
you go exploring.
regions throughout Europe as well as a major
handbook called European Forest Recreation
and Tourism, expected to be published by
November 2008.
The successful implementation of the project
was concluded with a Final Conference which
took place in Finland, during which the
results of the project were presented and
various country projects were exhibited. The
CTO project representative, Ms Maro Kazepi,
presented and exhibited the Cyprus
programme “Nature Tourism & Integrated
Rural Development”.
The best place to go for this is the Troodos
National Forest Park Visitor Centre. It’s
easy to find – just 200 metres from
Troodos Square, off the Troodos to
Platres road. Information is available here
on the park area – there’s even a scale model of the park
indicating all the places of interest. The exhibition gallery
houses exhibits relating to the environment, geology, flora
and fauna, habitats, recreation and the history and
civilization of the island. But perhaps the most interesting is
a short 10-minute film showing the
unique way in which the island of
Cyprus and its mountain ranges
were formed and why the Troodos
is one of the rare places on the
planet where you can actually stand
on the earth’s mantle.
When you leave
this interesting
centre, you will
definitely be
seeing Troodos
through different
eyes.
The Troodos
Visitor Centre was
built in 2002 by
the CTO and is
operated by the
Cyprus Forestry
Department. Open
Monday to Friday from 10.00 to
15.00hrs. For more information,
telephone +357 25420144.
keconomidou@visitcyprus.com
05
COST ACTION E33
Forest Recreation & Nature
LOOKING FORWARD
Looking Forward
Director General of the CTO Phoebe Katsouris is
well aware of the difficulties facing the world
tourism industry but she is positive that not only
can Cyprus flourish, but it can also gradually
become a showcase for other countries on how
to help develop their tourism infrastructures to
cater for the needs of modern travellers.
When Phoebe Katsouris speaks about the future of the tourism
industry, she does so with enthusiasm and a high sense of
dedication and commitment. En route to her appointment as
Director General, Phoebe worked in various positions within the
CTO, gaining insight into all aspects of the organisation, the
industry, and each and every aspect of the Cyprus tourist sector.
Phoebe played an integral role in the various stages – from
proposal to implementation - of a whole host of tourism initiatives
which have begun to bear fruit.
“We are showing that we can use tourism to highlight the many
strengths of Cyprus, from cultural attractions, to sports facilities, to
services for business travellers, and so much more. But we all
have to work together. Synergies with the private sector and the
government are a necessity and we must all work together to
better highlight what our island has to offer. High-profile Cypriots
who are overseas, for example, can be very effective
ambassadors for Cyprus and can influence people when they are
choosing their holiday destination; they can attract business to
the island; they can boost the island’s international standing.
Phoebe explains what drew her to work
within such a challenging industry:
“Tourism has a very real sense of
purpose and brings with it a very
real sense of contributing to public
service and to the country as a
whole. It is both my personal
and our organisation’s
commitment to promote
Cyprus in the best possible
light, to help people discover
the real Cyprus and to highlight, both
here and overseas, everything about our island
that is important and
unique.
“Package tourism is
diminishing so we have to
maintain growth by
exploring new avenues.
Indications show that we
are on the right track. We
are developing new
products with potential
such as encouraging more
winter traffic and
encouraging new policies
to promote competitive
pricing of flights.
06
“We know that we must communicate these facts effectively and
to do so in these changing times we are engaged in a complex
blend of advertising, PR and e-marketing.
“Tourism is a sector in which we can and do excel and as a
national tourist organisation we have highly motivated and
dedicated specialist personnel through whom we can make our
mark in the international arena. In fact, we already play a major
role in Brussels and we are the elected chair of the European
Commission of the United Nations World Tourism Organization
(UNWTO) - we were elected by 44 European countries.
As the chair, we formulate policies, network, and guide
European tourism bodies in the best ways to face the
challenges of modern tourism. Being elected is
recognition of our many years and great experience in
the tourism sector.
“As well as promoting Cyprus as a tourist destination
overseas, we are also engaged in promoting Cyprus
as a tourist destination for Cypriots. We do a great
deal of promotion with special offers throughout the
year, as well as developing activities for local
holidaymakers such as excursions, bus trips, free
events, etc. We are also focusing on the many aspects
of Cyprus that the people are perhaps less familiar
with, such as our long history of wine production.
Special programmes are also being organized for
primary and secondary schools to promote internal
tourism and raise awareness of – and pride in – the
unique strengths of our island. We have prepared a
series of publications and promotional films, all of
which are extremely well-researched and content-rich
to ensure genuine insights into what our island has to offer.
“As we all know, Cyprus has many unique strengths. As well as
the best year-round climate in Europe, it offers safety, security
and a warm welcome. We’re a modern European country, with
modern telecoms and lots for people to see and do. Take sports
activities – from swimming to cycling, from yachting to running,
almost everything can be enjoyed here, at a professional level
and at a fun level for the whole family.
“I look ahead with confidence. Certainly these are difficult times,
but we Cypriots are good at using difficulties to springboard to
new levels of success. We have moved beyond the traditional
notion of ‘sun, sea and sand’ holidays. Travellers expect more.
And we want our visitors – whether they come for a holiday, or for
professional reasons, to feel that their stay in Cyprus exceeds
their expectations. In this way, they will return time and time again.”
Info: directorgeneral@visitcyprus.com
07
Pottery and basketware make great gifts and Cyprus certainly has plenty to
choose from including pottery replicas of ancient Cypriot archaeological finds.
Search for genuine Cyprus-made products such as Tsestos – a colourful round
basket, traditionally used as a platter or tray but today mostly used as an unusual
wall decoration. Many traditional gifts can be found at the Cyprus Handicraft
Service shops in all towns (See page 28-29).
All the main towns have excellent shopping, from European ‘High Street’ style
shopping chains to exclusive boutiques selling designer clothes and accessories
that you would only expect to find in Paris or Milan. Head into the older parts of
the towns to find artisan’s workshops, such as candlemakers and icon painters,
as well as artists’ studios and antique shops. They are great fun to browse
around and, who knows, you may just find that perfect gift.
There are many advantages to visiting
Cyprus during autumn: the weather is
perfect, the beaches are quiet; the villages
,
are buzzing with activity as it s the time
for harvesting grapes, olives and carobs...
and because Cyprus is a great place to do
your Christmas shopping!
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING
Christmas Shopping
Tax Free Shopping
Did you know, if you are
visiting Cyprus from a
non-EU country, you can
claim back the VAT on
purchased items through
the Euro Refund Tax Free Shopping
scheme? Look for shops that display the
distinctive ‘Tax Free Shopping’ logo. If you
spend over E50 ask for a Euro Refund
voucher to show (together with the goods)
when you leave the island - the tax on your
purchases will be reimbursed to you at the
Euro Refund desk within the airport or port
of departure.
,
Don t miss the
Traditional Christmas
Concert at the Holy
Cross Catholic church
in Nicosia on December
17th at 8.00pm.
There’s a reason why shopping is called ‘retail therapy’. What
could make you feel better than browsing round the shops in
search of something special, for someone special?
Christmas shopping in Cyprus can be a fun experience and
it doesn’t have to be expensive. For example, check out the
jewellery shops. Many sell a range of unusual pieces that
depict finds of ancient jewellery from the island’s archaeological
sites. Pendants, rings, earrings, bangles and brooches are
made of top quality silver (and gold if you’re feeling generous).
The ancient symbols such as pomegranates and cruciform
figurines are also incorporated into very classy key rings.
For more sophisticated pieces, the island’s jewellery designers
are very creative and you are sure to find something unusual,
if not unique.
If you’re shopping for a friend or neighbour who enjoys food,
look for traditional items such as Cyprus honey, olive oil,
carob syrup (great with ice cream), preserved fruits, baklava,
loukoumi (Cyprus delight), and carob toffee. Go to the deli
counter and seek out Cyprus cheeses and the locally produced
salami, sausages, smoked meats and hams. Buy them just
before you leave and ask the shopkeeper to shrink-wrap
them for you.
Check out the markets to see what’s on offer, such as dried
Cyprus herbs. There are also many great Cyprus cookery
books around to choose from. Or how about a bottle of the
world’s oldest named wine, Commandaria.
08
Info: keconomidou@visitcyprus.com
09
into approaching and copulating. This natural mechanism is
called ‘mimicry’. The male insect begins a struggle to fertilise
the pseudo female and in doing so, agitates a part of the flower
where the pollen is stored. The pollen grains (the male cell of
the flower) are then transferred by the insect and attached to
the pistils (the female cell of the flower) via a spring mechanism
used by the orchid called ‘pseudo-copulation’. But even if
the optical cue is unsuccessful, orchids give off
pheromones (sexual attractors) whose
purpose is to attract pollinators and
ensure the chemical stimulus will
succeed where the optical
stimulus fails.
Text and images
by Alecos Nicolaou
A member of the family Orchidaceae,
which includes between 25,000 and
35,000 species, orchids can be found
throughout the whole world with the
exception of the Arctic and Antarctic
regions. The greatest number of species
is found in humid tropical areas. In Cyprus,
50 species and sub-species of orchids can
be found. Of these, 6 are indigenous.
In Greek mythology, Orchis was the son of a nymph and a
satyr. During a festival honouring Bacchus, he polluted the
God’s rites by attempting to rape a priestess. His punishment
was to be ripped apart by wild beasts and transformed into a
powerless and inconspicuous plant.
Theophrastus was the first of the ancient writers to mention
orchids. He was struck by the similarity of their two tuberous
roots to the male genitalia. It was Theophrastus, inspired by the
myth of Orchis, who named this genus Orchis, and the family
Orchidaceae. His terminology was used later in antiquity by
other writers including Dioscorides and Pliny.
Pliny mentions that after drinking a concoction prepared from
the large tuber of an orchid, erotic desire is increased, while
after drinking a concoction prepared from a small, soft tuber,
erotic desire is curbed.
The ancient Greeks believed they could control the sex of their
unborn children by eating the tubers of orchids. If a father ate a
large young tuber the child would be male, if the mother ate a
small tuber the child would be female.
10
There is a similar tradition in Cyprus that says that if a woman
eats the large tubers of an orchid she will bring a son into the
world, while if she eats the small tubers of last year’s flower
she will bear a daughter.
Medical and therapeutic traditions in Cyprus and the
Mediterranean have used the orchid as a source of nutrition for
ages. There is a drink called salep (the famous drink of the
East), which is produced chiefly from the genus Orchis. The
medical tradition of Machairas Monastery established the use
of salep especially for the treatment of the infirm,
for those who had undergone operations and for
pregnant women because it was considered
useful and effective.
It was a very potent drink since it contained
all the nutrients found in the tuber, such as
protein, starch, trace elements and enzymes.
This practice is no longer carried out in
Cyprus because orchids are protected.
Machairas Monastery
The orchid’s tubers are subterranean dormant organs. The
resemblance of orchids to insects is due to their difficulty in
attracting pollinators. To accomplish this, orchids assume the
shape of a female insect in order to trick the male equivalent
T
he Machairas Monastery was
the first hospital in Cyprus.
Monasteries were not only
religious institutions but also
centres for medical treatment. The
monks of old were also doctors.
The Machairas Monastery was
a centre for the production of
salep. They would fill baskets with
specific species of orchids, including the
Orchis anatolica and the Orchis troodi
(an indigenous species). Then they
would clean them and string them
together during the night using a needle
and thread, and hang them next to the
fireplace to dry. When completely dry,
they would crush them with a special
pestle and pulverise the hard tubers,
producing a flour-like powder. This
powder was then mixed with goat’s milk
and aromatic plants like sisymbrium
officinale (an aromatic, pharmaceutical
plant that is used by medical doctors)
was added. This was salep and it was
considered to be a very good cure for
dysentery and a dry cough.
Info: infolimassol@visitcyprus.com
11
ORCHIDS
Orchids
Cyprus may be a small island but it has an
impressive history, much of which is on display
for all to see in its many museums.
Visitors are often intrigued by the very visible evidence of the
island’s past; the Neolithic village at Choirokoitia; the extensive
ruins of the Greco-Roman cities of Kourion and Amathus, the
intricate mosaic floors of the Roman villas in Pafos; the
impressive Tombs of the Kings; and much, much, more.
Everywhere you go in Cyprus you can be almost sure you are
walking a piece of the past.
All of these sites, along with hundreds of others, have
been excavated and studied by archaeological
teams and experts from Cyprus and around the
world. Their findings have been carefully
recorded and stored or put on display in the
island’s many museums.
The Archaeological
Museum of Lefkosia
This is the largest and most impressive of the island’s
museums. Chronologically displayed in its 14 rooms are
artifacts dating from the earliest known phases of settlement on
the island, the Neolithic Period, until late Roman and early
Christian times.
Visitors will discover the tools, stone vessels and figurines of
the Neolithic people; the first evidence of handmade clay
12
pottery from the
Chalcolithic Period, and
figurines representing the
earliest evidence of
worship. There is the
evolution of pottery, from
the Early Bronze age to
Roman times and one
room dedicated to around
2000 clay figurines and
statues that were found
around a circular altar in
the Archaic sanctuary at Agia Irini. Also on display is a rich
collection of bronze items including agricultural tools and
weapons, as well as statuary, jewellery, glass, silver, gold and
coinage. Everything is artistically and logically displayed and
many hours can be spent here just discovering the past.
District/Address
Telephone
Opening hours
Tickets
E3,40
1 Mouseiou Str. (Lefkosia)
22865864 / 22865857
Tues, Wed, Fri:
Thurs:
Sat:
Sun:
Mon:
08.00 - 16.00
08.00 - 17.00
09.00 - 16.00
10.00 - 13.00
Closed
Lemesos (Limassol) District Museum
This Museum
houses antiquities
that cover the
development of
civilization on the
island from the 9th
millennium to the
end of the Roman
period. Artifacts that
date from the earlier
phases of the
history of Cyprus,
such as the
internationally
famous pygmy
elephant and pygmy
hippopotamus found
at the Pre-neolithic
site of AkrotiriAetokremmos, are on display in this museum.
From the Late Bronze Age onwards settlers from the Aegean
contributed to the close commercial contacts between the
island and the Mediterranean world, as evidenced by the
imported Mycenaean vessels, exhibited alongside those
produced locally.
Before their abolishment by Ptolemy in 310 B.C., there were
two City Kingdoms in the Lemesos area: Kourion and Amathus.
The finds from Kourion are exhibited in the Local
Archaeological Museum of Episkopi, but the material from
Amathus and its surrounding settlements and sanctuaries is
exhibited here in the Lemesos Museum. Amongst the
Museum's rich collection are many objects that indicate the
strong influences of eastern elements on the local artisans.
District/Address
Telephone
Opening hours
Admission
Lemesos (Limassol)/ Kaningos and
Vironos Str. (Limassol)
25305157
Tues, Wed, Fri:
8.00-15.00
Thurs:
8.00 -17:00
Sat:
9.00 - 15.00
Sun, Mon:
Closed
E1,70
Larnaka District Museum
The Larnaka
District Museum
consists of four
galleries where
the objects are
exhibited in
chronological order
so the visitor may
have a more
complete picture of
the historical development of the ancient city of Kition and the
district of Larnaka in general.
