There are two ways of reaching the dam; take a right turn signposted ‘Simou, Lasa & Fyti’ or just below the village of Simou there is a left turn signposted ‘Skarfos Bridge’ – follow the part concrete / part gravel road that winds down the valley and discover the remains of this lovely Venetian bridge. Built in 1618, it is 2.75m wide and 8.5m long and was built with pebbles and limestone blocks hewn from the river bed. The river has long been diverted but the road over the bridge was the main thoroughfare between Paphos and Polis in medieval times and was used for transporting copper after which Cyprus is named.

If you traverse the modern bridge downstream, bear left and approx 200m further on you will come to the ancient watermill situated above a citrus grove – another beautiful photo opportunity! Backtrack a little and look for the sign to the dam and follow the track until you see water. It is best to park and wander to really discover things. The abandoned Turkish Cypriot village of Evretou is now home to numerous goats but it still makes fascinating strolling. To circumnavigate the dam would take several hours and you would need to ensure plentiful supplies of drinking water and sun protection.

Many species of flowers & flora can be found around here including some of the more rare orchids. It is also a bird watchers paradise and recent sightings have included Storks and Bonelli’s Eagles to name a couple. If fishing is your thing, then grab a rod and a licence (obtainable from the Harbourmasters Office in Paphos or Latchi) and try your luck catching bass, zander, carp, roach, bream and catfish!

The other approach to the dam and one that gives a totally different perspective of the valley is a little further along the Polis road in the village of Skoulli. Here, there is a right hand turn signposted ‘Peristerona and Lysos’. A kilometre or so up this road and you will see the Evretou Dam signpost. Follow the road through to it’s end and you will find yourself at the dam wall. Although you can’t wander very far unless you have rugged shoes on, it is very picturesque and worth the trip, especially if you are exploring the area. Have fun and explore Evretou, valley, village and dam.

With a fleet of 14 cruise ships, the company serves destinations across the Mediterranean and North Africa, the Holy Land, Syria and the Black Sea.

The company’s home base of Cyprus is at a ‘nautical crossroads’ strategically located in the Eastern Mediterranean. Within a few hundred kilometers of the island, Europe meets North Africa and the Middle East. Cyprus undoubtedly has a great deal to offer the discerning traveller – everything from sun soaked beaches and a lively entertainment and nightlife scene – to the present day archaeological sites representing the legacy of the island’s ancient cultures and civilisations. However, Cyprus is also an ideal and convenient departure point for taking a leisurely mini-cruise to explore the mythical destination of Egypt to see the Pyramids, the Sphinx and perhaps take a trip on the River Nile. Syria and The Holy Land are also close by, awaiting pilgrim and explorer alike!

Spoilt for choice, Louis Cruise Lines also offers a variety cruises from Cyprus to the Greek Islands – where you can experience cosmopolitan and picturesque islands such as Mykonos and Santorini.

Just twenty five minutes from Paphos International Airport, the ‘old town’ area has a selection of shops, banks, bars and restaurants – extending towards the palm tree lined promenade of Kato Paphos which hugs the edge of the Mediterranean and the historic fort at the mouth of the picturesque harbour.

The attraction of the wider area is much more than this traditional tourist ‘hotspot’ – you only have to travel about 12kms west of Paphos to the Coral Bay area to discover a landscape and coastline of increasing contrasts and stark beauty.

Coral Bay, with its horse-shoe shaped sandy beach, is a delightful resort renowned for its superb sandy beaches and calm shallow waters. Away from this idyllic setting, the coastline is dotted with strange rock formations and sea caves steeped with folklore. In common with much of the Paphos region, this was once a rural and barren land which has changed dramatically during recent years.

The Sea Caves area is situated north and is only a five minute drive from the restaurants and bars of the centre of Coral Bay. It is one of the finest residential areas on the island offering some of the most exclusive villas in Cyprus but still retaining its ‘natural’ beauty and privacy. This is hardly surprising considering the breathtaking rugged coastline dotted with ancient smugglers caves and small sandy coves with crystal clear Mediterranean waters that lie close by. The name is derived from the stunning geological formations which have appeared across the centuries caused by the sea gouging out the limestone cliffs.

