Excavations and monuments
Amathus: Ruins of a city kingdom with acropolis located on a hill (excavation area 8 km east of Limassol).
Kolossi Castle: The crusader castle was the ancestral seat of the Templars, later the Johanniter (15 km west of Limassol).
Limassol Castle: The castle in its current form dates back to the 16th century. In the predecessor fortress, the English king Richard Lion Heart.
courion: Impressive building remains such as columns, mosaics, baths, amphitheater, etc. of a city kingdom that was famous for its temple and oracle. Located on a ledge above the sea. The excavations are ongoing (excavation area 20 km west of Limassol).
Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates: In this temple, Apollo, the protector of the forest, was venerated for centuries (22 km west of Limassol).
Choirocoitia: The Stone Age settlement (round houses) was built around 6800 BC. created (30 km west of Larnaka).
Hala Sultan Tekke: The mosque, built in a palm grove in 1816, houses the tomb of the foster mother of the Prophet Mohammed (on the banks of the Larnaca Salt Lake, near the airport).
Kition: Uncovered remains of the important city kingdom from around 1200 BC BC (interesting excavation area in the northern center of Larnaca).
Royal Tombs of Pafos: City of the Dead from the 6th-2nd centuries Century BC with numerous tombs carved into the rock, which are equipped with columns and chambers underground. Nobles were buried here with their servants and horses.
Mosaics of Pafos: In the Roman villas at the harbor, House of Dionysus, House of Theseus and House of Aion, mosaic carpets were uncovered, which are among the most beautiful in the entire Mediterranean region. It depicts scenes from Greek mythology.
Odeon of Pafos: In this area, a Roman odeon (theater), the agora (market place) and an ancient medical center (Asklepieion) were excavated and partially reconstructed.
Saranda Kolones Fortress in Pafos: The "fort of 40 pillars" was built in 1192 by crusaders. Port fort of Pafos: Built as a Franconian fortress to protect the port, reinforced and expanded by the Lusignan family, the Venetians and Turks.
Tamassos tombs: Two royal or hero's graves and some ruins bear witness to the fact that an important Greek city was once located here, where copper was mined, processed and exported. The excavations are ongoing (in the village of Politiko, 23 km south of Nicosia).
The main museums
Nicosia (Lefkosia)
Cypriot State Museum / Archaeological Museum: The largest and most important museum on the island presents one of the best archaeological collections in the Middle East in 14 rooms. Exhibits from the Neolithic to the Hellenistic and Roman eras.
Museum of the National Struggle for Freedom (next to the Folklore Museum): The house is dedicated to the memory of the liberation struggle 1955-1959 and displays documents, photos and other memorabilia.
Byzantine Museum (Icon Museum, in the extension of the Archbishop's Palace): Has an impressive and extremely interesting collection of Byzantine icons from 10 centuries.
Levention City Museum (Ippokratous Street near Laiki Geitonia): Documents the way of life in the capital from antiquity to the present.
Limassol (Lemesos)
District Museum (Byron Street): It contains an interesting collection of exhibits from the Neolithic to the Roman era from the region.
Museum of Kourion (in Episkopi, 17 km west of Limassol): Archaeological finds from Kourion are exhibited in a beautiful old house.
Museum of the Cypriot Middle Ages (in the castle by the old port): In the 600 year old castle, in the Richard The collection, in which Lionheart is said to have married Princess Berengaria in 1191, includes weapons, armor, and coins from the Middle Ages.
Agia Napa
Oceanography Museum: Information about the past and present marine flora and fauna.
Larnaca
Larnaca District Museum (Kalogreon Place): The archaeological district museum houses finds from various excavation sites and from the ancient Aphrodite sanctuary.
Pierides Museum (Zenon Kitieus Street 4): Impressive collection of the Pierides family with finds from all periods of Cypriot history, including Roman glassware and old jewelry.
Larnaca Fortress (on the waterfront): The Turkish port fort shows finds from the city kingdom of Kition and the nearby mosque Hala Sultan Tekke as well as cannons (cast by Krupp).
Pafos
Pafos District Museum (Grivas Dhigenis Ave): Exhibition of excavation finds from the region, including a hot water bottle healing system from the Roman era and a canopy carried by four angels.