In the entrance hall, two large limestone sarcophagi are
exhibited with anthropomorphic lids, male and female. These
are rare 6th-5th century B.C. works of art with parallels in the
eastern Mediterranean and especially Phoenicia (Sidon). Within
the hall is also a replica of the important stele of Sargon II
found at Kition, its original is currently at the Pergamon
Museum in Berlin. Here too is a replica of a rare marble statue
of the goddess Artemis, also found at Kition, at the temple of
Artemis Paralia. The original is on display at the Museum of the
History of Art in Vienna.
Info: keconomidou@visitcyprus.com
13
TREASURES OF THE PAST
Treasures of the past
As the former Roman capital of Cyprus, it’s hardly surprising
that this museum has a rich collection of artifacts from the
Hellenistic and Roman periods including a unique collection of
clay vessels, found in Nea Pafos, which were used for
therapeutic purposes. These would have held hot or cold water
and were moulded to fit onto the different parts of the body.
This small but comprehensive museum also houses a
fascinating wealth of treasures that clearly evidence the
development of this important town and its environs from
prehistoric times up until the Roman period.
District/Address
Telephone
Opening hours
Admission
Larnaka /Plateia Kalograion
24304169
Tues, Wed, Fri:
Thurs:
Sat:
Sun, Mon:
E1,70
The museum also houses a collection of medieval antiquities
found in Kato Pafos, in the Chrysopolitissa and Saranta
Kolones localities, namely decorated glazed pottery, glass
vessels, stone sculptures and mural paintings of the Frankish
and Venetian periods.
District
Telephone
Opening hours
Admission
This delightful museum houses a large number of
archaeological objects found at the most interesting sites in the
Pafos area, representing all the Prehistoric and Historic
periods. It consists of five exhibition rooms and one penthouse
in the museum’s yard where the inscriptions and other marble
and limestone objects are exhibited.
Here you can discover finds from the famous Chalcolithic sites
of Lempa and Kissonerga in the Pafos area, as well as a
Local Museum of Marion-Arsinoe,
Polis Chrysochous
Lemesos (Limassol)/ Episkopi village
25991049
Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri:
8:00-16.00
Thurs:
8.00 17.00
Sat and Sun:
Closed
E1,70
Local Museum of Palaepafos (Kouklia)
Located in Polis tis Chysochous, about 35km. north of Pafos,
the Museum exhibits finds from the ancient city of Marion
(renamed Arsinoe in the 3rd century BC), its cemeteries and
the surrounding area.
8.00 - 15.00
8.00 -17:00
9.00 - 15.00
Closed
Pafos District Museum
District/Address
Telephone
Opening hours
Tickets
Pafos/ Griva Diyeni (Ktima)
26306215
Tues, Wed, Fri:
Thurs:
Sat:
Sun, Mon:
E1,70
8.00 - 15.00
8.00 - 17:00
9.00 - 15.00
closed
Local Kourion
Museum, Episkopi
Located in Episkopi village,
this small but fascinating
museum is in what was the
private house of the late
George McFadden, Assistant
Director of the University
of Pennsylvania, who led
extensive archaeological
research at ancient Kourion
and its environs from 1934
until his accidental death in
1953. The house was handed
over to the Department of
Antiquities and part of it has
been converted into a regional museum. In its two exhibition
halls are finds dating from the Archaic to Roman periods, from
the ancient city of Kourion and its surrounding area.
The skeletal remains of inhabitants of the city who lost their
lives in the 4th century earthquakes constitute one of the most
impressive exhibits of the room. These skeletons were found in
14
situ in a Roman house. The Early Christian period is also richly
represented in this room with architectural elements, decorative
motifs and moveable objects unearthed in the Kourion basilica
and the basilica near the Stadium. Large sculptures and
inscriptions are exposed at the end of the room.
TREASURES OF THE PAST
collection of ceramic vessels representing all the phases of the
Bronze Age. The Archaic and Classical periods are also
represented with finds from Palaipafos, Marion, Nea Pafos and
some other smaller sites.
Housed in the eastern wing of the Lusignian Medieval Manor
House in the archaeological site of Kouklia village, this
museum's two rooms present finds from the archaeological site
of ancient Palaipafos as well as from the area's cemeteries.
The first room's floor is covered by a Roman mosaic, and
includes important finds from the sanctuary of Aphrodite. In
front of the left wall stands the conical stone which served as
the cult idol in the sanctuary. In front of the right-hand wall a
terracotta bath is on display, a find which witnesses the
settlement of the Mycenaean Greeks on the island. In this
room are also finds dating from the 13th century B.C. to the
Roman period.
The museum houses important finds from the cemeteries of the
area, dating from the 2nd millennium B.C. until Roman times,
as well as the important Cypro-Classical limestone
sarcophagus that was unearthed at Kouklia in 2006. The last
section of the room is dedicated to Medieval and more recent
times, with local glazed pottery next to imported pottery from
Italy, as well as plain pottery which was used for the production
of sugar. At the back of the room are two large bronze cannons
belonging to Venetian ships.
District/Address
Telephone
Opening hours
Admission
It consists of two rooms and an atrium where architectural
objects originating from the area around Polis are
chronologically arranged, portraying its important historical
development from Neolithic to Medieval times. Based on
present evidence Marion was inhabited towards the end of the
Neolithic and throughout the Chalcolithic period. It became one
of the most important ancient Cypriot city-kingdoms in the
Cypro-Classical period with important commercial relations with
the East Aegean islands, Attica and Corinth. In 312 B.C. it was
conquered by Ptolemy I and abolished until it was reconquered by Ptolemy II Philadelphus who renamed the city
Arsinoe, after his sister and wife. The new city was smaller than
Marion but it flourished due to its proximity to the copper mines.
Arsinoe continued to exist in the Roman, early Christian and
early Byzantine periods at which point it seems to have
suffered extensive destruction by the Arab raids of the 7th
century A.D. Archaeological evidence indicates that the city
was also inhabited during the medieval period.
Address
Telephone
Opening hours
Tickets
Archiepiskopou Makariou III Avenue
26322955
8.00-15.00
Tues, Wed, Fri:
Thurs:
8.00 -17:00
Sat:
9.00 - 15.00
Sun, Mon:
Closed
E1,70
Pafos/ South-west of Kouklia village.
26432155
Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun: 08.00 - 16.00
08.00 - 17.00
Thurs:
E3,40 (the price includes entry to
Palaipafos archaeological site)
Info: keconomidou@visitcyprus.com
15
& Larnaka Salt Lake
(provided they remove their shoes) and the curator provides a
brief talk about the history of the building. Entrance is free, but
donations are gratefully received.
The tomb of Umm Haram is located in a separate chamber and
consists of three stones - two upright with a third resting across
them. These stones are said to have been brought to the site
from Mecca. Other tombs here include the last resting place of
the Turkish wife of Sharif Al Hussein, the great-grandfather of
King Abdullah of Jordan.
The mosque is open to the general public but please
remember that Tekke remains a place of worship and you
should be appropriately dressed
There are many romantic sights in
Cyprus, but none more so than the view
,
of Larnaka s Hala Sultan Tekke standing
,
gracefully alongside the town s salt lake.
I
The Salt Lake
f you exclude the many miles of beaches, Larnaka’s salt
lake is undoubtedly the town’s largest attraction. Covering
around 6 square kilometres and sitting 3 metres below sea
level, the lake was a source of commerce from ancient
times. In a trade that was worth many thousands of
pounds every year, salt was exported from Larnaka as
far as Venice.
After the hot summer months, the salt lake is typically
completely dry but it doesn’t take a great deal of rain for
the salt lake to become a lake once again – albeit a
shallow one! While the salt is no longer used commercially, the lake continues to play an important role as a
resting place and winter home for migratory birds, in
particular the flamingoes which can be seen here during
the wetter months between November and March.
Ironically, this is also one of the first sights that many visitors to
Cyprus see, as this beauty spot is just a short distance from the
island’s major international airport.
Once you leave the airport, Hala Sultan Tekke (which is
sometimes known as “the Tekke of Umm Haram” or, simply
“the Tekke”) can be seen quite clearly, its graceful minaret
emerging from attractive groves of cypress and palm trees.
The Lady Umm Haram was a 7th century relative of the
Prophet Mohammed who, while accompanying her husband on
a journey to Cyprus, is said to have fallen from her mule in this
location and died from her injuries. She was buried here and
the Tekke was established much later in 1767.
Humble, understated and an oasis of tranquility,
Tekke is actually one of the most
important Islamic shrines in
Cyprus. Indeed, Turkish
ships passing within sight
of the shrine would dip
their flags as a mark of
respect.
While there is actually very
little to physically discover at
Tekke, it is still a worthwhile
place to visit. It is impossible not
to be overwhelmed by
the peace and
calm which
exists here.
Visitors of either
sex are welcome
to enter the
octagonal mosque
16
Info: keconomidou@visitcyprus.com
17
HALA SULTAN TEKKE & THE SALT LAKE
Hala Sultan Tekke
The iconostasis is well documented as one of the most impressive woodcarvings on
the island. Dating from the 18th century, it is the work of Hadjisavvas Taliadorou and
stands as testament to his tremendous talents. It was first gold-plated between
1793-97 and again, more recently, in the early 1970s.
RAISING LAZARUS
Raising Lazarus
new guide book
St Lazarus still has his special day, celebrated in many villages but most prominently
in Larnaka. On the Saturday that falls eight days before Easter Sunday, an icon of St
Lazarus is carried through the streets of the town in a solemn procession that commemorates Lazarus’ raising from the dead and looks forward to Christ’s resurrection.
The Church of St Lazarus is still a thriving church, surrounded by the hustle and
bustle of town life. Visitors are very welcome to the church, but are asked to dress
respectfully and appreciate
that this is a place of worship.
,
No trip to Larnaka, the island s second
largest coastal resort, is complete
without a visit to the impressive church
,
dedicated to the town s patron saint,
St Lazarus.
Reputed to be built over the site of Lazarus’s final resting place, the
Church of St. Lazarus is within easy walking distance of Larnaka’s
palm tree-lined seafront promenade and is one of the finest
examples of a place of Orthodox worship on the island.
After his resurrection by Christ, Lazarus is said to have spent all
but a few months of his second life in Larnaka (or Kitium, as it was
then known). He is believed to have settled here before the visit of
Saint Paul, who converted the island’s Roman governor, Sergius
Paulus, to Christianity. It is said that Lazarus laid low until St Paul
and St Barnabas sought him out and appointed him the first Bishop
of Kitium.
Lazarus was ‘reborn’ in Bethany, probably when he was around 30years-old. He was either expelled or escaped from the Holy Land
to avoid persecution by the Jews and settled in Cyprus. One story
has it that he was set adrift in a small boat and ultimately drifted to
Cyprus, although this seems unlikely given prevailing winds and
currents – unless, of course, there was a measure of divine
intervention.
There are numerous legends about Lazarus’s time in Cyprus.
One tells that he never smiled – forever sobered by what he had
witnessed during his four days in the underworld.
Another tale centres on Larnaka’s Salt Lake. Soon after his arrival
on the island, Lazarus is said to have been walking past a lush
vineyard, which once existed here. He stopped and asked the old
woman who owned the vineyard if she could spare a few grapes to
quench his thirst. The old lady lied, and claimed that her vineyard
had withered and died. Asking what was in the heavily laden
basket she carried, she replied “Salt”. Angered by her lies, Lazarus
turned the entire vineyard into salt – creating the barren expanse
that we see today.
18
Lazarus remained in Larnaka
until his death in about 76 AD and
his tomb, which bore the
inscription ‘Lazarus, the friend of
Christ’, was discovered in the
year 890. History records that
Emperor Leo of Constantinople
heard of the discovery and, in
accordance with his wish that all
the saints be laid to rest in
Constantinople, emissaries were
sent to Cyprus with instructions to
bring part of the relics back to the Byzantine capital. In return, the
Emperor donated royal funds for a church to be built on the site.
Some of the relics were supposedly left in Larnaka as a foundation
for the new church – which was in keeping with the tradition for all
Greek churches to be founded on the remains of a saint, whose
bones would be buried under the altar.
St Lazarus Church
Plateia Agios Lazarus
Tel: 24652498
Opening hours:
Apr-Aug: Mon-Fri 0800-1230 / 1530-1830
Sep-Mar: Mon-Fri 0800-1230 / 1430-1700
The CTO
has recently
published a new
guidebook, Cyprus
Island of Saints:
A Devotional Journey.
The book is a
comprehensive guide to the island’s
churches and monasteries and
provides interesting facts on their Holy
icons, frescoes and religious relics.
The book also contains a series of
maps and routes through which visitors
can discover for themselves the
island’s fascinating journey through
Christianity.
The Church of St Lazarus is one of Larnaka’s oldest monuments
and is thought to date from around 900AD. The original church was
a three-sided basilica with three domes on the central nave. The
domes themselves are said to have been destroyed during the
period of Ottoman rule, after an important Turk spotted them as he
approached the coast by ship and supposed them to be a mosque.
Requesting to be taken there to pray, he was infuriated to discover
a place of Christian worship and the domes were subsequently
destroyed and covered with flat roofs. However, the very distinctive
and elaborate bell tower was added during the Ottoman period.
In 1589, Larnaka shipowners bought the church from the Ottomans
for the sum of “30,000 silver pieces and 31 gold crowns”, after
which it was evidently used by Greeks and Latins alike.
Very little of what we see today dates from the 9th century and is
the result of considerable remodeling and renovations. Written
works and engravings on the building itself detail various periods of
renovation, with the most extensive work in recent years conducted
in 1972 after a fire destroyed part of the iconostasis and icons. At
this time, excavations uncovered the old floor of the church,
together with graves, sarcophagi and traces of foundations dating
back to early construction work.
Did you Know...
Larnaka is a town of cultural diversity.
Once the consular capital of Cyprus, it is
a place where religions blend and modern,
cosmopolitan life is in harmony with
tradition.
Info: epapadoupoulou@visitcyprus.com or vloizides@visitcyprus.com
19
RUN IN THE SUN
Run in the Sun
Anyone can become a member, regardless of age, and those who are just visiting
the island can go along and join in the fun. For more information, call +35799411411
or log on to www.periclis.com.cy
Visitors are also welcome to join in the more eccentric running/jogging/walking
activities of the ‘Hash’. For those that don’t know it, the ‘Hash House Harriers’ is
an international ‘fun-running’ club that’s well established in almost every country
around the world and generally described as a “drinking club with a running
problem”. Basically, a ‘hash’ is a paper-chase. The ‘hare’ lays a trail with flour for
the runners ‘the pack’ to follow. Their progress is hampered by several ‘false’ trails
and regular beer drinking stops. Anyone can participate – even families with young
children – as this is not so much a race, but more a social event. It’s a great way to
discover the countryside and new friends. There are hashing clubs in all main towns.