Just to the west of Sea Caves along the coastline is the small picture-postcard fishing harbour of St George (Agios Georgious) with its beautiful church and sand and shingle beach. This is a perfect spot for snorkeling and scuba diving or topping up your tan. Agios Georgious was formerly the important settlement of ‘Drepanum’ in Roman times. Today it has some of the best fish restaurants in the island, serving fish brought in by the local fishermen on a daily basis.

Important Roman and Christian archaeological sites also lie just inland from here including a complex of rock-cut tombs that go un-noticed by most visitors.

As the coastline of Cyprus is protected and there are no private beaches, you are free to walk along the coastline and enjoy the landscape and breathtaking views. Right on your doorstep is the Akamas Peninsula, totally unspoilt, beautiful scenery, somewhere to escape to for peace & quiet. Just off the coast is the ‘Sacred Island’ of Yerosissos which plays a great part in many photos of the spectacular sunsets!

The whole area invites exploration – and not just of the typical, tourist type trail of looking at ancient monuments and relics in museums. The history of Cyprus as an island is unapologetically linked to its maritime and Mediterranean heritage. So a good place to start the voyage of fresh discovery is the sea itself. Diving and snorkelling is the key to unlocking the adventure. If you’re not experienced, expert help is available from the professional organisers of diving and kayaking trips who operate in the area. They can guide you through the essentials to ensure both your safety as well as your enjoyment of the experience.

Starting from the shallows, you can work your way through sand dunes and channels. Ancient terracotta pots lie everywhere!

The classic Sea Caves tour is very popular. After driving a short distance to a secluded natural bay, you go through some of the ‘basics for beginners ’. This is to ensure that everybody can control their boat safely whilst having fun – so the routine is to put you through a series of ‘fun’ games and challenges to test your boat control and eagerness to get wet! The tour can then begin.

Leaving the bay, you head along the rocky coast to an area of amazing limestone erosion that has formed stacks and arches; you paddle through and it’s here that you can try your luck in the ‘Washing Machine’ a deceptive rotational current that will have you pointing every direction but forwards!

From here you paddle on to the Sea Caves – an impressive series of wet caves an average of 30 meters long – and paddle inside these to explore their physical features which give the caves their names, so you can visit ‘Jonah’, ‘Purple Haze’, ‘Standing Room Only’ and ‘The Big One’, to name a few. Note that these caves are only accessible by kayak so being part of an organised group is absolutely essential, besides which you will have them all to yourself!

The crystal blue sea and the peculiar rock formations are unique to the area – and this is truly a meeting with nature in its most raw and spectacular form. In past times some of the caves have been inhabited by Monk Seals – and some still are.

So, on a routine visit to Paphos, you can enjoy what ‘mainstream’ Cyprus has to offer the tourist – plus a whole lot more besides if you take a relatively small step off the beaten track. Simply scratch beneath the surface of modernity and let your senses touch the fabric of antiquity, preserved so dutifully by nature and protected from the ravages of human intervention by an uncompromising land and seascape.

Hestia Holidays have a superb property available for renting right in the heart of the Sea Caves Area, click on the word ‘Sea Caves’ anywhere in this article to see more details.

It is also the destination of choice for many thousands of British people who have bought their own apartment or villa on the island either as a holiday home or for permanent living. As a former British colony, Cyprus today reflects many aspects of this more recent heritage – English is widely spoken, there are dual language street names and you drive on the left hand side of the road!

Yet Cyprus and its heritage goes back into antiquity and mythology. Apart from its association with a host of invading and ruling powers across the centuries, it is also the reputed birthplace of Aphrodite, the mythical goddess of love. Aphrodite’s rock is the name assigned to a rock which juts out from the waters of the Mediterranean Sea near Paphos in the west of the country.

Although Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, it has a scattering of tiny islands off its own coastline. These in turn have their own heritage and reputation carried through to the modern day. One of these places is the small island of Yeronissos, just off the coast of Agios Georgious, near Peyia in Paphos. Only a few decades before Christ, pilgrims flocked here to worship an ancient god, probably Apollo, and enjoy banqueting. This island is also known as the ‘Sacred Island’ and today is a popular dive site for many active visitors to Cyprus.

