Registration information update, June 14, 2001:
Sightseeing Excursions
Enjoy a tour in Nicosia, the island’s capital since the 12th century AD, where the Archaeological Museum that houses a most valuable and important collection of Cypriot antiquities from the Neolithic period (5800 BC) to the R oman period (300 AD) will be visited. Then, driving along the Venetian Walls that encircle the city, you will see the Archbishop’s Palace and visit the Byzantine Icons museum. Next to the Palace is the 17th century Cathedral of St. John that will also be visited to admire the frescoes that decorate the church. Enjoy a stroll down historic Ledra Street, lined with boutiques, cafes and ice cream shops.
Drive through the red soil villages to Ayia Napa village via the Protaras windmills area after a short stop to gaze at the ghost town of Famagusta. Ayia Napa was once a small fishing village that has today turned into a
highly popular holiday resort. The village boasts a superb Venetian decorated Monastery with a central octagonal fountain.
Continue to Larnaca, where one finds remains of the ancient city - kingdom of Kition. The Mycenean Greeks fortified the town with cyclopean walls in the 12 century BC while the Phoenicians founded a powerful kingdom in the 9th century BC. Kition is the birthplace of the philosopher Zenon, founder of the Stoic School, and it is here that St.Lazarus came to live after his resurrection.
Lunch will be offered in the area.
After lunch visit the Halal Sultan Tekke by the Salt Lake, an important place of Muslim pilgrimage ranking immediately after the Shrines of Mecca and Medina. The next stop will be Angeloktisti Church in Kiti village. This 11th century Byzantine Church was erected over the ruins of am early Christian basilica. The original apse survived together with one of the finest pieces of Byzantine art, a rare 6th century mosaic of the Virgin mary and Child between the two Archangels, which rivals the Ravenna Mosa ics.
After breakfast, the guests will embark on coaches with qualified English speaking guides and will ride to the historical and cultural City of Paphos, which was the capital of Cyprus during the Roman period from 58 BC to 330 AD.
The drive will take you through the evergreen PHASOURI plantations to the ancient Greco-Roman City kingdom of Curium where you will see the Amphitheatre, which is used to the present day for staging classical performances and concerts, the Achilles Mosaics and the largest Basilica (5th century BC).
Continue the drive towards Paphos with a short stop for pictures and to admire the view at Aphrodite’s birthplace. At Paphos, visit the picturesque small port with its colorful small fishing boats and a Medieval Castle in its southern p art. Then visit the Roman Villa of Dionyssos and admire the exquisite, perfectly preserved mosaics that lay on its floor; each one depicts a story. Their artistic value places them among the finest in the world.
On the way back to Limassol have a short stop at Yeroskipou, Aphrodite’s Holy Garden, to visit the five domed church of Ayia Paraskevi, built in the 11th Century AD.
Enjoy a cultural evening with a Folkloric show and dinner. Participants will enjoy a folkloric show of Cyprus and Greek dances which they may join in and eventually have the opportunity to dance to familiar music and songs. The dinner w ill consist of a Cyprus meze--a wide variety of delicious local dishes, including salads, appetizers, dips, barbecue, stuffed vine leaves, mousaka and lots more. A drinks package of ½ bottle of selected local wine, ½ bottle of water and a coffee per perso n will be served with the dinner. The wide selection of dishes will cater to vegetarians and in general satisfy all tastes.
Experience the Asinou Byzantine Church with frescoes of the 12th century, Kakopetria village, Mount Olympus (1952m above sea level). Then continue to the Kykko Monastery, founded in 1080 AD, where a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary is kept and is believed to have been painted by the Apostle Luke.
Enjoy lunch at the mountain village of Pedoulas.
Nicosia Conference * OSEAS-Europe Conferences * OSEAS-Europe home page