Running is a very popular sporting activity
in many countries around the world and
Cyprus is no exception.
In recent years, many runners of all age groups are coming
to this tiny eastern Mediterranean island to take part in the
international marathon events that are held here. They have
discovered that, not only are the marathon courses memorable
because of their spectacular scenery and the fact that each
event incorporates a place of archaeological or historic importance, but also that Cyprus is the perfect place to combine a
family holiday with their favourite sport.
The first international marathon event to be held in Cyprus
took place in Pafos in February 1999. The starting point for the
marathon was Petra tou Romiou the legendary birthplace of
Aphrodite and took runners along the coast to finish in front of
the Paphos Medieval Fort. Runners had the chance to choose
between running the full marathon, half marathon or the 10 km
Road Race. Almost 400 runners took part in that first event
and many well-wishers lined the route, which added to the
festive atmosphere.
Since then, the Cyprus Marathon has gathered momentum and
drawn interest from runners all over the world. In the spring
2008 event there were 550 participants with 350 coming from
20 other countries. The event always attracts a wide variety of
contestants who range in age from 15 to over 70.
Whilst some of the runners are keen to finish in a good place
and compete fiercely for finishing positions, most are happy to
cover the distance in an acceptable time. More than 150 trophies
and prizes in 48 categories are awarded, so it is hard not to be
a winner!
For amateur runners and sporting enthusiasts alike, the
‘Pericles Demetriou’ Cyprus Runners Club, in Lefkosia,
offers a range of less competitive running and sporting
activities in a friendly and social environment. The club’s aim
is simply to promote running as a means of healthy exercise…
with a few philanthropic activities thrown in for good measure.
20
Cycling Routes
• The Amathunta Half Marathon &
10 km is on Sunday 23 November
2008 and all ages are welcome to join
in the fun which will follow a course
that begins and ends at the archaeological site of Ancient Amathus, near
Lemesos.
• The Cyprus Marathon, Half
Marathon & 10 km will be held in
Pafos on Sunday 15 March 2009.
• For more information and/or
registration, call +357 22370396
or +357 99357358 or e-mail:
run@cyprusmarathon.com
• Websites :
http://www.spidernet.net/main/web/ama
thuntahalfmarathon/index.html
http://www.cyprusmarathon.com
Marathon History
The marathon can be traced back to
the story of the ancient Greek soldier,
Pheidippides, who ran from the Battle
of Marathon to Athens to deliver the
news to an anxiously waiting
population, that the Persians had been
defeated. He arrived at the senate and
proclaimed “nenikekamen” (we are
victorious) before collapsing and dying
on the steps of the Senate.
A comprehensive package of informative promotional material about the
Troodos cycling routes has recently
been completed. It includes:
• A guidebook with description of
routes, altitude, road surface condition,
and degree of difficulty, points of
interest and other useful information
for cyclists.
• A map of the network, including
information about places of interest,
services, etc.
• A pocket leaflet including basic information and a graphic design of the
network which can be used in promotional activities to create awareness
about the project.
• A poster which can be used in
exhibitions, events, etc.
The Troodos cycling route project has
been implemented by CTO and is 50%
co-funded by the European Regional
Development Fund of the European
Union. It is part of a large comprehensive plan of cycling routes that will eventually cover most of Cyprus’ inland areas.
In the long term, the CTO’s aim is to
link the rural cycle network with the
coastal areas, creating a national route
network spanning the entire island. CTO
is currently in the planning process of
the second phase of the network.
The project is coordinated by
Monica Liatiri.
Info: mliatiri@visitcyprus.com
21
ANOGYRA
Anogyra
prior to being shipped abroad. Today, the
seeds are used in the cosmetic industry.
The pods, which are sweet, are also used
to make a healthy chocolate substitute,
carob toffee (known as pastelli) and carob
syrup (charoupomelo). The annual Anogyra
village festival, which takes place in midSeptember, was re-invented as the Pastelli
Festival and each year attracts visitors from
all over the world. A wander through the
village streets will reveal the Pastelli
Museum, which gives visitors an insight
into the importance of this crop.
Its history can be traced back to the Middle
Ages, it has a beautiful Byzantine Monastery,
excellent spring water and equally good wine.
In fact, the village of Anogyra has much to
offer its visitors.
The village stands on a plateau, 500m above sea level, about
seven kilometres from the main Lemesos-Pafos highway. The
road to the village winds slowly upwards, passing through
traditional Cypriot countryside where shepherds graze their
mixed flocks of sheep and goats under gnarled carob trees and
ancient olives. The name
Anogyra means
something like ‘winding
staircase’, and
probably stems from
the fact that getting to
and from the village
was a very tiring
journey before
motorised transport,
when the only way to
travel was either by
foot or by donkey.
Today, as you drive up
towards the village,
take the time to stop
now and again, just as
the ancient travellers
must have done, and
look back towards the
coast - the view is truly
spectacular.
Anogyra is the perfect
place to wander. The
streets are an attractive
blend of stone houses,
cobbled walkways and
22
tubs of brightly coloured flowers. Many of the houses are built
in traditional style from local limestone around an inner
courtyard - usually covered with a canopy of vines providing
much-needed shade in the summer months.
The wealth of the village has always come from the land and
its residents enjoy good crops of grapes, almonds, carobs and
olives. But it is carobs and olives for which Anogyra is best
known. Referred to as ‘black gold’, carobs were once one of
the island’s most lucrative exports and Anogyra was one of the
regional centres. Gathered in September the long bean-like
pods were taken by donkey down to the coast where they were
processed and stored in
large stone warehouses
T
Discover the history of the Cyprus olive...
he Olive ParkOleastro opened
on the outskirts of
Anogyra just a few
years ago and is the
ambitious project of
Andreas and Lina
Ellinas who wanted to
create somewhere that
tells the long history of
the olive and how the
different uses of both
the fruit and the wood
are an intrinsic part of
everyday life in
Cyprus, as well as in
local folklore.
At the heart of the
Olive Park is a working
ecological mill where
visitors can watch local
farmers unloading their
crops and see the process to extract the dark greenish/black
olive oil. On careful inspection it can be seen that the
machinery incorporates traditional millstones which are still
believed to be the best way to crush the olives. Certainly the
ecological olive oil has a distinctive aroma and flavour.
The olive harvest begins in early October and
continues through the winter months so there
are usually olives being pressed there.
Outside are displays showing how olive oil was
produced in the past – firstly by crushing the
olives underfoot, wearing special clogs so that
the olive stones didn’t hurt the feet and then by
using donkeys or watermills to turn the millstones.
The name Oleastro comes from the Latin for wild olive (Olea
europa oleaster) and as interest in the park increased, it has
been developed so that visitors have the chance to learn
about the high nutritional value of olive oil, how it can be
used to treat minor ailments such as earache and stomach
ache and how it has been long revered for its beneficial
qualities when incorporated in soap and skin moisturisers.
Many elderly Cypriots still rub their hands with olive oil
mixed with a spoonful of sugar to soften the skin. There are
displays showing how the wood has been used in Cyprus
for furniture-making and woodcarving. There are various
children’s activities and there is a gift shop for those who
would like to take a taste of Cyprus home with them.
*The Olive Park-Oleastro is open seven days a week
10.00-8.00 p.m. Tel 99565768 or 99525093 for more information.
OTHER PLACES TO VISIT
* The Pastelli Museum is
open 1.00 – 6.00 p.m.
daily. Contact 25222357.
* The Nicolaides
Winery in Anogyra
can be visited by
appointment.
Tel: 25221709.
Info: keconomidou@visitcyprus.com
23
more recent excavations of the
area of the ancient city and from
both settlements and cemeteries.
Modern and Innovative
.
The museums of the Pancyprian Gymnasium
Small but highly impressive, this
museum is a treasure trove that
will surely capture the imagination
of any visitor with even a passing
interest in history.
At first glance the modern-day village of Dhali, on the outskirts
of Lefkosia, doesn’t really seem to be very different from many
of the island’s other villages - but it is. Formerly known as
Idalion, this ancient place was one of the most important of the
10 City Kingdoms of Cyprus, and the earliest signs of human
settlement here date back to the 7th millennium BC.
By the Middle Bronze Age, the wider area of Idalion was playing an important role in the island’s economy. Fortified sites and
cemeteries at the nearby localities of Kafkalia, Nikolides and
Drakontospilios indicate a flourishing economy based on farming and the trading of copper. This grew to such an extent that,
by the Late Bronze Age (1600-1200 BC), it had developed
impressive trade relations with other City Kingdoms at Egkomi
and Kition as well as areas beyond Cyprus in the Aegean and
the East.
The settlement at Nikolides was eventually destroyed or
abandoned and in around 1200 BC a new settlement was built
where the capital of the Kingdom of Idalion was later to flourish.
The local museum of Ancient Idalion was founded in 2007. It
aims to promote the rich finds of the region and to function as a
visitor’s centre for the fascinating archaeological site in which it
is located.
The exhibits of the museum represent all the chronological
phases of the history of Idalion and come from both the old and
Opening Hours
Mon-Fri: 8.00 - 3.00pm
Thurs: 8.00 - 5.00pm
Telephone: 22444818
The Museums of the Pancyprian Gymnasium, the oldest
educational establishment of Secondary education in Cyprus,
are now located in a new museum space in Nicosia’s historic
‘old city’.
The Pancyprian Gymnasium is an evolution of the Hellenic
School founded in 1812 by Archbishop Kyprianos of Cyprus.
The collections are the result of an intense, century-long,
effort by the school’s teachers and staff, who strove to provide a diverse education framework to their students. They
also came from generous donations made by the School’s
graduates, benefactors and other parties who acknowledged
the contribution of the Gymnasium.
When, in 1893, the Counselor of Greece to Cyprus, K.
Panourgias, donated his personal collection of fossils, it
became the first step towards the creation of an educational
museum. Later on, the school acquired various objects either
through purchases or via donations.
In 1993, on the initiative of Headmaster Georgios Hadjikostis,
the Pancyprian Gymnasium museum collections, created
throughout its hundred year period of operation, were
reorganised and enriched and displayed in five halls within
the school building.
In 2007, the collection was relocated into a purpose-built
complex and displayed according to international museum
standards.
Apart from the Museum of the School’s history, the Museums
of the Pancyprian Gymnasium consist of the following: The
Archaeological collection and the Numismatic collection, the
collection of Old Weaponry and the collection of Old Maps,
mainly of Cypriot character, the Museum of Natural History
and the Art Gallery, with works by renowned Cypriot painters,
former professors and students of the School. A unique sample of gothic sculpture, very impressive by its size, style and
iconography completes these collections. It is a 13th century
carved marble relief depicting Jesus Christ giving blessing.
The Museums continue to be enriched and aim at providing
the opportunity for research and the study of the history and
educational work of the Pancyprian Gymnasium and more
generally the history of secondary education in Cyprus.
24
PANCYPRIAN GYMNASIUM MUSEUMS
Ancient Idalion
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES
Particular emphasis is put on the purpose for which these
Museums have been established, that is to support and
complete children’s education. The aim is to promote contact
with original objects of high historical and artistic value, which
quantitatively develop culture and offer direct experiences to
pupils and students. The activities of the Pancyprian
Gymnasium Museums are completed with special guided
tours, lectures and educational programmes.
OPENING HOURS:
The Museums of the Pancyprian Gymnasium are open
to visitors of all ages and interests.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 09.00 – 15.30
Wednesday 09.00 - 17.00
and Saturday 09.00 - 13.00
The Museums remain closed on public holidays
Agiou Ioannou and Thisseos streets, 1016 Lefkosia
(Beside the Pancyprian Gymnasium)
Tel: (00357) 22 46 60 14
E-Mail: pgmuseum@cytanet.com.cy
Info: pgmuseum@cytanet.com.cy
25
in the stone walls. This is a place where visitors can relax and
enjoy some of the different wines together with some traditional
Cypriot delicacies. Occasionally seminars on wine tasting and
other wine related topics are held in this Hall.
Outside, in the ‘east’ courtyard, is a display of traditional
equipment that includes the stone pits (patistra) where the
grapes were crushed, the distillation equipment used for
making the traditional spirit Zivania and a number of Pitharia –
the giant red clay jars in which the wine was fermented and
stored.
In the ‘west’ courtyard there’s a small attractive open-air theatre
that, in the warmer months, is the setting for regular musical
5500 years of
winemaking history
Cyprus was one of the first countries to make
wine and many historians believe that it may
have the longest continuous history of
winemaking in the world. Certainly, winemaking
is interwoven with many of the island’s past
events and traditions.
A visit to the Cyprus Wine Museum is a journey back through
the history of the Cyprus wine industry. The museum is located
just outside Lemesos, near the Chalcolithic settlement of Erimi
where fragments of pottery from 18 ancient pointed-base flasks
were found. The large amount of tartaric acid discovered in the
flasks provided proof that wine has been produced on the island
for over 5500 years. This makes Cyprus the oldest wine
producing country in Europe. Erimi village, at the crossroads of
the wine routes of Cyprus, is in close proximity to the prehistoric
settlement of Sotira, where the oldest remains of grape
seeds have been found. Also nearby is Kolossi
Castle, the medieval command centre of the
Hospitaller Knights that gave the name to the worldfamous dessert wine, Commandaria.
THE CYPRUS WINE MUSEUM
The Cyprus Wine Museum
soirees and
other cultural
events. This
is also the
perfect place
for exhibitions,
conferences and
seminars as well
as for private
parties and themed
events such as
Greek, Roman and
Medieval nights.
C
Commandaria
THE KING OF WINES
ommandaria is undoubtedly the
island’s most famous wine. Known
as the ‘Wine of Kings and King of
Wines’, it is recognised as the world’s
oldest wine brand. This sweet, dessert
wine is also Cyprus’ only appellation
controlee wine, and is made from both
the Mavro and Xynisteri grapes. After
drying in the sun for one or two weeks,
during which time the sugar
concentrates and intensifies the aroma,
the grapes are then crushed and
pressed. The grape juice is fermented in
open tanks where fermentation stops at
around 9 degrees (18%) of alcohol, due
to the high sugar content. The
Commandaria then has alcohol added
for preservation and is left to mature in
wooden casks.
The Cyprus Wine Museum is housed in a beautifully
renovated two-storey stone building that has been owned
by the family of Cypriot composer Anastasia Guy for more
than a century. On the ground floor of the building is the
Wine Museum, which gives an innovative and creative
insight into the history of winemaking in Cyprus. It is divided
into four main chronological periods: Ancient, Byzantine,
Medieval and Modern. On the same floor visitors can enjoy an
audiovisual journey of winemaking through the centuries.
In the St. Ilarion Hall, on the lower floor of the museum, there is
an exhibition displaying the Wine Trails of Cyprus. Here too, the
37 Cypriot wine producers are displayed in a series of alcoves
26
Info: ldermati@visitcyprus.com
27
The workshops are pleasant places to pass the time. Reached
via a stroll through the attractive gardens, they cover a wide
selection of traditional local produce including, embroidery and
lacemaking, weaving, tapestry-making, woodcarving, pottery,
copper and silver-smithing, basketmaking, leatherwork and last
but by no means least, traditional garment-making.