Archaeologists from New York University under the direction of Professor Joan Breton Connelly digging on the southern coast of the island have discovered open-air kitchen and washing-up facilities facing out to the sea, while the dining rooms, equipped with sitting benches seemed to be located inland, according to a report published in 2005.

The report also said that south of a diagonal wall a hearth and many cooking pots were found, along with a washing basin at floor level, made of re-used broken amphora shards smeared with a thick baked clay lining.

Built up against and respecting the diagonal wall were found a series of substantial stone rubble walls, oriented along north/south and east/west axes, apparently representing a very slightly later phase in construction and defining a series of rooms measuring roughly 4.5 by 4.5 metre.

Two of the rooms were equipped with stone platforms that rose some 40cm above floor level. The area surrounding these platforms or benches was literally filled with pottery, lamps, and other objects.

In a nearby room two stone slabs were inscribed with the Greek monogram Eta Gamma, around which many pots were similarly deposited.

The 2005 season on Yeronissos resulted in the excavation of many cooking pots, drinking bowls and cups, jugs and lagynoi, stone pierced disks, bronze needles, a bronze fish hook and three limestone amulets.

The material recovered during previous seasons can be comfortably dated within the years 80-30 BC, but an even narrow chronology is likely and it is during the third quarter of the 1st century BC that the island enjoyed its most robust period of activity. The precise nature of activity in late Hellenistic Yeronissos is not yet fully understood, though evidence points to the worship of Apollo.

These remarkable discoveries are firm evidence that Cyprus is rooted in the very essence of ancient civilisation – and the sometimes mystical attachments our current knowledge has of where the modern island has come from in its heritage trail.

The Yeronissos Island is regularly captured and plays an important role as part of the perfect sunset enjoyed from Agios Georgious…

When it comes to the natural environment, you will certainly be spoilt for choice when searching for the true beauty of what Cyprus has to offer. Nowhere is this more so than in the Akamas area on the north western tip of the island, where nature maintains a unique but fragile beauty. Unique, as it is the last coastal region on the island to remain largely untouched by mass tourism and development. Fragile, as its beauty can be damaged by its attraction to the visitor.

A stunning sight is the Avakas Gorge – a natural sight into which light, water and colours are allowed to run free. It is nature in the raw, crying out with an impressive, wild and majestic beauty. The area is characterized by outcrops of calvaneous rocks consisting of chalks, marls and reefal limestone, which rest on a sequence of foreign geological formations referred to as the Mamonia Formation.

The gorge is blessed with rich flora consisting of pine trees, Mediterranean cypresses, plane trees, junipers, lentisk trees, oleanders, tamarisks, thorny brooms, wild fig trees, oak trees, styrax trees, virgin’s bowers, brambles, wild carob and olive trees, terebinths, fern trees and many others. You might even catch sight of wild goats or foxes! An abundance of wild flowers is also found. A significant flora of the gorge is Centauria Akamantis, which is found on its precipitous slopes. The walls of the gorge are the only place in the world where it has been found.

Perhaps the best way to see the main gorge is by entering via the coastal road, from the river bed. The full extent of the gorge – approximately three kilometres – can best be enjoyed by starting in the upper section, at the villages of Pano and Kato Arodes, from where the River Avakas springs.

The best time to see flowers – and indeed pursue most activities – is in the spring between early March and the end of April. That said, outdoor activities can be enjoyed for most of the year. It’s advisable to take lots of water with you when exploring the area during July and August – and an early morning start is recommended if you want to make the most of what the area has to offer. There is always the opportunity to re-charge your energy with a well earned siesta … or a very lazy lunch in a local tavern!

