Leisure Activities in Cyprus - Part of the Cyprus Lifestyle
Whatever your personal preference, you
will find the ideal pastime for you amongst the many leisure
activities in Cyprus. From action packed water sports
to finding out about the island's rich and turbulent history,
Aphrodite's isle has something for everyone.
Since Tsada Golf Course first
opened its doors in 1994, there has been a huge increase
in the popularity of Golf
in Cyprus. Aided by the announcement of a further
fourteen golf courses, along with the construction of a
host of other leisure facilities, airport improvements and
marinas, Cyprus is set to become one of the most popular
destinations in the Mediterranean during the next few years.
Some
leisure activities in Cyprus
Throughout the entire year, thousands of visitors
flock here from all parts of the world to enjoy the
beauty of a land that is eager to unfold its secrets
to those who like to search out ancient traditions
and civilisations. Visit the website of the Cyprus
Tourism Organisation for a taste of what's in
store for you.
If you love history:
According to legend, Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess
of Love was 'born' near Paphos. Cyprus has been part
of the Egyptian, Greek, Persian and Roman empires.
St Paul performed a number of miracles during his
visit to the island. Richard the Lionheart married
Princess Berengaria in 1191 in what is now Limassol.
There are any number of archaeological sites and
monuments to visit and explore, giving a unique understanding
into the island's past.
Cyprus has a unique cultural tapestry comprising
of pre-historic settlements, ancient Greek temples,
Byzantine churches and monasteries with outstanding
mosaics and wall paintings. There are also a number
of Crusader castles, Gothic churches and Venetian
forts adding to the overall historical blend that
makes Cyprus so special.
...or maybe you like to take in the scenery.
There are various beauty spots throughout
the island. From dramatic mountain views to breathtaking
seascapes and sunsets which are simply 'to die for',
Cyprus has it all.
An outstanding example of the sheer scenic beauty
of Cyprus is 'Petra tou Romiou, The rock of Romios',
where Aphrodite is said to have first landed on the
island. The views here are simply staggering.
For those who love hiking, there are various beautiful
nature trails, such as the trail of Artemis (7km long)
encircling Chionistra at an average height of 1850m.
The trail of Atalanta (the ancient nymph of the forests)
is 9km long, running from Troodos to the settlement
of Chromion taking 3 to 5 hours to complete. There
is also the trail of Persephone (3km long) on the
summit of Troodos. In addition the trail of the Nightingales
(2km long) starting at near the President's summer
residence and ends at the Kaledonia Waterfall near
Platres at a height of 1340m. The spectacular Gorge
of Avakas starts at Koloni and runs for 2km ending
at Toxeftra. As you walk along this gorge, you are
enclosed by sheer rock faces rising as high as 100m
in places. There is a large variety of trees, wildflowers
and rare flora, as well as wild animals and birds.
The
Great Outdoors
If you turn off the road from Paphos to Polis near the village of
Stroumbi, you will find the 'Bridge of Skarfos'. The scenery in this
part of Cyprus is beautifully lush, cedar groves becoming more abundant
as you venture further into the Troodos range.
The Larnaca salt-lakes near the international airport are split
into two by the modern road linking Larnaca and Kiti. They have a
total area of about 3.5 square kilometres and lie 2 metres below
sea level attracting many species of migratory birds especially flamingoes
and ducks whose presence lends great beauty to the idyllic environment.
Cyprus is one of only a few places on the planet, where you can
conveniently enjoy downhill skiing and swimming in the sea on the
same day without having to travel hundreds of miles. In fact, the
only two other places where this is geographically convenient are
the Lebanon and Iran.
A little food & wine?
Whether its a traditional Moussaka or something a little less well
known, Cypriot food will amaze you.
Thanks to the island's sun kissed slopes, Cypriot wine is a delightful
drink and quite possibly amongst the most under-rated wines on the
planet. In this unspoiled Country, flavours seem somehow more intense.
There are various cultural events taking place on Cyprus
all year round, including many church festivals and feast-days. Cypriots
generally lose no opportunity to display their sociability and their
love of life & entertainment.
One of the major celebrations is the wine festival taking place
in Limassol every September with free wine being served.