Speaking about the work of the Cyprus Handicrafts Service,
Coordinator Mrs Agni Papaefstathiou said: “The aim is to
develop old skills but with a new look and adjust old ideas to be
sold today. Our responsibility is to develop, sustain and
enhance all handicrafts in Cyprus.”
How many times have you chosen the perfect
holiday souvenir, only to turn it over and be
disappointed to discover that it was
manufactured elsewhere?
A visit to the workshops is a relaxed and refreshing way to both
watch the craftsmen at work and learn more about the skills
and techniques which remain in use to this day. The craftsmen
are always more than happy to talk about what they do along
with the history behind their trade.
Through the good works of the Cyprus Handicraft Service, the
rich traditions of Cypriot handicraft are being kept alive for
current and future generations. By visiting the Lefkosia
workshops or by purchasing the products at Handicraft Service
shops in the major towns, we can all contribute to this
worthwhile cause… As well as obtaining wonderful keepsakes
of Cyprus.
Cyprus Handicraft Centre
Well, a visit to the Cyprus Handicraft Centre will restore your
faith. A bewildering array of beautiful, hand-made local crafts are
on display here, while you also get the added reassurance that
your purchase is keeping local traditions alive.
The Cyprus Handicraft Service’s purpose is to develop, sustain
and enhance all handicrafts in Cyprus. Traditional and modern
folk arts are studied and researched, while development
programmes design and create new products that are
traditionally based but suited to modern needs. The Cyprus
Handicraft Service provides training and retraining courses to
improve the quality and marketing of Cyprus handicrafts. It also
offers technical assistance and guidance to craftsmen, the
organization of exhibitions, and support for
developing cottage and small scale industries.
186 Athalassa Avenue
Lefkosia
Tel: 22305024
Opening Hours
Workshops and Offices:
Monday – Friday
7.30 – 14.30
Thursday afternoon
15.00 – 18.00
Closed Saturday
All major towns in Cyprus have Cyprus
Handicraft Service retail outlets, while the
Handicraft Centre in Lefkosia is essentially the
heart of the operation. Well worth a visit, the
Lefkosia centre consists of workshops producing the
major traditional crafts, laid out around an attractive
garden. There is also a cafeteria and a shop offering
Cyprus-made products - in fact, a large percentage of
the stock on sale here is made on the premises.
Retail Shops:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday,
Friday
7.30 – 5.30
7.30 – 14.00
Wednesday
Saturday
8.00 – 13.00
28
Info: keconomidou@visitcyprus.com
29
GIFTS FROM A SMALL ISLAND
Gifts from a small island
For the first time in its
history, Cyprus football is
heading for serious
representation in Europe.
Team successes, in both
the Champions League
and the UEFA Cup, have
surpassed all previous
performances, confirming
the coming of age of
The Beautiful Game in
Cyprus.
Following impressive
progress in the early stages, ANORTHOSIS has made history
by becoming the first Cypriot team to get through to the Group
stages of the Champions League. Our champions eliminated,
consecutively, Piunik (Armenia), Rapid Wien (Austria) and
Olympiakos Piraeus (Greece) and are drawn in Group B of
the competition.
The ANORTHOSIS fixtures commenced on September 16th,
with its first opponents Werder Bremen. Until the end of the
group stages, they will play the following matches:
01/10/2008 ANORTHOSIS - PANATHINAIKOS
22/10/2008 INTER MILAN - ANORTHOSIS
04/11/2008 ANORTHOSIS – INTER MILAN
26/11/2008 ANORTHOSIS – WERDER BREMEN
09/02/2008 PANATHINAIKOS – ANORTHOSIS
(All home matches will be held in the GSP Stadium)
In the UEFA Cup competition, both APOEL and Omonoia made
it through to the qualifying rounds.
APOEL eliminated Pelister (Skopje) and Red Star (Belgrade),
whereas Omonoia eliminated FK Milano (Skopje) and AEK
Athens (Greece), and secured their participation in round A of
the competition. APOEL is drawn against German Schalke,
and Omonoia will face Manchester City of England.
The play-offs will be held on October 1st.
CYPRIOT TEAMS’ SUCCESSES USED
TO PROMOTE TOURISM
The CTO plans to use the recent successes of the Cypriot
football teams - Anorthosis, APOEL and Omonoia - to help
promote tourism.
During a meeting of the CTO Board, a special committee
was established with the brief to contact the managements
of rival teams, as well as tour operators, in order to use
this opportunity to attract as many sports fans and tourists
as possible to our island for the matches. CTO offices
abroad have been instructed to co-ordinate action in order
to attract sports fans for the matches that will be hosted by
the Cypriot teams. It is believed that the attempt to attract
tourists will be difficult as, according to the regulations, the
teams give just 5% of their tickets for the away fans.
However, a fine example of what can be done was seen
two years ago when the CTO promoted the match
between the national teams of Ireland and Cyprus. The
result was a turn-out of over 10,000 Irish fans in Cyprus.
Within its efforts to enhance winter tourism, the CTO has
been running (since 2004), a programme to attract foreign
football teams to the island for winter training. In 2008 the
programme was extended to other sports. During the first
year of the programme 18 foreign teams visited Cyprus, in
2005 they increased to 56 and in 2006 the number
reached 87. Last year saw a drop in numbers to 85 but
this year, to date, 75 sports teams have come to Cyprus
for training.
The arrival of sports teams from the Scandinavian
countries resulted in considerable media coverage in the
respective markets. Moreover, Russia constitutes a very
large potential football market. It was one of the first
markets, following the Nordic countries, to benefit from
Cyprus winter training. Other countries are Romania,
Bulgaria, Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic, Switzerland
and Hungary.
Other football teams that have chosen Cyprus as their winter
training destination are from former Eastern European
countries, Russia and Scandinavian countries, as well as
Italian teams such as Palermo and Udinese.
T
his winter the CTO will proudly host the women’s national
football teams, from Scotland, the Netherlands, England,
Russia, Canada and Japan. The teams will participate in an
international football tournament in March 2009.
30
Mrs Vassoula Zachariadou,
member of CTO Board of
Directors giving the cup
to the winning team of the
International Women’s
Football Tournament.
Developing Winter Tourism
.
In order to revitalise and increase tourist activity
during winter, the CTO has designed and
implemented a three-year plan that
includes measures and
actions involving the
CTO, the private
sector, municipalities
and regional
institutions, as well as
the Government. The
programme has been
agreed upon by the
Associations, approved by
the Board of Directors and
announced to the Ministry of
Commerce, Industry and
Tourism.
The most important parameter of
the Plan, which is in cooperation
with tour operators, was put into
action immediately because the programming of flights by tour operators for the winter period
08/09 is normally completed within the first four months of the
year. So, between
February and April 2008,
contacts with the principal
tour operators in the main
markets were made, as
well as contacts with other
tourist ‘source’ countries
that present prospects
for increasing winter
tourist activity.
The results were very
successful and have ensured that, for the coming
winter period, tour operators in different markets,
(particularly in Germany and Russia), will programme
around 75,000 additional seats on charter flights.
Additional measures for strengthening and
succeeding in its attempts at revitalising and developing
winter tourism will be put into effect by the CTO in parallel with
activities in the areas including advertising, public relations and
hospitality as well as the organisation of events in Cyprus.
Info: pandros@visitcyprus.com
Autumn 2008 Sports Events
OCTOBER
PNP Sports Mangement
2nd Basketorama Nikos Galis
(99643365)
05-08.10.08
Eleftheria Sports Centre
Lefkosia (Nicosia)
International open Sea Marathon
www.koek.org.cy
10-11.10.08
Lemesos (Limassol)
Cyprus Badminton Federation
21st Cyprus Badminton International
www.cyprusbadminton.com
Cyprus Water Ski Federation
5th International 3-round Slalom
Cyprus Swimming Federation
Friends of Old and Historic
Cars of Cyprus
NOVEMBER
Cyprus Special Olympics
Federation
Cyprus Automobile Association
Arena DMC (Leda Travel)
Niki Sports Management
Cyprus Run Club
09-12.10.08
Eleftheria Sports Centre
Lefkosia (Nicosia)
3rd Autumn Historic Cyprus Rally
www.fifa-cyprus.org
11-12.10.08
18-19.10.08
Polemidia Reservoir
Lemesos(Limassol)
Special Olympics – Football Tournament
of European Small Nations
www.specialolympics.com.cy
02-08.11.08
Agia Napa
Football Fields
Troodos Rally
www.caa.com.cy
07-09.11.08
Amathunta Half Marathon & 10km
www.cyprusmarathon.com
23.11.08
Cyprus International 4- day Challenge
(Marathon)
www.cypruschallenge.com
Cyprus Aphrodite Half Marathon
www.runclub.com.cy
27-30.11.08
23.11.08
Agros
Troodos
Kato Pafos
(Paphos)/Akamas
Peninsula
Lemesos (Limassol)
Amathunta Area
Pafos (Paphos)
Info: mliatiri@visitcyprus.com
31
DEVELOPING WINTER TOURISM
FOOTBALL
Great success for Cyprus in
the UEFA competitions
Rural Tourism
Rural areas, with country roads and off-road trails that pass through areas
of incomparable beauty and considerable cultural resources, also present
opportunities for cycling and can be used by both professional and amateur
cyclists for winter training as well as for international competitions.
RURAL TOURISM
Feel the experience
Familiarisation Trips
Throughout the entire island, a complete circuit of 70 walking paths with a total
length of about 500 kilometres has been created. The circuit passes through areas
rich in nature and cultural interest so that visitors can enjoy nature, research local
flora, including many rare species, and enjoy the rare geological landscape of
Troodos.
The rural tourism product is significantly enriched by the creation of special themed
routes, including religious sightseeing routes and wine routes.
Text by
Koullitsa Demetriou (left)
and Christina Charalambous
In the past two years, the Cyprus
Tourism Organisation has undertaken
and successfully completed a multifaceted Plan for the Promotion of
Rural Tourism that is co-financed by
,
the European Union s Structural Fund.
‘Rural Tourism’ is a new form of tourism that has been evolving
over the past twenty years. It is defined as a market niche that
utilises elements like the natural and man-made environment,
local culture, the traditional lifestyle and everyday activities of
the inhabitants of the countryside. It offers visitors the
opportunity to pursue various activities, such as walking,
cycling and tasting locally produced foods.
Cuisine is an important tourism product, especially in the
countryside where it remains traditional with locally-grown
products still being used in the preparation of food. The
“Bacchus” programme, designed by the CTO and operating
since 2004, aims to preserve and promote authentic, traditional
Cypriot cuisine.
Rural areas also offer accommodation from 1 to 4 star hotels
and country villas, to traditional homes within the framework of
the agro-tourism programme. The principal features of rural
accommodation are the pleasant and creative alternatives they
offer visitors to utilise their time, such as by walking, cycling,
observing nature or traditional crafts like weaving, pottery, etc.
The CTO Plan manages to cover the needs of rural tourism promotion with an
integrated and thorough strategy for promoting rural areas, while at the same time
serving the strategic
goals of increasing
both the number of
visitors to the area and
the income from
visitors. It also aims at
increasing the duration
of stays and for
prolonging the tourist
season.
One of the most important promotional
tools is the organisation of trips to
Cyprus to familiarise targeted groups
of travel agents and journalists from
different countries with the Cyprus
tourist product. Visits are made to
traditional themed parks, small
museums and archaeological sites, as
well as nature walks in the mountains,
along the coast, and in the enchanting
Akamas peninsula. There are cycling
trips, wine-tasting, and an opportunity
to sample the authentic Cypriot cuisine
in the courtyard of a traditional home,
with food prepared from local recipes
passed down from mother to daughter
to granddaughter. The guests stay in
traditional homes and small hotels
located in the countryside.
Products of Rural Cyprus
Cyprus has a rich, natural environment of exceptional beauty
and ecological value; 32 areas have been included in the Natura
programme for the preservation of natural ecotypes of wild flora
and fauna. Especially important for rural tourism has been the
creation of a network of footpaths, as well as the European
Footpath E4, in areas that previously had none. These give
walking enthusiasts the possibility of walking long routes. Particularly attractive to visitors are the cycling routes that are rapidly
being created in the countryside and the mountain areas.
The mainly untapped wealth and diverse cultural reserves,
(museums, archaeological sites, traditional buildings and habitations, churches and monasteries, cultural events and other
elements of the area’s rural legacy), are all leading attributes of
the rural areas.
32
Info: kdemetriou@visitcyprus.com or ccharalambous@visitcyprus.com
33
Agios Georgios beaches. Pegeia’s coastline is rich in attractions, including beautiful bays, peaceful beaches, and caves
that beg to be explored.
Pegeia is a mecca for sporting types and offers plenty of
options, including gyms, Olympic-size swimming-pools, cycling,
karting, watersports, dive centres, and much, much more. In
fact, professional sportsmen and women travel here from all
over the world to train under the Cyprus sun.
Tucked away to the northwest of Pafos are
the many charms of Pegeia. Visitors are invited
to enjoy its magnificent views of the
Mediterranean coastline, along with the area’s
inexhaustible wealth of history, natural beauty
and warm hospitality.
The shining sun, sandy beaches, clear sea, exotic palm-trees
and banana plantations, as well as the rugged beauty of the
forest, all combine to create an ambience unique to Pegeia.
Wherever you go in Pegeia, you’ll find evidence of its long
history and archaeologists continue to bring to light many
previously undiscovered treasures. Pegeia is located at one of
the most ancient sites of Cyprus, old Akamantida, and
it is estimated that the region’s western coastline was
first inhabited as long ago as 4,000 BC.
There’s plenty to see and do in and around
Pegeia, making it the perfect holiday, business
and sporting destination.
The hotels in the area are able to cater for any
type of event – from a discrete vacation for
two, to a major business convention. Teams
of specialist personnel stand ready to help
ensure that major business events run
smoothly, while sports professionals can
take advantage of the wealth of facilities on
offer, whatever the time of year. Plus
expert chefs are on hand to prepare the
finest local and international cuisine. And
for those visitors looking to escape the
day to day stresses of everyday life,
health and fitness experts can help them
to work up a sweat, or to soak away their
troubles with a relaxing spa treatment.
Plus there are traditional tavernas,
modern restaurants, lively bars and
plenty of other recreational possibilities.
Many artistic events and festivities take
place in and around Pegeia, particularly
around Christmas, Green Monday, Carnival and Easter, and
performances of traditional dances and songs, as well as the
enjoyment of traditional food, constitute a major part of local
culture.
Hundreds of couples have opted to make their stay in Pegeia a
significant moment in their lives by choosing it as the location of
34
their Big Day. In fact, the area
has a long tradition of romance. Take the Vrisi ton
Peyiotisson springs, for
example. Built in 1907 to
provide the community with
its main source of drinking
water, they also became renowned
as a secret meeting place for lovers!
Other local attractions
include: the Akamas
peninsula - a unique
wilderness region with
unforgettable scenery.
