Discovering Cyprus' Rich Historical Past

Situated in the Mediterranean Sea to the South of Turkey, lies the beautiful island of Cyprus. Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, overshadowed by Sicily and Sardinia, but while it may be smaller than these two popular destinations, it matches them on both beauty and attractions to enjoy while on holiday.

Cyprus has so much to offer visitors, from beautiful beaches to modern tourist amenities. One of the most overlooked attractions Cyprus has to offer however is the rich cultural history that is visible on every corner of the island.

As the capital of Cyprus, Lanarca is the most visited and most touristic town on the island. Although it caters annually for a large number of tourists, Lanarca has managed to avoid the overdevelopment that often goes with tourism, instead retaining the quaint traditional beauty that makes it such a popular destination to visit.

Although Lanarca has a number of attractions to entice tourists, one of the most popular to visit, particularly for those with an interest in history - is the ruins of ancient Kition. The ruins date back to the 13th century bc and once made up five temples including the famous Phoenician Temple of Astarte.

Back in the town of Lanarca, another historical destination which proves extremely popular with tourists is the Church of Ayios Lazaros. According to local history and indeed belief across most of the island, the church was founded by Lazarus, a man who was raised back to life in the bible.

Regardless of whether or not Lazarus did live here - a topic that ensures a lively debate from locals - a trip to the ancient church is well worth it, if not for faith but to see the remains of a 2,000 year old piece of history.

Further away from Lanarca in the region of Nicosia, the Cyprus Archaeological Museum provides an interesting afternoon of exploring some of the fascinating history that makes Cyprus so popular. The inexpensive museum offers the opportunity to see a number of artefacts taken from across the island, with rare finds dating back to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods and some more than 8,000 years old.

One of the most unique features of the museum - and indeed Cyprus - is the visible graves which lie in the cellar of the museum. Skeletal remains and any artefacts have been completely restored providing the visitor with a spooky, unforgettable insight into Cyprus' past.

Regardless of the type of holiday you're visiting the island for, from a luxury beach holiday in a 5 star hotel in Cyprus to a more economical holiday at a city bed and breakfast, Cyprus' rich history and colourful past will be sure to attract you, drawing you in to discover the best of what the island has to offer.
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Victoria Cochrane writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.