Cyprus – the goddess of love in a divided country

Cyprus – This island has always aroused desires. For centuries it was not good intentions that came with the foreigners, but since vacationers have populated the sunny shores, the Cypriots are happy to be “conquered”. Income from tourism is an important source of well-being in the still divided country. The Republic of Cyprus comprises the southern part – the rest is under the Turkish flag. And there are no signs of a solution to the conflict. A United Nations buffer zone is a restricted military area and may not be entered, but there has been a kind of standstill agreement between the warring powers for years. As a result, Cyprus is largely pacified and an ideal travel destination. It is the island where, according to legend, the goddess Aphrodite emerged from the waters of the Mediterranean and where there is now an “Adonis Trail”.

On the southern shores, the so-called “Rock of Aphrodite” rises from the shallow waters of the sea. It is always the destination of young couples in summer temperatures, because those who swim around the rock tower three times are said to secure eternal love. A nice idea, and those who have managed the triple circumnavigation make a pilgrimage to the temple of Aphrodite near Kouklia, even if there are only a few ruins left. The goddess of love and beauty has enchanted entire regions of Cyprus with her charm.

A citadel protected the port of Famagusta for a considerable period of history. It is part of the historic city wall and has been called “Othello” since the British colonial era. This was and is to be understood as a bow to William Shakespeare, because the English playwright let his “Moor of Venice” wreak havoc in the harbour fortifications of Famagusta. Cyprus is full of stories and legends. This is an island where tradition and hope for a common political future mingle, and where Nicosia presents itself as the last divided capital of the world.

But the brothers, who have been estranged for a long time, have recently become closer, and the “green line”, the line between north and south, has become passable again for the people of Cyprus. Ledrastraße, which used to be the most beautiful boulevard in the city, is now the transit point for pedestrians. If you visit Nicosia , you should visit the Cyprus Museum with its archaeological finds. The old town is still surrounded by a Venetian wall, and the most beautiful panorama is from the upper floor of the observatory. The Greek part of the old town is dominated by the façade of the Archbishop’s Palace.

If you are looking for the most beautiful beaches in Cyprus, you are spoilt for choice. In the south there are extensive sandy beaches, while the bays in the north are rather rocky. Almost all areas suitable for swimming have been awarded a Blue Flag as a sign of cleanliness and service. It is said that there is a suitable bay for every type on this island.

In addition to water sports, golf is the number one holiday activity in Cyprus. Especially in the south, between Limassol and Paphos, sympathizers of this sport will find places close to the sea and among orchids and fruit trees. With good visibility, you can even see the Taurus Mountains on the Turkish mainland from here. A holiday in Cyprus is synonymous with a wealth of impressions. There is the silence of the monasteries, the humming of the cicadas in the trees, the olive groves on the slopes of the mountains, the ruins of former temples, the picturesque alleys of the wine villages in the Troodos Mountains and, last but not least, the kindness and hospitality of the people who live here.