Two rare and protected
types of turtle; the Green
Turtle and the Caretta
Caretta are born and
reproduce on the
Akamas beaches; the
Bird Park - a small zoo
that is home to a wide
variety of birds as well
as gazelles, camels
iguanas, and more; The
European E4 footpath which cuts across the
Pikni forest and the wellknown Avakas Gorge.
For lovers of sun, sea and sand, Pegeia has the lot. The beach
of Coral Bay is considered to be the best around, but don’t just
take our word for it… the beach has been awarded the prestigious EU Blue Flag no fewer than nine times! Tourists should
also find time to visit Lara, Keratidi, Maniki, the Sea Caves and
Did you Know...
There’s nothing quite like the
sunset from Agios Georgios
Pegeia. Watching over the tiny
fishing shelter as the sun drops
below the horizon is nothing
short of spectacular.
For further information about visiting Pegeia, please email
Maria Yiangou at m.yiangou@pegeiamunicipality.com.
Info: keconnmidou@visitcyprus.com
35
CHARMING PEGEIA
Charming Pegeia
MUSIC FROM THE NEW WORLD
Soloist: Menelaos Menelaou (violin)
Music Direction: Sarah Ioannides
Hartman
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Rialto Theatre, Lemesos
20:30
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Markideion Theatre, Pafos 20:30
Friday, 31 October 2008
Strovolos Municipal Theatre
Lefkosia 20:30
Cyprus offers a wealth of cultural
experiences to its visitors and this is
particularly so during the autumn and
winter months. From inspiring classical
concerts to soul-searching jazz, from
thought-provoking modern and ancient
theatrical performances, plus a whole
range of dance and musical doctrines
that will enrich your holiday experience
exponentially.
Visitors can enjoy a musical
experience every Sunday in any of our coastal towns.
For more information on ‘MUSICAL SUNDAYS’ visit
www.visitcyprus.com or contact any CTO Information Office.
Did you Know...
THE CYPRUS SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA
Performing around twenty concerts series
annually, the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra works
with distinguished foreign and Cypriot soloists,
conductors and orchestras, as well as with
various cultural, social and state institutions. Its
activities include participation in International
Music Festivals, official events of the State,
opera productions and first performances of
works by Cypriot
composers. The
Orchestra has performed
in Greece, Germany,
Denmark, Bulgaria,
36
France, Malta and the United
Kingdom. The autumn programme
includes the following:
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
PROGRAMME
Entrance Free
EUROPEAN DANCES
AND GREEK SONGS
Soloists: Avra Shiati (soprano)
Sorin Alexandru Horlea (violin)
Concerts leader: Wolfgang Schroeder
Monday 22/09/08
3rd Primary School of Idalion Event Hall, Idalion
20:00
Wednesday 15/10/08
Old Lemesos Hospital
20:00
Tuesday 14/10/08
Lefkara Gymnasium-Lyceum Event Hall, Lefkara
Thursday 16/10/08
Xenion High School Amphitheatre, Paralimni
Friday 17/10/08
Strovolos Municipal Theatre, Lefkosia
Saturday 18/10/08
Cultural Centre of Galata
L. v. BEETHOVEN: Romance
P. SARASATE: Zigeunerweisen Opus 20
B. BARTOK: Romanian Traditional Dances
Songs by Manos Hadjidaki
F. MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No. 4 Opus 90
Family Concert
Saturday, 1 November 2008
Strovolos Municipal Theatre
Lefkosia 17:00
J. CORIGLIANO: Elegy for Orchestra
S. BARBER: Concerto for Violin and
Orchestra, Op.14
V. NICOLAOU: Fractus
(World premiere)
I. STRAVINSKY: Pulcinella Suite
A. COPLAND: Appalachian
Spring Suite
JAZZ MEETS CLASSICAL MUSIC
20:30
20:00
In collaboration with the:
Polis Chrysochous Municipality, Idalion Municipality and the
3rd Primary School of Idalion, Lefkara Municipality and
Lefkara Gymnasium-Lyceum, Drug Addiction Unit “Anosi”,
Paralimni Municipality and Xenion High School, Metropolis
of Morfou and Galata Community.
Soloist: Francesco Quaranta (oboe)
Music Direction: Giancarlo de Lorenzo
Concerts:
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
Markideion Theatre, Pafos 20:30
Thursday, 13 November 2008
Rialto Theatre, Lemesos
20:30
Friday, 14 November 2008
Strovolos Municipal Theatre
Lefkosia 20:30
B. MARCELLO: Adagio from Oboe
Concerto in C minor (from the film
Anonimo Veneziano)
A. TONI: Parafrasi settecentesca
R. STRAUSS: Oboe Concerto in
D Major
R. STRAUSS: Le Bourgeois
Gentilhomme Suite, Op.60
CHRISTMAS CONCERTS
“MASS FOR THE CHILDREN”
20:00
20:30
HOMAGE TO RICHARD STRAUSS
Soloists:
Gilad Atzmon (alto saxophone)
Charis Ioannou (tenor saxophone)
Rhythm section:
Frank Harrison (piano)
Ioannis Vafeas (drums)
Ireneos Koullouras (double base)
Music Direction: Krzesimir Debski
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Rialto Theatre, Lemesos
20:30
Thursday, 27 November 2008,
Markideion Theatre, Pafos 20:30
Friday, 28 November 2008,
Strovolos Municipal Theatre,
Lefkosia 20:30
Programme to be announced
A CULTURAL FEAST
A Cultural Feast
Concerts:
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
Rialto Theatre, Lemesos, 20:30
Friday, 19 December 2008
Strovolos Municipal Theatre,
Lefkosia 20:30
P. I. TCHAIKOVSKY: Nutcracker
(excerpts)
J. RUTTER: Mass for the Children
For further information:
Thermopylon 7a,
2007 Acropolis, Nicosia.
P.O. Box 28922, 2084 Acropolis,
Nicosia.
Tel: 357 22463144
Email: info@cyso.org.cy
Three Musical Gems
from Cyprus
ANM Productions
The CD for you to take home
In the new release Tis Kyprou
Stavros Hadjisavvas sings the
internationally acclaimed song
about Cyprus Chrysoprasino
Phyllo, written by the famous Greek
composer Mikis Theodorakis with
lyrics by Cypriot poet and writer
Leonidas Malenis. The CD also
includes two new songs by the
Cypriot composer George
Phylactou, with lyrics by Malenis
and Hadjisavvas.
Soloists: Andreas Aroditis (baritone)
Anni Trillidou Santi (soprano)
Choirs: "EPILOGI", Youth Choir
(45 members), Lemesos FULDA
Cathedral Youth Choir (30 members),
Germany
Choir Rehearsals:
Aggelina Nikolaidou-Spanou
Music Direction: Vieshislav Volich
PROCEEDS WILL GO TO CHARITY
www.stavroshadjisavvas.com /
s.hadjisavvas@gmail.com
Info: keconomidou@visitcyprus.com
37
,
THOC S 2008-2009
THEATRE SEASON
CENTRAL STAGE
The Hostage,
by Brendan Behan
From the CYBC television production
of The Hostage
The Tempest, by William Shakespeare
Sir Michael Hordern as Prospero, BBC
television adaptation of The Tempest
Varnavas Kyriazis
Director, Cyprus Theatre Organisation
The identity of the Cyprus theatre
Organisation as a state theatre is
determined by the variety of its options,
which have a common target: to elevate the art of theatre which searches
and contemplates within and on the
map of world theatre. Within this
framework the research of our four
theatre stages - Central stage, New
stage, Experimental stage and
Children’s stage - is focused on a
higher performance level: locally this
is expressed by a high level of culture
and abroad by the ability to use our
voice equally with major European
theatres. Protocol agreements with
other State Theatres (National Theatre
of Greece, State Theatre of Northern
Greece, Theatre, “Marine Sorescu”,
Craiova), are characterized by common
targets and programmes such as the
Summer Academy of Theatre, our
participation at the southeastern
European Festival, our active presence
in the European Theatre Convention
(ETC) and the hosting of its members
in Cyprus in the spring of 2010. It also
includes the development of a creative
relationship with the Avignon Festival
and the collaboration with theatre
directors such as Alvis Hermanis,
Mircea Cornisteanou, and Janusz
Wisnieski. All this and more, helps us,
on the one hand to achieve the desired
ability to have equal say and on the
other hand, to avoid a self-centered,
self-imprisoned process.
Equipped solely with our love for
theatre, we discover the very essence
of our mission within our daily lives,
serving our own sun and cultivating our
own land, which is no other than what
is called “a theatre of substance”.
38
The Widows by Ariel Dorfman and
Tony Kushner
Ariel Dorfman
NEW STAGE
Our Town, by Thornton Wilder
Paul Newman as Stage Manager in
Our town
Rabbit Hole, by David Lindsay-Abaire
The Rabbit Hole was produced by the
Manhattan Theatre Club (2005-2006), with
Cynthia Nixon and John Slattelry)
EXPERIMENTAL STAGE
Blood enemies by Arkas
Accursed Poets, by Kyriaki Malama
CHILDREN’S STAGE
The live-for-ever Water
SUMMER 2009
The Clouds, by Aristophanes
OTHER ACTIVITIES:
THOC’s Theatre Development Department
has a wide range of activities. Among them
this season are the Playwrighting contest, the
Festival of Amateur Theatre, the Cyprus
Pancyprian Student Theatre Games, a series
for workshops for teachers starting with
renowned Americana multi-faceted theatre
artist and James Thomas Bailey, the
subsidization of theatres etc.
For more information: 77772717
Programme: Oct. 2008 to Feb. 2009
Cultural Winter 2008 – 2009
RIALTO THEATRE, LEMESOS
AGIA NAPA MUNICIPALITY
OCTOBER 2008
Fri 3: Paupers and Saints
Première by the Theatre Development
Company of Lemesos.
Wed 8: Music and Songs of the
Mediterranean
Fri 10: Jazz with the Petsteppers
Wed 15: Costas Makedonas concert
Thurs 16: Movie: “Lust Caution”
Fri 17 – Sat 18: “Maybe One out of Ten,
maybe Here”
Theatrical performance from Greece
Thurs 23: Movie: Michael Clayton
Wed 29: Cyprus Symphony Orchestra
Music from the New World
Performances start at 8:00pm at the
Agia Napa Municipal Conference Hall;
a modern complex in the centre of Agia
Napa, and admission is free of charge.
NOVEMBER 2008
Sat 1 & Fri 14: THOC – “Ulysses” (Homer)
Mon 3 & Tues 4: Tango with music and
dance from Argentina
Wed 5: I sing for my City
Famagusta Choir, with Costas
Hadjichristodoulou and orchestra.
Fri 7 & Sat 8: Music of the World
Wed 12: Concert with “HICAZ”
“Lovers of sounds of the East: From Persia
to Smyrna”
Thurs 13: Cyprus Symphony Orchestra
Homage to Richard Strauss
Sun 16: A tribute to Stelios Pissis
Tues 18: European Festival of Limassol
Musical Event
Wed 19: THOC – Theatrical performance
Sat 22 & Sun 23: Limassol Folk Company
Wed 25: Philharmonic Orchestra of the
Municipality of Limassol
Wed 26: Cyprus Symphony Orchestra
Jazz meets Classical Music
Fri 28: THOC – Theatrical performance
Sat 29: Concert from Romania
Sun 30: Puppet show from the USA
DECEMBER 2008
Tues 2 & Wed 3 (Lefkosia) Dialogues of
Musicians ... continued
Thurs 4: “The Milk” by Vassilis Katsikonouris
By the Open Theatre
Sat 6 & Sun 7: Ballet – Don Quixote
Tues 9: Miltos Pashalidis concert
Fri 12 & Sat 13: Songs from Greek Movies
With Dimension
Wed 17: Cyprus Symphony Orchestra
Christmas Concert - Mass for the children
Thurs 18: THOC – Theatrical Performance
JANUARY 2009
Wed 7 & Wed 21: Cyprus Symphony
Orchestra
Fri 23: Music from Asia Minor
Featuring the Turkish artist Muammer
Ketencoglu
Mon 26 & Tues 27: Theatrical performance
from Greece
FEBRUARY 2009
Fri 6: Songs by Rebecca Trimikliniotis and
others
Tues 17: Songs of the World
Sat 21: Larkou Larkou concert
Tues 24: Cyprus Symphony Orchestra
Programme of events
3/11/2008
Dancing Group of the ‘Art and Culture
University’ of Moscow.
06/11/2008
Tribute to Nicos Xilouris
‘Anatoliki Mesogios’ Musical Group
13/11/2008
Classical Music and Songs
Taziana Jojat Italian Soprano
Lenia Kalli Cypriot Soprano
20/11/2008
‘Tou Pelagous’
Musical Group ‘Orfeas’
Dancing Group ‘Dionyssos’
27/11/2008
‘Burn the Floor’
Siakallis Dancing Group
04/12/2008
Cyprus Traditional Music
‘I Las’ Musical Group
11/12/2008
Classical Music and Songs
Soprano-Mezzo Soprano-Piano
Aura Shiati, Keti Economidou,
Marios Ioannou
18/12/2008
Christmas Music and Songs
Cyprus Police Force Philharmonic Band
08/01/2009
Journey Around the Word
Dancing group ’Rhythmos’
15/01/2009
‘Dancing-Dancing’
Echochromata Musical Group Agia Napa
Municipal Dancing Group
22/01/2009
Artistic Greek Music
Music ensemble ‘Alterna’
29/01/2009
Mikis Theodorakis & G. Mpithikotsis Greek
Music
Music ensemble Admitos Pitsillides
05/02/2009
Traditional Cypriot Dances & songs
Dancing group ‘Kimon’ Xylotimbou
12/02/2009
Classical Music
Cyprus Symphony Orchestra
19/02/2009
Greek Island Music Sergiani
With the cultural Association ‘Aradippos’
26/02/2009
Classical Music - Violin, Piano
Andreas P. Nicolaou Musical Group
05/03/2009
Medieval Music
Orchestra of Ancient Greek musical
instruments
12/03/2009
Greek Music
Xristos Filippou Music Ensemble ‘Colors
Popular Orchestra’
19/03/2009
Traditional Greek Dances
Cultural Association ‘Dasous Achnas’
25/03/2009
Cyprus - Greek Islands - Asia Minor
Maria Zintili Musical Group Agia Napa
Municipal Dancing Group
26/03/2008
Greek Popular, Latin & Belly dance
Rymvos Dancing Group
01/04/2008
Musical Group of Cavo Greco Cultural
Association and Agia Napa Municipal Dancing
Group
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
PROGRAMME
01-12-2008 – 06-01-2009
06-12-2008
Saturday - 5:00 pm.
Festive Lighting of the Christmas Decorations
with the participation of the Cyprus Police
Force Philharmonic Band and other Musical
Ensembles performing Christmas Melodies
and Carols. Presents - Free wine - Fireworks.
14-12-2008
Sunday-2:00 pm. – 6:00 pm.