Every town has its own flower festival, generally celebrated in May.
Carnival is also celebrated in Limassol and Paphos with parades of
people dancing in costumes.
The Bressiasti, pictured to the right, is a perfect
example of a traditional Cypriot dress.
All in all, the island's slow, easy-going sociable pace of life
has much to recommend it to the visitor or prospective property buyer.
In fact, our company directors started out as tourists. They loved
it so much, they bought property for themselves and are now living
in Cyprus. However, the indifferent and inadequate service encountered
from many property agents led them to expanding the company's interests
into the Cypriot Property market offering a comprehensive and superior
service.
Yes ladies; there are plenty of opportunities
for you to spend your money, with many internationally known stores,
such as Next, Top Shop, Dorothy Perkins, Mothercare, Woolworths, Marks
& Spencers, just to name a few, all present throughout Cyprus.
Additionally, to keep the kids happy, you have Mc Donalds, KFC, Pizza
Hut and all the rest of the world famous 'Health Food' restaurants
(but obviously, you should really try one of the many tavernas with
their traditional Mezes of up to 45 courses!).
Though they are not leisure activities
in Cyprus, these links may be helpful
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Additionally to buying property
in Cyprus, you may want to speculate on the Cyprus
Stock Exchange. But as the old saying goes:
" Put your money in bricks and mortar."
The Cyprus
Automobile Association (CAA) is a non-profit
organization and is governed by an elected council.
It was established in 1933 with the aim of offering
assistance to the private motorist, in Cyprus as
well as when traveling abroad, and to promote the
interests of car owners in general.
The University
of Cyprus is firmly on its way towards becoming
an innovative, pioneering and effective institution,
with a European orientation and high standards of
excellence, acting as a catalyst of change and progress
of Cypriot society.
The British
High Commission, Nicosia website provides a
wide range of information for British citizens wishing
to travel to; or purchase property in Cyprus.
The current Cyprus
property sales boom is fuelled to a
certain degree by the British, who are enamoured not only
with the weather in Cyprus, but also the many leisure activities
available in the Republic.
The facts that Cypriots drive on the left hand side,
just like we do back at home and that the vast majority
of natives speak English also help to bolster the island's
lasting popularity with property buyers from the UK.
This has resulted in steady price rises for Cyprus real
estate during the past few years, although prices are
still well below those of Spanish properties for example.
The History of Cyprus
The contemporary history
of Cyprus has been heavily influenced
by the British, who took control of the island in 1878. which
has meant
As a result, the Cyprus legal system has followed the basic
principles of its British counterpart.
All street and road signs are also displayed in English as
well as Greek.
The Weather in Cyprus
The weather in Cyprus is considered fantastic by the
British, who are not used to the 326 days of glorious sunshine
which Cyprus enjoys each year. This beautiful weather means
that there is plenty of time to enjoy the multitude of leisure
activities in Cyprus, from snow ski-ing in the morning in
the Troodos Mountains to swimming in the Mediterranean Sea
in the afternoon of the same day.
It's also worth mentioning that the majority of beaches in
Cyprus carry the prestigious Blue Flag award.
Larnaca Golf & Country Club
A few miles south of Larnaca town and the international airport
you will find the small village of Tersefanou.
At first glance, this is just another sleepy Cypriot village.
On closer examination however
you will find it to be the home of the new Larnaca
Golf and Country Club, the first championship standard golf course
in the east of Cyprus.
Scheduled for completion in 2009, this new country club will
not only feature the usual accoutrements, such as a golf
academy, onsite professional instructors, driving range and
practice greens; here you will also find a fully-fledged
retail village, 5 star hotel, fitness centre, bars, restaurants
and much more.
The Towns of Cyprus
Once you leave the major towns
of Cyprus behind you and venture
along the coast or into the island's interior, you will find a
host of small, traditional communities.
In some cases, the effect can almost be described as stepping
into a bygone age, as life in these
villages seems to have remained unchanged by the march of
technology.
Disclaimer. The prices quoted on the properties featured
in this website are displayed as guidelines only. They constitute
neither an offer nor contract, nor part of same. E&OE
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