Resort: Lower Peyia

Built on a hillside just inland from Coral Bay is the sleepy village of Peyia where local life continues pretty much unchanged and apparently oblivious to the hustle and bustle of the tourist resorts, despite being only 15 kilometres from Paphos. Here the average age of the villagers appears to be well over three score years and ten, with wrinkled, black-robed ladies chatting on street corners and their menfolk putting the world to rights over cups of muddy coffee in the pavement cafes. This is definitely the place for rest and relaxation, where lazy dats are spent around a swimming pool or exploring the quaint little stores in the narrow streets and leisurely evenings are whiled away in a local taverna. Eight kilometres away the tiny fishing harbour of Aghios Georgios is well worth a visit and boasts a small offshore island, some fascinating sea caves and a particularly tempting fish taverna.

Region: Cyprus

The Island
Perhaps as a result of their popularity with overseas visitors over the centuries, the Cypriot people have embraced tourism with open arms and today's holidaymakers would be hard put to find anything here they can't do in the way of relaxation, intellectual stimulation or entertainment. Aided and abetted by its glorious sun-soaked weather and some lovely beaches, the island really does offer something for holidaymakers of all ages, from bustling cosmopolitan resorts to tranquil fishing villages with everything in between.

The Resorts
Most of the island's best tourist resorts are along the west and north west coast, ranging from the peaceful rural town of Polis at the top of the island down to the hustle and bustle of Paphos some forty kilometres further south. Beach lovers cannot fail to be impressed by the blue-flag sands which fringe much of the island's western shores, whilst more energetic visitors will find plenty to challenge their sporting prowess, whether it be a wealth of watersports, tennis, squash and basketball courts plus a couple of rather challenging golf courses.

The History
Apart from being an increasingly popular tourist destination, Cyprus is very proud of its diverse cultural heritage and relics from every era of its history can be discovered all over the island be they Roman mosaics, Greek temples and Byzantine churches, or a myriad religious frescoes and fascinating archaeological sites. Mythology too is very much alive and well here, with many a site alleged to have been a favourite of the energetic goddess Aphrodite, whether it be the rock where she rose from the foam, or the baths where she frolicked with her lovers.

The Art
Their ancient history also influences Cypriot artists today, with many villages specialising in a particular art form, be it pottery, silver and copperware, or basket weaving, tapestry and the famous lace produced in the village of Lefkara.

The Nature
Unlike some of its Mediterranean neighbours, Cyprus has always been an island, with the result that some of its flora and fauna are unique to the island and can be found nowhere else in the world. Nature lovers are in seventh heaven here, particularly in the less touristy northern part of the island which is home to many rare species, including the moufflon, a Cypriot wild sheep, as well as griffon vultures, fruit bats and sea turtles. To the west, criss-crossed by a network of paths across a landscape which is a patchwork of barren rock and lush vegetation, the Akamas Peninsula is a conservation area rich in wildlife and still amazingly wild and unspoilt. Inland to the south, the Troodos Mountains provide more than their fair share of stunning scenery and a slightly cooler climate in which to explore the area's many monasteries, wine-making villages and pretty walking trails.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Average flight time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Language: Greek
Currency: Euros
Tourist office: Cyprus Tourism Organisation, 17 Hanover Street, London W15 1YP
Telephone: 020 7569 8800
Website: www.cyprustourism.org