The Parents Associations of the Agia Napa
Primary and Kindergarten Schools, in cooperation with Agia Napa Municipality are
organising a Christmas Celebration in the
Central Square of Agia Napa.
Participants: Dancing and Musical Groups.
Christmas charity bazaar.
26-12-2008
Friday– 4:00 pm.
At the Central Square of Agia Napa you can
listen to Christmas Melodies and taste the
Christmas Delicacies that will be prepared
at the Cyprus Traditional Farm House
‘Agrotospito’.
31-12-2008
Wednesday - 8:00 pm. – dawn
You can enjoy yourselves in the Central
Square of Agia Napa with Music and
Christmas Melodies and Carols. Experience
the firing of the traditional clay oven, the
cooking of traditional delicacies and enjoy
free wine. On the welcoming of New Year
2009, the traditional New Year’s cake
‘Vassilopita’ will be cut and shared,
followed by traditional soup.
06-01-2009
Tuesday-7:00 am. - 10:00 am.
The Epiphany celebrations will be held at the
Agia Napa Church, followed by the baptism of
the Holy Cross and the Blessing of the Waters
at the Agia Napa Harbour. The winner who
brings the Holy Cross out of the water will be
given a prize. Cyprus Traditional dances and
songs will follow.
T
KYPRIA FESTIVAL
A CULTURAL FEAST
THE CYPRUS THEATRE ORGANISATION (THOC)
Cyprus is justly proud of its theatrical organisation. It aims to cultivate a sense
of theatre among the people, and to promote artistic relations between the
theatre world of Cyprus and that of Greece and other countries. The
consistently high standard of its performances are exceptional and highly
recommended.
his is an annual festival of
cultural events, which take
place around the island during
summer and continues through to
autumn. There are still some great
performances to be enjoyed
including the following:
THE GYPSY DEVILS & CYPRUS
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
SOUL OF THE GYPSY
Tuesday September 30
Strovolos Municipal Theatre, Lefkosia
Wednesday October 1
Larnaka Municipal Theatre
30 GUITARS DEBRECEN - BUDAPEST
SAVINA YANNATOU - COSTAS
GRIGOREAS - EVAGORAS
KARAGEORGIS: MUSIC & SONGS
OF THE MEDITERRANEAN
Sunday October 5
Markideio Municipal Theatre, Pafos
Monday, October 6
Strovolos Municipal Theatre, Lefkosia
Tuesday October 7
Larnaka Municipal Theatre
Wednesday October 8
Rialto Theatre Lemesos
JAZZ WITH THE PETSTEPPERS
Wednesday October 8
Ancient Odeion, Pafos
Thursday October 9
Latsia Municipal Theatre, Lefkosia
Friday October 10
Rialto Theatre, Lemesos
DULSORI PERCUSSIONS - KOREA
BINARI, THE SPIRIT OF THE BEAT
Wednesday October 22 &
Friday October 24
Strovolos Municipal Theatre, Lefkosia
MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE
COMPANY N.Y. CLYTEMNESTRA
Monday, October 27 (evening)
& Tuesday, October 28
(matinée & evening)
Strovolos Municipal Theatre, Lefkosia
All
performances
commence
at 8:30 p.m.
GENERAL
INFORMATION
25878744
22800933
Info: keconomidou@visitcyprus.com
39
T
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
Sustainable Tourism
THE BATHS OF SIA
he small village of Sia, in the
Lefkosia district, has many
interesting aspects but most people go
there to see the one of the few
remaining medieval baths in Cyprus.
The Department of Antiquities has
designated the Baths of Sia as a
Category ‘A’ ancient monument with the
aim of preserving and publicizing them.
The warm and friendly atmosphere
of the traditional village of Vavatsinia
delighted delegates from The Travel
Foundation, who were invited there to
attend an event organised by the Cyprus
Tourism Oganisation and the Cyprus
Sustainable Tourism Initiative. Also
attending the event was the Cyprus
Minister of Commerce, Industry and
Tourism, Mr. Antonis Pashalides.
The Travel Foundation is a public benefit organisation from the
UK that helps the travel industry to effectively carry out
sustainable tourism. Its goal is the environmental awareness
and the protection of popular travel destinations – important
work, as it entails the improvement of quality and protection of
the resources upon which many enterprises depend.
The event was opened by the CTO Director General, Mrs
Phoebe Katsouri, who, in her welcoming speech, stressed the
importance of developing sustainable tourism for our country,
while adding that the need for sustainability is becoming
increasingly imperative, giving the example of the water
shortage faced by Cyprus.
“Since our accession to the EU, we are implementing
environmental legislation that does not allow irregularities. The
targets for environmental criteria and standards represent
important benefits for the tourist industry. Our Strategic Plan
aims at consolidating Cyprus as a quality destination in a
friendly and healthy environment.” Mrs Katsouri also
mentioned some so-called “Green” products, which have
developed through the excellent cooperation of local
authorities, producers and other enterprises, such as the Blue
Flag beaches, the development across Cyprus of mountain
40
cycle paths, cultural walks,
(Aphrodite walk, Apostle
Paul, the wine route),
Agrotourism, etc.
The President of the Cyprus
Sustainable Tourism
Initiative (CSTI), Mr
Philippos Drousiotis, spoke
of the objectives of the
Initiative, an independent,
non-profit organisation that
was founded in 2006 by the
Travel Foundation following
the completion of a two-
year pilot programme. “The CSTI’s goal is to unite tourist demand, (tourism
organisations and agents), with the service providers, (communities and
producers), in ways that will develop a sustainable approach to tourism in
Cyprus. The approach aspires to offer an irreplaceable experience to guests, in
the economic development of the communities that have been marginalised by
mass tourism, while at the same time, reducing the socioeconomic influences
and the environmental consequences.” Mr Drousiotis also spoke about the three
excursions created by the Initiative, ‘Central and West Lemesos’, ‘Rural Larnaka’
and the ‘Kokkinochoria (Red Soil Villages) and windmills’, through which 71
producers benefit since the number of visitors in these areas has increased
significantly. “We expect”, he said, “positive influences on the environment by all,
as well as changes in the attitudes of tourists, local authorities and those who
provide services to tourism, as well as the strengthening of the cooperation
between those involved, people and organisations of the tourist industry.”
To round off the event, Mrs Katsouri honoured one of our
own, Noel Josephides, the founder and director of Sunvil
Travel, for his 35 years of service to Cypriot tourism. As
Mrs Katsouri stressed, Noel Josephides is a tireless
supporter of many travel organisers for special
products. He has been
President of the Association
of Independent Tour
Operators (AITO), is on the
board of the Association of
British Travel Agents, and
is a consultant to the British
Government and Civil
Aviation in matters of
tourism. He was honoured
in 2006 by the British
Writers Association for his
contribution to the world of
travel and for his pioneering
campaign for ‘green
tourism’.
The small bath consists of three rooms
heated by hypocausts, an underground
system of heating in which hot air from
a furnace circulated beneath an
elevated floor was supported by short
columns. Clay pipes embedded in the
walls distributed the hot air and water
into the bathing area. The warmest
room, which is also the largest, is
situated directly in front of the furnace.
Water for the baths came from an
elevated cistern located on the
northern face of the complex, of which
only the base has been preserved.
The medieval bath of Sia is a
simplified version of ancient Roman
and Byzantine baths. The domed
ceiling and the elevated floor have
collapsed but the hypocaust system
has been preserved along with the
stone-built walls, which reach a height
of three metres. It is believed that the
baths were operating up until the end
of the Ottoman period.
Info: ldermati@visitcyprus.com
41
SAVE THE EARTH
This year’s theme for the International
Day of Tourism, ‘Tourism: responding to
the challenge of climate change’, comes
as yet another reminder that we are
being disrespectful to Mother Earth!
Global warming is widely acknowleged to
be the result of human actions, and raises
the critical question: are we destined for
self-destruction?
Melting glaciers and rising global
temperatures and sea levels, are
disturbing warning signs. The earth
is vulnerable and its natural
resources are limited but
unfortunately, evolution and the
growth of technology have led to an
excess of by-products and pollution,
raising considerable questions as to
the viability of these practices for the
future.
Tourism is by far the world’s largest industry. Through the World
Tourism Organization, it extends its concern for the tragic
climate changes by encouraging destinations to respect and
protect their natural environments. To that effort, sustainable
development may come to the rescue.
The notion of sustainability, in any area, field or industry, implies
concern for the future. It comes as an assurance that what we
are able to enjoy today, will also be available for generations to
come. Ignorance about the value of sustainability may very well
lead to an imbalance, over-exhausting today’s resources and
assigning them to a short life and an early expiration date.
According to expert authors, McIntosh and Goeldner,
“sustainable development is an approach by which efforts are
made to balance the benefits or outputs of an industry with the
investments and restrictions required to ensure that the industry
can continue to exist without depleting or destroying the
resource base on which it depends”. Translating that into the
tourism context, it “implies caring for the natural and built
environments in a way that will ensure their continuing viability
and well-being.” Rees, another expert author, states that
“sustainable development is positive change that does not
undermine the ecological and social systems upon which
communities and society are dependent.”
The balanced and careful handling of today’s resources and
attractions, may secure their future for many years to come. An
excessive and uncontrolled exploitation of those same
42
Info: jk627693@yahoo.com
resources and attractions will condemn them to a short life.
Sustainability of any resource is as simple as that! It’s like the
human body, give it a healthy and balanced diet, and the
individual may live longer. It’s the same with the resources
available for tourism development. Utilized with caution, the
attractions of a destination will remain competitive far into
the future.
True to its concerns for protecting the natural environment, the
Cyprus Tourism Organization, through its Strategic Plan for
Tourism Development in Cyprus, clearly identifies sustainability
as an integral part of its vision, by directly linking it with quality.
With the clear goal of establishing Cyprus as a
quality tourism destination, the CTO
seeks to maintain sustainability
as a central point of
reference. Within the
context of sustainability
the strategy calls for
tourism development in
Cyprus that secures the
quality of the experience,
the natural environment
and the quality of life for
local people and visitors.
With the involvement and
contribution of all
stakeholders, both public
and private, the vision of
quality with the critical role
of sustainability, will transform Cyprus into an
attractive tourism destination, and one that will offer
memorable experiences to
all its visitors, now and in
the future.
Yiannis Kouis, Senior Lecturer
Member, Board of Directors
Cyprus Tourism Organization
This summer, the Troodos Tourist
Development and Promotion Company once
again organised a series of two and threeday themed events, called ‘Troodos: In the
Footsteps of Tradition’.
Focusing on the area’s mountain resorts, the aim of the
events is to promote the areas of Troodos in order to attract
local and foreign visitors. During the events, visitors
experienced the uniqueness and authenticity of the Troodos
area, learned about its traditional crafts, customs, tastes,
nature and, above all, its people. They experienced Cypriot
hospitality first-hand from the real people of the mountains,
who offered them a personal and enchanting glimpse into
their lives.
The programme kicked
off in the village of
Pera Pedi with events
that revolved around
the environment
including water
conservation, cycling,
walking and nature
trails. The events
continued at the
beginning of
July in the
verdant valleys
of the Solea,
with traditional
music and dance
in the village of Tempria. Following that was the First
Troodos Rural Exhibition in Galata village, where
visitors were taken to the local watermill to see firsthand how wheat is ground. They were also given the
opportunity to sample local products. Traditional
crafts adorned Galata’s main square as well
as the picturesque narrow streets of old
Kakopetria, creating an atmosphere that
transported visitors back to a bygone age.
In the Footsteps of Tradition
TROODOS
Troodos events:
SAVE THE EARTH
sausages being
made and enjoyed
their unique taste. In
the same village
there was a concert
of traditional music
and dance and the
world’s largest
sausage (according
to the Guinness Book
of World Records),
was on view.
The season of the
wine harvest took
them to the wine
country for three days of wine celebrations in the villages of
Agios Therapon, Agios Ambrosios and Vouni, to learn about
the history of wine in Cyprus, get same hands-on experience
of the traditional winemaking process and to sample
traditional products made from grapes.
The themed events end in October with an introduction to
Byzantine art and tradition and a tour by a professional tour
guide, of the Byzantine monuments of Marathasa in Pitsilia
and Solea, both World Heritage sites.
Next summer we will be waiting for you to take a unique stroll
with us through the ages, to
visit the villages and people
of the Cyprus countryside.
The promotional activities
and events as well as some
infrastructural projects of
‘Troodos: In the Footsteps of
Tradition’ are mainly funded by
the Cyprus Tourism Organisation.
The trip continued with a visit to North
Pitsilia and an exhibition on ‘tradition’ in
Alona. Visitors had the opportunity to stroll in
the hazelnut orchards of Polystypos and in the
evening, to take part in traditional games in the
village. For three days in August, the focus
turned to the Marathasa Valley, and the villages of
Lemithou, Tris Elies and Agios Demetrios where
visitors listened to traditional music and watched craftsmen
make agricultural tools in the same way they have been
made for centuries. Fini, known as the ‘village of potters’, was
the next stop where a fascinating demonstration of traditional
pottery-making and the use of pottery tools took place.
In September visitors headed to Pelendri and Agios Ioannis
Pitsilia, where they watched the local wine-flavoured
Info: mpaphitou@visitcyprus.com
43
CUISINE
The new tastes of Cyprus
Stuffed fillet of Pork with Dried Apricots on Seared Spinach
Ingredients for 4 persons:
2 pork fillets
8-10 dried apricots
1 coffee cup brandy
1 tsp plum sauce
1 bunch spinach leaves
2 tbs olive oil
1 chopped spring onion
Touch of nutmeg
For the sauce:
Juice of 2 oranges
4 tbs sugar
2 star anise
1/2 tsp ginger paste
1/2 cup ouzo
Salt & pepper
Method:
● Trim all the fat from the pork fillets.
● Soak the apricots in brandy for 2-3 hours. Drain and blend with plum sauce.
● Cut the fillets in half lengthways and stuff with apricot purée. Roll them and tie
them with kitchen string.
● Heat a non-stick pan or wok over a high heat and cook the fillets.
● Finish the cooking in a hot oven 200ºC for 15 minutes. Remove the string.
●
●
If the way to the heart is through the
stomach, it’s no wonder visitors fall in love with
Cyprus. The Cypriot people are passionate
about food and cooking is a favourite pastime.
Every woman knows how to prepare all the
traditional dishes, but Cyprus is experiencing a
new wave in cuisine and surprisingly, it’s the
men that are taking up the challenge - and
it’s not about firing up the barbecue!
due to be released before Christmas 2008. This beautiful book
contains over 70 recipes with stunning full page photos of each
dish. Log on to their website to find
out how to order the book.
For a taste of what’s to come,
here are some simple recipes
for you to try:
●
Halvas with Semolina and Carob Syrup
Ingredients
1 cup semolina
1 cup sugar
5 cups water
1 small cinnamon stick
5 tbs corn oil
5 tbs rosewater
Juice of 1/4 of a lemon
A few blanched almonds, for decoration
A little carob syrup
CyChefs, Antonis Nicolaou and George Kyprianou, are culinary
experts (and artists) who have taken Cypriot gastronomy to a
new level. They work with all the local ingredients but their
dishes are totally different – lighter, tastier, more colourful and
unquestionably more in tune with modern-day lifestyles.