There are several nature trails on the Akamas – you can pick up a guide to them at the local Tourist Information Office in Polis. There are five hiking trails which
Meander around this wilderness refuge. Two are appropriately named “Adonis” and “Aphrodite.” Weaving along the spine of the limestone bluffs, each trail is 7.5 km and can be traversed in roughly three hours. Best advice is to plan for a day trip since camping is prohibited. Equally, there is no need to rush – life in Cyprus runs at a different pace compared to the rest of the world – or so it seems! So you will be forgiven for taking the time to feast upon the visual banquet laid out before you as you progress through the Akamas menu of delights.

For the intrepid explorer, an invigorating way of communing with nature here is a mountain bike excursion. You can hire a local guide – or if you are determined to go it alone, make sure you use a good quality bike to negotiate the rugged terrain. Whilst the highest point on the Akamas is only 350m, many of the trails have a lot of ‘up and down’ before you reach journey’s end!

The rugged beauty of the Akamas Gorge does not lie in isolation from its surrounding land and seascapes, which protect the hidden treasure of Lara Bay on the west coast of the protected Akamas Peninsula – a horse shoe shaped mixture of soft sand and rocks. Access is only with a 4×4 vehicle on unmade roads and tracks to reach this beautiful stretch of golden sand in one of the last wilderness areas of Cyprus.
This is not a beach for spending the day on – but for a truly wilderness experience, it’s hard to beat. Relax and listen to the sounds of the waves crashing against the shoreline. Set against a backdrop of the protected rugged Akamas National Park, it is remote and very peaceful – definitely a place for escapism and reflection.
Lara Bay is a breeding ground for green loggerhead turtles, which return every year at night to lay their eggs. It’s strictly controlled by the Cypriot conservation authorities, who place cages around the eggs to prevent visitors treading on them. Since these measures were taken, the survival rate of hatchlings has increased dramatically. This is one of the few places in the Mediterranean where this turtle returns to breed.
Two kinds of turtles lay their eggs on the north-west coast of Cyprus, the Chelonia Mydas and the Caretta. In the beginning of June the first turtles appear during night at the beach, slowly dig an up to 80 cm deep hole into the sand and lay between 100 and 130 eggs. Then they disappear into the sea but return three to five times during that season. After the season has finished it might take up to three years for them to return to the same breeding place.

When it was recognized that they were to be extinct, measures where taken to protect the turtles. In 1971 the Fishery Department of Cyprus declared the turtles a protected species. In the late seventies the Lara Project was founded for the protection of these animals which was financially supported by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Conservationists try to protect the nests from foxes or birds, using cages made of wire until the young turtles hatch out after 7-8 weeks and then hurry into the sea. This is the time when most of them become victims of other animals. Turtles found on other beaches of the island are brought to Lara beach. In order to increase their chances of survival, the young turtles are now kept in wire cages in the sea, until they reach a certain size – measures which increase their prospects of living.

The best time to visit is the spring and autumn – as access to the beach is restricted in the high summer months of July and August when the turtles are nesting. This is a mark of the respect for the awesome gift of nature continuing its circle of life.

The island’s very existence is rooted in ancient civilisation and mythology. Paphos is a prime example. St.Paul’s pillar within the compound of the church of Chrysopolitissa is where, by tradition, Saint Paul was flogged. A few kilometers from the main town is Aphrodite’s Rock, which juts out of the Mediterranean Sea at the spot where Aphrodite, the mythological goddess of love is said to have emerged from the sea in 1200BC.

People come from across the world to visit these locations – yet more recent events have added to the interest value of visiting Paphos. One such object – of nautical attention – can be seen whilst traveling along the main Paphos to Coral Bay Road.

On 23 March 1998, the Honduran-flagged M/V Demetrios II ran aground off Paphos Lighthouse, close to Chloraka Village, in heavy seas during a voyage from Greece to Syria with a cargo of timber.
When the accident took place, the ship had eight crew members – four Greeks, two Pakistanis and two Syrians. The crew were rescued and airlifted to the safety of Paphos by a British Military Helicopter.

At the time of the incident, reports in the English-language newspaper ‘The Cyprus Mail’ stated that seafarers certificates issued for some of the crew of the cargo ship were forged – confirmed in a report appearing in Lloyds List that the competency certificates issued for the Greek captain and the Pakistani first officer were “high-quality” Liberian fakes.
The Demetrios II was left stranded on rocks near the Paphos lighthouse, where it remains to this day – a fascinating landmark and an item of noteworthy interest!

