Cyprus-Aphrodite’s Tour Package (5 Nights/6 Days)

Spend a day sightseeing the wonders of Paphos: the whole town is included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list. Proceeding westbound along the beautiful coast, we stop at Petra Tou Romiou, where, according to Greek mythology, Aphrodite emerged from the foam of the water. We will begin our day by visiting the Ayios Neofytos monastery founded at the end of the 12th century by the Cypriot writer and hermit Neofytos. The Engleistra contains some of the most beautiful Byzantine frescoes (12th and 15th centuries). We will continue to visit the Tombs of the Kings which date back to the 4th century BC, carved into the rock and decorated with Doric columns. Then we will be able to admire the famous mosaics of the house of Dionysus. The floors of these patrician villas date back to a period between the third and fifth centuries AD and are considered among the most beautiful mosaics in the eastern Mediterranean. The last stop will be at the church of Panagia Chrysopolitissa, built in the thirteenth century, within whose complex you can see the column of St. Paul, where according to tradition the saint was scourged. Overnight in Limassol.

After breakfast at the hotel meet the guide and depart for Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, whose city centre is hedged by majestic Venetian walls. It is renowned for the archaeological and artistic treasures collected in its museums and, especially, to be the last city in the world divided by a wall. First visit the Archbishopric complex, which hosts the famous Byzantine museum, one of the most important museums in Europe of its kind, featuring the largest collection of icons on the island, and the Cathedral of St. John, the inside contains a fresco cycle dating 1731. Through the Venetian Walls, via Famagusta Gate, we get to the Archaeological Museum where you can admire the fascinating collection of Cypriot artefacts and treasures of inestimable value. We continue to the old town of Nicosia (Laiki Yitonia), across the checkpoint, we will be guided to the Caravanserai, Buyuk Han, one of the best preserved Ottoman architecture. The Buyuk Han stands in the centre of the traditional market, within the walls, nearby the Selimiye Mosque, known formerly as the St. Sophia Cathedral. On our return we will visit the characteristic village of Lefkara, famous for the local lace known as Lefkaritica and for the processing of silver. Return to the hotel in the afternoon. Overnight in Limassol.

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel and depart to the Troodos mountains for a guided tour of some of the famous Byzantine churches, included in the 'UNESCO "World Heritage list: the Church of Ayios Nicolaos, completely painted with frescoes ranging from the eleventh to the seventeenth century and the Byzantine church of Panagia of Pothithou. After free time for lunch we continue our journey by visiting the Panagia Tis Asinou Church in Nikitari village, one of the ten UNESCO World Heritage churches on the Troodos. Built in a pine-clad area, it has some of the finest examples of Byzantine wall painting on the island. Return to the hotel in the afternoon. Overnight in Limassol.

Today get ready for a journey that will take you back in time, to discover the secrets of the oldest and most famous wine on the island. First stop at Kolossi Castle located in the village of the same name, 11 kilometers west of Limassol. It was built in the fifteenth century, on the ruins of a previous fortress, dating back to the early thirteenth century. The area also produced and exported the traditional sweet wine of Cyprus, which became known as "Vin de Commanderie". This is one of the oldest “appellation” wines in the world, having carried the same name for eight centuries. Continue to the village of Erimi and visit the wine museum located in the heart of the island's wine production area, the Cyprus Wine Museum will take you on a fascinating journey through the history of Cypriot oenology. We will then reach Curium, an important city-state, today one of the most important archaeological sites on the island. Here we will visit the magnificent Greek theatre- Roman from the 2nd century BC, the house of Eustolius, originally a Roman villa, which in the early Christian period became a public center for recreational activities. We continue to the village of Omodos, and after free time for lunch visit this important wine center and the famous monastery of Stravos (Santa Croce), founded by St. Elena in 327 AD located in the center of the homonymous square. We also visit the Linos cellar and taste the local wine. We will return to the hotel in the afternoon. Overnight in Limassol.

After one last breakfast at your hotel, bid farewell to Cyprus as you hop onto a comfortable transfer to the airport, where you will catch your flight to your following destination.