The only Cypriot chefs to be full members of ‘The Master Chefs
of Great Britain’, George and Antonis both serve on the
committee of the Cyprus Chefs Association. They have also
developed Cyprus’ most professional culinary website with
culinary news and events, chef’s tips and monthly articles. If
you would like to learn more about their extraordinary talents,
log on to www.cychefs.com or look out for their new recipe
book (in Greek and English), Taste & Aroma in the Kitchen,
44
To make the sauce, boil the orange juice with sugar, anise, ginger and ouzo
over a high heat until it reduces to a light syrup. Strain the sauce through a
fine sieve and keep warm.
Heat a non-stick pan, add the olive oil, sauté the chopped spring onions and
add the spinach leaves. Add the nutmeg and correct the seasoning.
To serve, spoon the spinach on 4 serving plates, put the fillets on top, drizzled
with the sauce and serve at once.
●
●
●
●
Method
● Sauté the semolina in the oil, until it
begins to change colour.
● In a separate pan, prepare the syrup.
Put in the sugar, water, cinnamon stick
and lemon juice and boil until it just
begins to thicken.
Peel the almonds (Put them in boiling water so the skins remove easily).
When both the syrup and the semolina are ready, mix them together and
lower the heat, stirring continuously.
Add the rosewater and when the mixture is well cooked, remove it from the
heat and pour into a small heatproof bowl or form.
Garnish with the blanched almonds and serve with a dash of carob syrup.
Grilled Halloumi Cheese with
Bell Peppers and Roasted
Cherry Tomatoes
Ingredients for 4 portions:
600gr Halloumi cheese cut into thick
triangles
2 red bell peppers
2 yellow bell peppers
8 tomato slices
4 tbs honey
Purslane or watercress leaves
4 vine cherry tomatoes
Method:
● Drizzled the cherry tomatoes with
olive oil and cook them in a slow
oven for 2 hours on 130ºC.
● Cook the bell peppers under the grill
or in hot oven until the skins start to
brown. Peel off the skins while
they’re still hot, cut in half and
remove the seeds.
● Grill the Halloumi cheese and sliced
tomatoes on both sides.
Serve the cheese with roasted
peppers, topped with purslane or
watercress and drizzled with honey.
Accompany with hot roasted cherry
tomatoes.
Info: kkyriakou@visitcyprus.com or george@cychefs.com
45
Mother of us all
Photos by
Julia Fitikidou
Member of CTO staff
EXOTIC FRUITS
Earth
The Exotic Taste of Nashi
There is no doubt that Cyprus produces great
fruit and vegetables. Over the past few
decades the island’s produce has become
increasingly popular in households and
restaurants across Europe. But what is not so
well known is the growing list of exotic fruits
that this small island now produces.
Solomos Aryrou is one of those producers.
He grew up in the fruit-growing village of
Kyperounda, high up in the Cyprus
mountains. After an absence of almost 10
years in the U.S., Solomos returned to
Cyprus with his family. His love for his
village and the natural beauty of the land
drew him back home, where he continued
the family tradition as a fruit grower.
After reading about a fruit called ‘Nashi’, a
friend suggested that he should introduce it to Cyprus. It was
the challenge Solomos needed and it didn’t take long for him
to learn that the climatic conditions in Kyperounda were ideal
for growing Nashi. Research involved a trip to Australia, from
where the first four trees were purchased, followed by rootstock
from Italy and buds from the USA. With the help of the Cyprus
Government and a lot of hard work from Solomos and his
family, the Nashi trees soon began to grow in Kyperounda.
This exotic, healthy fruit hit the Cypriot market just five
years later.
Nashi, or Asian Pear (sometimes called Apple Pear because of
its apple-like shape) is a very juicy, yet very crispy fruit, high in
pectic acid and fibre. Although sweet, they contain 50% less
sugar that a regular pears and are believed to be perfect for
diabetics. The added bonus: The Asians claim that Nashi is
also an aphrodisiac… no wonder they are growing so well on
the island of Aphrodite!
Nashi are currently available at Prinos Fruitmarkets in Lefkosia and
Larnaka, Debenhams stores and at Ioannides Supermarket in the
centre of Lefkosia.
For more information contact: solomos@nashicoenterprises.com
46
Info: jfitikdou@visitcyprus.com
Info: keconomidou@visitcyprus.com
47
Cyprus news
A great love for Cyprus, nature and
the environment dominates the life of
businessman, Evangelos Polykarpou.
He is a man with exceptional vision.
In 1987 he purchased the old Kampia
mine, in the foothills of Machairas,
with the idea of turning it into a park.
Celebrating 61 years
Cyprus Airways, our national airline, celebrates 61 years of safe,
reliable, transportation to and from the island to all major destinations in Europe and the Middle East.
Traditional musician, Tonis Solomou,
recently represented Cyprus at the World Festival & Academic
Conference on Traditional Minority Music held in Prague.
Located in a rolling expanse of land,
dotted with evergreens and offering
enchanting views, this stunning
landscape had all the makings of
a truly exotic location.
All the materials he used to
complete the project were
taken from the environment.
Everywhere natural stone and
wood attract the eye, materials that are
bound intimately and harmoniously with nature.
Visitors can stroll along the natural footpaths, breath fresh
air and participate in eco-farming. They can also follow all the stages
of the traditional olive oil-making process and take part in its production. Beside eco-farming, animals and birds are raised in the park.
The aim of the project is to create a multi-theme eco park that will
attract visitors from around the world.
For info: polyanco@logos.cy.net Tel: 22427815, 99448449
IN TIME WITH
TRADITION
NEW AIRPORT SHUTTLE
A new bus service linking Larnaca International Airport with the
main towns of Lefkosia, Lemesos and Pafos has been introduced.
Services run in co-ordination with flight arrivals and departures and,
during peak times, operate every 30 minutes. Buses from Lefkosia
depart from the former Philoxenia Hotel car park. From Lemesos,
buses currently depart from the Agios Georgios area but the
service is expected to extend to the town’s busy tourist area in the
near future. There are two pick-up points in Pafos, the first at the
Pafos Central Bus Station and the other from Kato Pafos.
Solomou, a Cypriot Maronite, was accompanied by ethnomusicologist Panicos Giorgoudi and made quite an impression on the
audience of over sixty ethnomusicologists attending the event.
Judging by the extended applause, his excellent performance
certainly didn’t pass unnoticed. After the official performance,
Solomou was asked to play again – it seems the Cypriot melodies
had whetted their appetites.
A wealth of advertising material about Cyprus was available at the
event, courtesy of the CTO.
The Green Key is an international eco-label for tourism accommodations. Green Key encourages hotels to act as responsible businesses and make such choices so as to constantly contribute to
the protection of the environment and the sustainability of natural
resources.
The criteria cover three main areas: environmental management,
communication and training and technical criteria on efficiency in
energy and water consumption, waste separation, use of environmentally-friendly chemicals, etc.
presentation techniques (e.g. voice projection, diction, microphone use, breathing techniques, eye contact, stance, body
language, posture, personal appearance and behaviour, style and
vocabulary);
●
The First 2 Green Key Hotels awarded in Cyprus are:
• Atlantica Bay Hotel in Lemesos
• Atlantica Golden Beach in Pafos
48 Info: kkyriakou@visitcyprus.com or keconomidou@visitcyprus.com
group management (e.g. positioning of guide and group, neutral
approach and politeness, group dynamics, conflict management);
●
●
practical training;
qualification of trainers, including requirements for minimum
numbers of training units (hours).
●
EN 15565 gives freedom to countries, regions and cities to decide
the level, extent and main areas of their training programmes,
providing these programmes meet these minimum standards and
requirements for tourist guide training, which is a prerequisite for a
quality tourist guide service in all member countries.
The objective of the seminars is to raise professional standards and
provide useful hints to people on the day to day operation of their
enterprises.
The eco-labels were awarded by the Director General of the
Cyprus Tourism Organisation Ms. Phoebe Katsouri. In the photo we
also see CYMEPA Secretary General Dr. Michael Ierides, Cyprus
Hotel Association Mr. Zacharias Ioannides, General Managers of the
two hotels Mr. Yiannos Anastasiou and Mr. Pambos Skoufarides
respectively and Ms Sania Saler, Group Environmental Manager.
For information: Tel: 25343311 or email: cymepa@cytanet.com.cy
Minister of Commerce, Industry & Tourism Mr Antonis Paschalides at the
CTO stand at the Cyprus International State Fair.
Cyprus Tourism Organisation has organized a number of seminars for
people directly involved in the tourist industry, such as operators of
small hotel & catering establishments, employees of local authorities,
water sports providers, taxi drivers, etc.
The most recent seminars,
which proved to be very
successful, covered the
subject of traditional
cuisine. At the seminars,
members of the Cyprus
Chefs Association gave
practical cookery
presentations to restaurant
operators.
communications techniques (e.g. interpersonal skills, selection,
structuring and linking of information, handling and use of questions,
stress management, time management);
●
TRAINING SEMINARS IN THE TOURIST
INDUSTRY
Since the start of 2008, eleven seminars have been organized around
the island and these were attended by approximately 360 people.
The standard provides requirements and recommendations on
subjects like:
● competencies (e.g. representing the area, site, city, region, country,
guiding groups or individual visitors, interpreting for visitors the
cultural and natural heritage as well as the environment; helping
visitors to experience and understand what they are viewing and/or
visiting; using the appropriate language, and presenting the appropriate information in a comprehensive and communicative way);
theoretical knowledge (e.g. history and culture, legal and political
system, religions and philosophical movements, history of art and
architecture, geography and geology, professional ethics);
Our treasure: Our people - Kato Lefkara
TWO CYPRIOT HOTELS AWARDED THE GREEN KEY
The new European Standard EN 15565 "Tourism services requirements for the provision of professional tourist guide training
and qualification programmes”, not only supports European Union
efforts to facilitate free movement in the provision of services within
its member states but also emphasizes the importance of areaspecific tourist guides in providing high quality tourism services. It
aims to achieve this by a common high standard of qualification for
tourist guides in all European countries.
●
For further information or bookings, call: 7777 1477
A German tourist left his camera in the village square at Kato
Lefkara, after visiting with his friends. He was already on the bus
and heading for the harbour to leave Cyprus when he realised it
was missing. The situation seemed hopeless! But through the
concerted efforts of the tourist guide, Mr. Charis Arkadis, and with
the cooperation of the mayor of the village, Mr. Louis Koumenides,
the camera was found and returned to its very grateful owner
before the ship sailed.
Tourist Guides are representatives of cities, regions and countries.
It depends largely on them whether or not visitors feel welcome,
want to stay longer or decide to come back. Therefore they contribute considerably to the perception of the destination. They are
able to help travellers understand the culture of the region and the
way of life of its inhabitants. The role they play is an important one on the one hand to promote the area’s cultural and natural heritage,
and on the other to help ensure its sustainability by making visitors
aware of its importance and vulnerability.
Vice Chairman, Mr. Andreas Panayides (2nd from right), with CTO staff (left
to right), Lefkos Phylaktides, Niki Gavrielidou and Panicos Economides, at
the Taxidi Exhibition in Cyprus.
AIRLINE NEWS
• Jet2.com has announced that, as from 20 May 2009, it will be
adding an additional flight to Cyprus from Leeds Bradford, UK.
• As from 29 March 2009, Monarch Airlines will be flying to Cyprus
from Birmingham, UK. Monarch already operates flights to Cyprus
from Gatwick, Luton and Manchester.
CTO Press Officer, Antigoni Louka, welcomes guests to the World Tourism
Day event.
Info: otheocharous@visitcyprus.com or keconomidou@visitcyprus.com
49
CYPRUS NEWS
Eco Park
New European standard for Tour
Guides: EN 15565:2008
GERMANY
In early September, the CTO Office in
Germany participated in the fair
TOURNATOUR. The fair addresses
those interested in hiking and other
outdoor activities, and was visited by
around 30.000 friends of nature.
The office also participated in a
Cyprus Roadshow in the cities of
Hamburg, Bremen and Hannover.
The Roadshow, which took place from
the 8th to 10th September, was designed to promote Cyprus as a
destination for winter-tourism. More than 250 German booking clerks
and many Cypriot hoteliers and partners participated in the event.
DUBAI
Exclusive brochure on Cyprus launched by
Kanoo Holidays at this years ATM
Kanoo Holidays, one of the largest travel conglomerations in the
Gulf countries has come out with a new exclusive brochure for
Cyprus. At the launch Mr. Kanoo said, “Kanoo Holidays offers
customers an exciting choice of holiday packages and destinations
with the best value in terms of travel, accommodation and related
services. With the launch of the Summer Bonanza brochure and
the Cyprus brochure, Kanoo Holidays is set to provide its
customers with the best holiday options this season”.
In order to promote hiking tours to Cyprus, CTO Germany participated
with a stand in the Event “Wandertage”, organized by the Deutscher
Wandertag in Fulda, which took place earlier this summer.
The Belgium team also participated in a reportage on Liberty TV, a
tour operator with a TV channel specifically for tourism, on which a
film was shown about Cyprus with a detailed presentation by Mrs.
Fotini Louka.
http://publicftp.libertytv.com/tv/flv.php?path=/cdv/chypre
In addition, the office organised an educational trip to Cyprus for
4 journalists from Belgium’s leading newspapers, and participated
in the European Committee conference, Tourism Service, for the
promotion and development of tourism among the young and
elderly.
CTO Belgium will participate in the professional exhibition BTE
Brussels on 10th and 11th December 2008 and in the Zenith
exhibition for the elderly 18-22 November 2008. In 2009 CTO
Belgium will be participating in the following exhibitions:
Vakanz Luxembourg: 8 - 11/01/2009
Salon des Vacances d'Anvers: 23 - 28/01/2009
BFE Brussels: 5 - 09/02/2009
Vakantiegenoegens (Hasselt): 12/04/2009
BTE and Zenith
Photo: From the event “Nights of the Exclusive”. (From left to right):
Ms. AnVerleysen, K. Kyprianides, Director, CTO Brussels, Mrs. Christina
Christodoulidou, Sales Manager of the Four Seasons Hotel, and Ms. Coralie
De Cuyper, Sales & Marketing Manager of Amathus Hotels.
50
Yiorgos Parcharides, the CTO representative in Vienna, received
a worthy 63rd position in the ranking of the professional tourist
magazine, Factum.
Factum is a tourist magazine for
tourism industry professionals
(12000 copies), which published a
list of the 111 top Marketing
Managers involved in tourist
professions in Austria. They were
selected by a committee of 14
tourist professionals and were
graded on a scale from 1-10 in
performance, competence and
sympathy. Participants were all
professionals in marketing, airlines, national tourist boards, travel
agencies, insurance companies and other related fields.