This particular culture includes the longstanding tradition of wine-making. How often do we really think about where our bottle of wine actually comes from when we pick up the latest bargain from the supermarket or the off licence? Not very often perhaps? So why not take advantage of the opportunity to fill this gap in your knowledge and get even more satisfaction from your stay in Cyprus?

An excellent induction can be found at the Fikardos Winery which has been making quality wines since 1990. Every year, the enhancement in the style and quality of its wines attracts a greater circle of devotees. Because of its hard work and dedication to quality wine making, it is increasingly respected as one of the leading wineries in Cyprus with a growing international reputation.

The south-western slopes of the Troodos Mountains are the location for some of the finest vineyards in Cyprus. Here, long-established local grapes grow alongside famous international varieties that have been introduced successfully to the island. The combination of soil (The ‘Terroir’), location, altitude and climate provide superb opportunities for the winemaker to demonstrate skills in vinification and blending.

The Fikardos Winery is located at Mesogi village, just north of Paphos town. It is a modern state-of-the-art wine-making plant, settled in an area rich with thousands of years of wine tradition.

The origins of Cyprus’ most prolific indigenous variety of grapes – the red wine grape “Mavro” and the white “Xynisteri” – are lost in the mists of time. Other old varieties, like Opthalmo, Maratheftiko, Spourtiko and Lefkada, have blossomed under the hands of today’s winemakers. The land around the Paphos region hill-villages of Kili, Tsada, Kallepia, Polemi, Stroumbi and Letymbou abound with them.
In the past 20 years these fertile mountain slopes have seen plantings of suitable international varieties, which now produce new-style wines of distinction such as Chardonnay, Sémillon, Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Mataro “Mourvèdre”. Fikardos Winery masterfully utilises these varieties to create fresh, young, fruity wines in both varietal and blended styles, as well as wines suited to ageing.

Fikardos Winery makes a range of red, white and rosé local table wines. New French oak barrels are used for maturing some red wines and for the fermentation of Chardonnay Fume Xilogefiro.
Fikardos wines leave the winery in perfect condition, with daily deliveries by the company’s own vehicles for sale in leading supermarkets, wine stores, hotels and restaurants. The company unashamedly regards its customers as friends – and freely encourages the beginning of that friendship through visits to the winery for a tasting – or enjoying the hospitality of the Leonardo Restaurant owned by Mr Theodoros Fikardos.

For further information, visit the website: www.fikardoswines.com.cy

Kolossi Castle is a fine example of military architecture originally constructed in the 13th century and subsequently rebuilt in its present form in the middle of the 15th century. It served first as the Grand Commandery of the Knights Templar and, after the fall of Acre in 1291, for some years as the headquarters of the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.

Kolossi and its castle are directly connected with several key events in the tempestuous history of Cyprus. In 1191 Richard the Lionheart of England conquered Cyprus after it had been ruled by Isaac Commenus. Isaac Comnenus was the Byzantine Governor of Cyprus who declared himself an independent ruler of Cyprus and would not assist Richard and the Crusaders.

Elsewhere on the island St.Hilarion, Buffavento and Kantara Castles were captured by Richard the Lionheart. The Castle of Kyrenia was captured by Guy de Lusignan who imprisoned the wife and daughter of Isaac who had sent them there believing they would be safe. Kolossi Castle belonged first to the Order of the Templars and then to the Order of St. John.
Opinions differ about the building of the castle. According to one point of view the castle was build in 1210 A.D. when Kolossi was given by King Hugh I to the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. The ruins of the original castle still exist on the East, North and North-East side of the existing building.

According to another opinion the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem built the castle in 1454 A.D. The difference in these two opinions is that while they both agree that the present castle was built in 1454, the first supports the notion that this was built on the ruins of an older castle; the alternative view seems to ignore the existence of an older, pre-existing castle at the same place.