Byzantine Museum (March Street): A collection of late Byzantine icons and other exhibits from the 12th to 18th centuries.
Ethnographic Museum (Exo Vrissi Street): Private folklore museum with a collection of items from the Neolithic to the present day.
Excavation Museum Kouklia (16 km before Pafos): In Palea Pafos (Alt-Pafos) finds from the Aphrodite sanctuary are exhibited.
Geroskipou Folk Art Museum (in Geroskipou, 3 km before Pafos): Fascinating collection of examples of Cypriot folk art and craft techniques.
Museum of Mycenaean Settlement (in Maa, Paleokastro / Coral Bay): Documents the Hellenization of the island by Mycenaeans from Greece.
The most famous monasteries
Kykkos Monastery: Cyprus' most famous monastery is located 1.160 m above sea level in the Troodos Mountains, 15 km from Pedoulas and 80 km from Limassol. The richest monastery on the island was founded around 1100 and has an icon of Mary, which the evangelist Luke is said to have painted. Near the monastery is the tomb of Archbishop Makarios III, the first president of the republic.
Machairas Monastery: The monastery is located at an altitude of 880 m in the eastern Troodos foothills, 13 km from Politiko and 40 km from Nicosia. The monastery, which was founded in the 12th century, has a - so they say - miraculous icon that was guarded by a knife when it was found, hence the name machairi (= knife).
Stavrovouni Monastery: The oldest monastery in Cyprus is 690 m high on a steep rock, about 40 km from Larnaka. Founded in 327 by the mother of the Emperor Constantine, Saint Helena, who left behind part of the cross of Christ found in Jerusalem. The relic is kept in the silver cross on the far right in the iconostasis. A visit to the monastery is only possible for male visitors.
Monastery of Saint Neophytos: Founded in 1170 by the hermit and scholar Neophytos, who had his hermitage painted with pious pictures. These frescoes are among the most beautiful in Cyprus. His bones lie in the monastery church from the 15th century (approx. 10 km from Pafos).
Chryssorogiatissa Monastery: It is 38 km from Pafos on a mountain slope. Founded in 1152 by the hermit Ignatius, who was led to a hidden icon by a shine of light (it is also said to have been painted by the evangelist Luke). The monastery is known for the wines made here and the workshop for icon restoration.
Trooditissa Monastery: The highest monastery on the island (1.300 m) is located in the middle of the Troodos Mountains, approx. 5 km from Platres. It was founded around 1250, the church is younger. It has valuable icons as well as the "sacred belt" that childless women put on in order to become fertile. No access for groups.
The most beautiful churches
Panagia Angeloktisti: The “angel built” church is located in the village of Kiti, 11 km west of Larnaca. It has a wonderful Byzantine mosaic from the 6th century and frescoes from the 12th and 14th centuries.
Agios Lazaros Church: Magnificent church built by Emperor Leon VI. in the 9th century above the tomb of St. Lazarus. Before Easter, the icon of Lazarus, once Bishop of Kition, is carried in procession through the streets of Larnaca. The saint's skull lies in a golden shrine in the church.
Panagia Araka: The monastery church is hidden in the Troodos Mountains near the village of Lagoudera. It was built in 1192 and contains some of the oldest and best examples of Byzantine wall painting.
Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis: The Church of St. Nikolaos on the Roof is 5 km southwest of the village of Kakopetria. It is fully painted and, like its oldest frescoes, dates from the 11th century. It is considered one of the most interesting Byzantine churches in Cyprus.
Panagia tou Asinou (Phorviotissa): A typical Cypriot mountain church, located near Nikitari. The walls and ceiling are painted over and over with significant frescoes (12th-14th centuries).
Agios Ioannis: The St. John's Cathedral in Nicosia is attached to the archbishop's new palace. The walls and vaults were adorned with frescoes and paintings in 1730, including the “Last Judgment” with the terrifying image of the “Lord of Darkness”.
Archangelo Michael: The Archangel Michael Church is in the village of Pedoulas. It has frescoes from the 15th century and an iconostasis that is well worth seeing.
Ayia Paraskevi: One of the most impressive and characteristic churches in Cyprus. The five-domed building is located near Pafos in the village of Yeroskipou. The church, consecrated by St. Paraskevi, has beautiful frescoes from several centuries, some of which have been painted over.