GERMANY
In early September, the CTO Office in Germany participated in the
fair TOURNATOUR. The fair addresses those interested in hiking
and other outdoor activities, and was visited by around 30.000
friends of nature.
BELGIUM:
Around 25,000 people
participated in competitions organised by
CTO Belgium last
January. The competitions ran in 3
leading newspapers,
Le Soir, De Standaard
and Het Laatste
Nieuws. The office also
participated with stands
in 2 public tourist exhibitions, (Antwerp and Luxemburg), and one in
Brussels that featured specialised exhibits for walkers, cyclists and
conference tourism. The prestigious event, ‘Nights of the Exclusive’
in the city of Knokke, also presented an opportunity for the Belgium
team. Dressed in traditional Cypriot costume, they organised a
competition (the prizes for which were hotel stays in Cyprus), and
offered traditional Cyprus delicacies to visitors.
AUSTRIA
From right to left: Michalis Metaxas (Tourism Director CTO), Kleopatra
Mylona (Member of the Board of Directors, CTO), Vassilis Theocharides
(Middle East Director, CTO), Nabil Kanoo (Senior General Manager, Kanoo)
and Abdulla Abu Khamseen (Executive General Manager, Kanoo).
FRANCE
In September, CTO France participated in the ‘Top Resa’ Fair, PARIS
- PORTE DE VERSAILLES. The fair is dedicated to industry
professionals including travel agents, tour-operators and journalists.
The Cyprus stand held a competition for travel agents for which
Cyprus hoteliers offered accommodation as prizes for the winners.
At the stand Cypriot hoteliers and local travel agents had the opportunity to talk to visitors and provide them with useful information on
Cyprus. The day before the opening of the fair, the CTO organized
a special ‘Cypriot’ dinner and wine-tasting for all its partners.
In November 2008, CTO France will also participate in:
• SITV COLMAR (7 to 9 November for the general public) in the east
of France.
• WORKSHOP FOR MICE AGENCIES (18 November, Paris Academie Diplomatique). CTO will organize a workshop for agencies
specializing in incentives and conferences. Cypriot hoteliers and local
travel agencies will participate in the event.
• EDUCATIONAL TRIP FOR MICE AGENCIES (21 to 24 November)
CTO will organize an educational trip to Cyprus for MICE agents to
help them discover the island and its potential for organizing events.
RECEPTION FOR BAGHDATIS
A total of 120 people attended a
reception at the famous
Mavrommatis Restaurant in Paris
for the Cypriot tennis star, Marcos
Baghdatis. Attending the event
were members of the press
including TV-Tourisme, L’Equipe
and Tennis Magazine. Also
present at the event was the
Cyprus Ambassador to France.
The office also participated in a Cyprus Roadshow in the cities
of Hamburg, Bremen and Hannover. The Roadshow, which took
place from the 8th to 10th September, was designed to promote
Cyprus as a destination for winter-tourism. More than 250 German
booking clerks and many Cypriot hoteliers and partners participated
in the event.
In order to promote hiking tours to Cyprus, CTO Germany
participated with a stand in the Event “Wandertage”, organized
by the Deutscher Wandertag in Fulda, which took place earlier
this summer.
ISRAEL
This year, CTO Israel took part in the IMTM Exhibition, the largest
professional tourism gathering of its kind in the eastern
Mediterranean region.
As in previous years, the CTO participated with the largest booth of
the exhibition and hosted a substantial delegation of about 20
Cypriot representatives.
Mr. Andreas Panagides, the Vice Chairman of the Cyprus Tourism
Organisation, attended the exhibition and met with key
representatives of the tourism industry.
During the exhibition, a special music and dance group performed
traditional Cypriot dances and folklore music. Their performance
was one of the main attractions of the exhibition, and brought many
visitors to the CTO booth.
To mark the start of the exhibition and the 2008 tourism season,
CTO Israel hosted a dinner party for 160 leading members of the
Israeli tourism industry. The event was a resounding success and
contributed immensely to the promotion of Cyprus.
Vice
Chairman,
Andreas
Panayides
Louisa
Varaklas,
Director
CTO office,
Tel Aviv
NETHERLANDS.
Besides participating in events directly aimed at potential
customers, CTO Holland has been very active this year in its efforts
to inform travel agents about Cyprus. This summer the CTO team
has driven around the country and visited many travel agents at
their own offices, giving presentations and telling them about
Cyprus. In May and June of this year the office also organised two
very successful trips for
15 travel agents to
Cyprus and at the
moment, are busy
organizing major
educational trip to the
island for no less than
50 travel agents, as well
as arranging individual
educationals for travel
agents that prefer to
discover Cyprus by
themselves.
Photo: Because the weather was fantastic, the June visit ended with
a relaxing boat trip along the Agia Napa coast.
CTO SWITZERLAND
Over 200 travel agents and tour operators attended a Cyprus
promotional roadshow that took place in Lucerne, Zurich, Geneva
and Basle. Guests were also invited to a reception at which Cyprus
food and wines were highlighted. A Cypriot dance group provided
the entertainment.
In cooperation with travel professionals from all over Switzerland,
CTO Switzerland also held a series of Get-To-Know-Cyprus days.
Again, Cyprus food and wine were highlighted. The Office also
participated in a tourist exhibition by Corps Touristique of
Switzerland.
Cypriot tennis star, Marcos Bagdatis will participate in the
Davidoff Tennis Tournament, scheduled for October in Basle.
For the event, promotional material on Cyprus is being featured
in the event guide.
Promotional visits to Cyprus were organised for tour operators
and travel representatives, highlighting the island’s rural tourism.
Several journalists were also invited to Cyprus in order to promote
wineries, gastronomy, golf, deluxe hotels and other tourism
products.
GREECE
The CTO office in Greece recently organised a series of
promotional events in the Greek city of Larissa, which included
a presentation and dinner for tour operators, journalists and local
institutions in the area. The office also participated with a stand
(shared with the Larissa Cypriot Union), during the local
celebrations for the Pinios river, which took place in the beautiful
rural area of the river bed. During the celebrations, leaflets on
Cyprus were distributed and there was an enactment of a Cypriot
wedding by a dance troupe with 35 dancers.
SALONICA
STATE FAIR
Mr Antonis Paschalides,
Cyprus Minister of
Commerce, Industry
& Tourism (right) with
Mr George Ioannides,
Director of CTO Greece
at the Salonica
State Fair.
Info: apapageorgiou@visitcyprus.com or pandros@visitcyprus.com
51
CTO NEWS FROM ABROAD
CTO news from abroad
CTO management
CYPRUS TOURISM ORGANISATION OFFICES
GREECE
CYPRUS TOURISM ORGANISATION
ATHENS
Voukourestiou 38, Kolonaki, Athens 10673
Tel. (0030 210) 36 10 178, (0030 210) 36 10 057
Fax: (0030 210) 36 44 798
E-mail: cto–athens@ath.forthnet.gr
IRELAND
CYPRUS TOURISM ORGANISATION
71, Lower Leeson Str., Dublin 2
Tel. 00 353-1-6629269,
Fax: 00 353-1-6629270
E-mail: cyprusinfo@eircom.net
ITALY
ENTE NAZIONALE PER IL TURISMO DI
CIPRO
Via Santa Sofia 6, 20122 Milano
Tel. 003902 58 31 98 35, 0039 02 58 30 33 28
Fax: 0039 02 58 30 33 75
E-mail: info@turismocipro.it
Mr Loizos Kartoudes
Businessman
GERMANY
FREMDENVERKEHRSZENTRALE
ZYPERN
FRANKFURT
Zeil 127 - 60313 Frankfurt
Tel. 004969 25 19 19
Fax: 004969 25 02 88
E-mail: info@cto-fra.de
Mr Kyriacos Kokkinos
Director General
IBM Cyprus
BERLIN
Wallstr. 27, 10179 Berlin
Tel. 0049 30-23 45-75 90
Fax: 0049 30-23 45-75 92
E-mail: cto_berlin@t—online.de
VICE-CHAIRMAN:
Mr. Andreas Panayides
Former Educator
Mr Yiannis Kouis
Senior Lecturer
Mr Georgios Mintis
Lawyer
Mrs Cleopatra MylonaMichaelidou
Banker – Economist
Mr. Nicos Psaroutis
Economist
EDITOR’S NOTE
Dear Reader,
This magazine aims at providing you with information on the many aspects of Cyprus
tourism as well as plans and forthcoming events. If you require further information on these
subjects or would like us to focus on other specific topics in our next edition, please contact
Kate Economidou on keconomidou@visitcyprus.com or telephone +357 22691143 or
fax +357 22331364. Your comments are valuable to us.
warm regards
Kate Economides
52
SWITZERLAND
FREMDENVERKEHRSZENTRALE
ZYPERN
Gottfried Keller - Strasse 7, CH-8001 Zürich
Tel. (004144) 262 3303,
Fax: (004144) 251 2417
Geneva: Tel: (004122) 741 33 03
E-mail: ctozurich@bluewin.ch
AUSTRIA
ZYPERN TOURISMUS
Parkring 20, A–1010 Wien
Tel. (00431) 513 18 70
Fax: (00431) 513 18 72
E-mail: zyperntourism@aon.at
Mrs Vassoula
Zachariadou
Purchase Manager
Cybarco Ltd
FRANCE
OFFICE DU TOURISME DE CHYPRE
15, Rue de la Paix, 75002 Paris
Tel. (00331) 42 61 42 49
Fax: (00331) 42 61 65 13
E-mail: cto.chypre.paris@wanadoo.fr
BELGIUM
OFFICE DU TOURISME DE CHYPRE
DIENST VOOR TOERISME VAN
CYPRUS
Avenue de Cortenbergh 61, Kortenberglaan
B-1000 Bruxelles/Brussel
Tel. 0032/735.06.21, Fax: 0302/735.66.07
E-mail: cyprus@skynet.be
THE NETHERLANDS
CYPRUS VERKEERSBUREAU
Keizersgracht 635, 1017 DS Amsterdam
Tel. (0031020) 624 4358
Fax: (0031020) 638 3369
E-mail: cyprus.sun@wxs.nl
SWEDEN
CYPERNS TURISTRÅD
Norrlandsgatan 20, 1st floor,
111 43 Stockholm
Tel. (00468) 10 50 25, Fax: (00468) 10 64 14
E-mail: info@ctosweden.org
FINLAND
KYPROKSEN MATKAILUTOIMISTO
Aleksanterinkatu 48B, 00100 Helsinki
Tel. (00358) 9-476 09 100
Fax: (00358) 9-476 09 120
E-mail: info@ctofinland.org
THESSALONIKI
37 Nikis Ave., Thessaloniki 54013
P.O.Box 50046
Tel. 0030 231-242880, Fax: 0030 231-286881
E-mail: kotthes@the.forthnet.gr
UNITED STATES
CYPRUS TOURISM ORGANIZATION
13 East, 40th Str., New York, NY 10016
Tel. (00 1212) 683–5280
Fax: (00 1212) 683–5282
E-mail: gocyprus@aol.com
ISRAEL
CYPRUS TOURISM ORGANISATION
Top Tower-14th floor, Dizengoff Centre
50 Dizengoff Str., - Tel-Aviv 64332
Tel. 00-972-3-52 57 442
Fax: 00-972-3-52 57 443
E-mail: cto@netvision.net.il
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
CYPRUS TOURISM ORGANISATION
MOSCOW
Povarskaya 9, Building 2, 121069, Moscow
Tel. 007 495 744 2953/54
Fax: 007 495 744 2955
E-mail: moscowcto@yandex.ru
ST. PETERSBURG
27 Furshtatskaya street
191123 St. Petersburg
Tel: 007-812-332-58-08
Fax: 007-812-332-58-09
E-mail: spbcto@yandex.ru
HUNGARY
CIPRUSI IDEGENFORGALMI HIVATAL
H-1051 Budapest, Dorottya Str. 3. III floor
Tel. 00-36-1-266 6044,
Fax: 00-36-1-266 6043
E-mail: ciprusinfo@t-online.hu
POLAND
CYPRYJSKA ORGANIZACJA
TURYSTYCZNA
Ul Piekna 20, 00549 Warszawa
Tel. 0048 22-827 90 36,
Fax: 0048 22-827 90 34
E-mail: cto@cypr.pl
CZECH REPUBLIC
KYPERSKÁ ORGANIZACE CESTOVNÍHO
RUCHU
Pod Hradbami 662/9, 16000 Praha 6
Tel. 00-420-222-253 097
Fax: 00-420-222-251 639
E-mail: cto.prague@volny.cz
MIDDLE EAST & ARABIAN GULF
CYPRUS TOURISM ORGANISATION
Al Ghurair City, Office Tower, No 436B
P.O.Box 94670, Deira, Dubai, UAE
Tel. (009714) 2277637
Fax. (009714) 2277638
E-mail: tourism@cyprusme.com
CYPRUS
TOURIST INFORMATION
OFFICES
Lefkosia (Nicosia) Laiki
Geitonia: Tel: 22 67 42 64
Lemesos (Limassol):
Tel: 25 36 27 56
Germasogeia: Tel: 25 32 32 11
Lemesos Port: Tel: 25 57 18 68
Larnaka: Tel: 24 65 43 22
Larnaka International Airport:
Tel: 24 64 35 76
Pafos: Tel: 26 93 28 41
Kato Pafos: Tel: 26 93 05 21
Pafos International Airport:
Tel: 26 42 31 61
Polis: Tel: 26 32 24 68
Agia Napa: Tel: 23 72 17 96
Paralimni-Protaras:
Tel: 23 83 28 65
Platres: Tel: 25 42 13 16
Cyprus Online:
www.visitcyprus.com
The official website of the
Cyprus Tourism Organisation
provides comprehensive
information on the major
attractions of Cyprus, complete
with maps, an updated
calendar of events, a detailed
hotel guide, downloadable
photos, a travel planner to
help you organise your trip to
Cyprus and suggested
itineraries. You will also find
a list of tour operators covering
Cyprus, information on
conferences and incentives
and a wealth of other useful
information.
Published for the Cyprus Tourism Organisation by Action Global Communications. www.actionprgroup.com
Photos: CTO archives, Action Global Communications archives, Anthoula Alexandrou, Andriana Malikkides, Julia Fitikidou, Sebough Voskeritchian, Stavros Hadjisavvas (assistant to this edition),
Alekos Gregoriades, Department of Antiquities, Fotokinisi, Pancyprian Gymnasium, Cyprus Symphony Orchestra.
Printing: RPM Lithographica Ltd.
UNITED KINGDOM
CYPRUS TOURIST OFFICE
17, Hanover Street London W1S 1YP
Tel. 0044207 569 8800
Fax: 0044207 499 4935
E-mail: informationcto@btconnect.com
MEMBERS:
CHAIRMAN:
Mr. Panos Englezos
Businessman
CYPRUS
CYPRUS TOURISM ORGANISATION
19, Leoforos Lemesou
P.O. Box 24535, CY 1390 Lefkosia (Nicosia)
Tel: 22 691100, Fax: 22 331644
E-mail: cytour@cto.org.cy