The castle today looks magnificent with its really impressive square shape. It was – and remains – very well built on the lines of a tower, similar to others seen across Europe. The castle’s military architecture offered sanctuary and security to the area. It was strong enough to resist any attacks and certainly as strong as the Kyrenia Castle, making it considered to be impregnable.

Each of its four sides are 16m long on the outside and 13.5m on the inside. The height of the castle is 21m. During the hundreds of years since the building of Kolossi Castle, the original investment in its solid and durable construction has protected this fortress from the ravages of time and the many earthquakes that occur naturally in the area.

‘Sunjet‘, the magazine of Cyprus Airways, says that this may seem an exaggerated claim until you actually spend a day at the track. With the sun shining brilliantly (which is almost every day in Cyprus), illuminating the reds, blues and greens of the jockeys’ silks as they perch precariously over the glistening hides of the tawny mares, the black two year olds and the speckled longshots, the opinion seems less overstated. The powdery brown turf and the lush green of the date palms contrast strikingly with the dusty blues of the Kyrenia mountains, providing the perfect rugged backdrop beneath a cloudless sky ‘

The Nicosia Race Club is the only organisation in Cyprus authorized to organise horse races in Cyprus and accept bets on them. All races take place at the Nicosia Racecourse in Ayios Dometios, a suburb of Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus.

Races are organised on Sundays and most Wednesdays in winter and spring and on Wednesdays and most Saturdays in the Summer and Autumn. Races are also organised on most major holidays. To check on the racing programme for the current and coming months visit www.nicosiaraceclub.com.cy. There are 10 races in each meeting.

Bets are accepted under the betting rules of the Club, up to the last second before the start of each race at the track or at one of the over 100 authorised betting agents.
All races are broadcast live by the Alpha TV-station. Probable pays are also broadcast live by the same station in the Teletext pages 701-706.

Racing in Cyprus is governed by the rules of racing of the Cyprus Turf Club, which are based on the Rules of Racing of the Jockey Club of Great Britain. The Nicosia Race Club is the owner of the Nicosia Racecourse and its buildings which underwent an extensive programme of renovation and upgrading in 1997. Recently a floodlighting system was installed to allow racing to continue into the early evening. Racing under floodlighting is a magnificent spectacle!

Visitors are welcome and special group visits in private facilities can be arranged upon telephone request.

Organised racing in Cyprus has a longer history than is generally known, some say since around 1878. At that time several government departments, such as the police, used horses extensively in their day-to-day work duties. It seemed natural that they might wish to organise competitions amongst themselves – so that is how organised racing started in Cyprus.

For a complete background on the horseracing scene in Cyprus you can visit the website www.nicosiaraceclub.com.cy

Yes, Cyprus may be known for its sun-drenched beaches and vibrant nightlife scene – but enduring memories of a holiday spent in a hotel or rented luxury villa are easily spiced with the sights, sounds – and especially the tastes – of this island paradise in the Eastern Mediterranean.

When you’re back home thousands of miles away, just the mention of that Cyprus beer savoured at almost every holiday mealtime is enough to set the taste buds on automatic pilot, sending sensations to the brain that re-kindle the thirst for more of the same. Only one beer can epitomize that Cyprus experience – KEO.

KEO is an exceptional lager type beer, brewed from the finest malt and the choicest hops, long matured, bottled fresh and unpasteurised, to retain its natural flavour, aroma and freshness. It has received due recognition of its excellence in being awarded the Gold Medal at an International Beer Competition.

The KEO Brewery was the first to be built in Cyprus. Production of KEO Beer – a Pilsner type Lager Beer – started early in 1951. The original brewery had a small production capacity of about 300,000 gallons annually. The brewery has a monthly production capacity of over 30,000 hectoliters of beer. In addition to the award winning Cyprus local beer, KEO has brewed FIVEBEER, a 5% alc. beer brand, since 2003 – and also produces a brandy, wine, juices & St. Nicholas water.

For anyone who has the faintest hint of curiosity about how this favoured – and favourite – brew is made, those thoughtful people at KEO provide daily tours and tastings to satisfy their thirst for knowledge. Simply telephone in advance to make a booking for a convenient date and time, Tel: (00357) 25 853 233.