Top 3 Places to Visit in Cyprus

The Republic of Cyprus is an island country washed by the waves of the Mediterranean Sea. Different epochs and times are intricately intertwined here - Byzantine buildings, modern structures, Gothic mosques, ancient monasteries with preserved frescoes, clean beaches with snow-white sand, and small villages.

Every year more than 4 million tourists come here, and the island ranks 40th in popularity among travelers. Not for nothing this place is called the pearl of the Mediterranean. Thanks to the mild climate, it is possible to come to Cyprus all year round. It is ideal to plan a trip to the island in April-May or September-October.

In Cyprus, you can not only relax among the beautiful nature but also learn a lot of new things for yourself. Every corner of this paradisiacal place is imbued with the spirit of history. Venetian fortifications of XVI century Nicosia, sea cliffs, mosaics of Paphos - here the Oriental and Mediterranean colors are intricately intertwined. When traveling, every tourist wants to see the brightest places and get maximum positive impressions.  

On the threshold of summer vacations specialists of the licensed agency GARANT.in have prepared a selection of the most beautiful places in Cyprus, so that even for a short period here was bright and intense.  

Cape Greco

Cape Greco (Cavo Greco) is one of the most popular natural attractions in Cyprus with an incredible protected area. Tourists can enjoy sea caves, natural rock arches, lagoons, and turquoise-colored water. Getting around the protected area can be done on foot, by bicycle, and even on horseback.

Cape Greco is the easternmost point of Cyprus, which ends in the southern part of Famagusta Bay and Ayia Napa Bay. Along the unusually shaped promontory, there are over 400 varieties of plants - 385 hectares in total - with a variety of orchids and irises. During the flowering season, the park transforms dramatically. The height of the cliffs reaches up to 10 meters in some places. The system of caves is partly on the surface and partly hidden underwater.

The rock arches deserve special attention. One of the "Bridge of Lovers" is a favorite place for photo shoots of newlyweds and couples in love. No less colorful is the "Crow Arch", but it is forbidden to enter due to the high risk of collapse.

Fans of active recreation can go rowing, diving, and parasailing. Regular tourists often come to the cape to meet the sunrise or admire the sunset. On the edge of the cliff is a small chapel of Agio Anargyroi. The modest building in blue and white colors is decorated in the Greek style. 

Cape Greco is a unique natural attraction that will take you a whole day to explore.

Larnaca Salt Lake

The salt lake is the second largest in Cyprus and consists of four lakes - Aliki, Orfani, Spiro, and Soros. It occupies an area of 2.2 km².  The appearance of this body of water is associated with the legend of St. Lazarus. It is believed that fertile vineyards used to grow here, but the place was cursed after a woman working here refused to give the saint a glass of water. In the summertime, the moisture from the lake evaporates and salt accumulations remain. Earlier, salt from the lake was mined and exported. During the cold season, the lake becomes a haven for wintering birds - about 38,000 waterfowl come here every year.

At the end of the beach season, tourists come to the lake to admire the numerous flocks of pink flamingos. At different times of the year, there are from 2,000 to 12,000 at a time, and they live on the lake all winter long.

Next to the lake, there is a very interesting shrine built during the Ottoman Empire - Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque. There is also a tomb of Umm Temple and a healing stone. On the territory of the lake, there is a park, where excavations are regularly held - you can see with your own eyes the valuable ancient artifacts found. 

Stavrovouni Monastery

Not only natural wonders can be admired in Cyprus. Ancient man-made structures also impress even sophisticated travelers. Stavrovouni Monastery is an ancient Cypriot monastery founded by Queen Helen, the mother of St. Constantine. It is located 43 km from Larnaca on Mount Olympus. According to mythology, it was on Olympus that the ancient Greek gods led by Zeus the Thunderer lived and ruled.

Today the monastery is the most famous and revered holy monastery in Cyprus. The monastery is a male monastery and belongs to the Metropolis of Kythia of the Cypriot Orthodox Church. The name of the holy monastery can be translated as "The Cross on the Mountain". The building was founded in the distant 327 by Empress Helen, who went down in history as a spreader of Christianity. At her behest excavations were organized in Jerusalem, where according to witnesses the Holy Sepulchre was found. The first mention of the monastery in official documents is recorded in 1106. Surprisingly, even today the ancient monastery is still active!

The oldest part of the structure is the foundation. The other parts of the structure were erected in the XVIII century. In the main building, there is a small church of St. Helen and St. Constantine. There is also a unique library where ancient manuscripts and priceless books are kept. 
Only men are allowed to visit the monastery, even though its founder was a woman. To enter the territory of the shrine, it is necessary to cover the arms and shoulders with clothing and to wear long pants. Women are allowed to enter the Church of All Cypriot Saints, located in the square in front of the entrance to the monastery.

In addition to visiting the most beautiful places in Cyprus, tourists can entertain themselves with active vacations:

Alpine skiing - the active season lasts on the island from January to April.
Cycling - cycling can be enjoyed all year round.
Beach vacations - vacationing near the sea is ideal from April to November.
Surfing - perfect waves can be caught in Cyprus in March and November.
Kitesurfing - you can go kitesurfing almost all year round, but the biggest waves are seen on the beaches of Kurium and Lady's Mile in the winter months.

Friends, of course, these are not all interesting places in Cyprus. You can explore the island almost endlessly. And to do it at any convenient time, and not limit yourself to a specific period, you can get a resident status. Cyprus offers to obtain permanent residence status for an investment of only 300,000 €. To simplify the process of obtaining residency, ask for help from the professionals of our agency. Our lawyers will help you to collect and prepare the necessary documents, submit the papers to the necessary authorities, check the cleanliness of the transaction, and solve other related issues in the shortest possible time.