Discover Limassol - 8 Days (Hotel Ajax - 4 *)

Morning after breakfast at the hotel, our guide will meet the guests at the lobby of the hotel to set off for today’s tour. Legend has it that Paphos was home of Aphrodite, goddess of beauty and love. Still under the spell of the goddess, the area retains her magic and has remained intact by time. It seduces its visitor with its majestic landscape, lovely coastline and historical treasures. Paphos itself is a leading cultural centre of the Mediterranean and the whole town is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Wherever one treads in Paphos one comes across a glorious history which dates back thousands of years, when the cult of goddess Aphrodite flourished in this beautiful part of the world attracting many visitors from inland and abroad. From Limassol, passing though the Fassouri citrus plantations, we come across the medieval Castle of Kolossi. It is a fine example of military architecture originally constructed in the 13th century during the crusades. We continue to the ancient Kingdom of Kourion, which is placed on one of the most spectacular sites in the island, with extensive archaeological ruins including well-preserved mosaics. Its Greco-Roman theatre, built in the second century BC, is famous for its vistas of the Mediterranean Sea. Fully restored, the theatre is today used for musical and theatrical performances. We continue our tour and head to the Paphos region. Our next visit will be to the Tombs of the Kings, an early Hellenistic monument dating from the 4th century BC. They are burial caves carved into the bedrock of the hill and decorated with Doric columns and capitals. Lunch will be served either at the Limanaki of Paphos with views of the fishing harbour and the medieval castle of Paphos; or at a traditional tavern. After lunch we will explore the Mosaics of the Roman period, dating from around the 3rd century AD. These are situated in four main houses: The House of Aion, House of Dionysos, House of Orpheus and House of Theseus. They include many attention-grabbing geometrical decorations and draw inspiration from Greek mythological scenes. Our next stop will be the Church of Panayia Chrysopolitissa, built in the 13th century over the ruins of the largest Early Byzantine basilica on the island. Within the compound one can see St. Paul's Pillar, where according to tradition; the saint was flogged before the Roman Governor Sergius Paulus converted to Christianity. The floor of the basilica was covered with colourful mosaics, some of which are still preserved today. On our way back to Limassol, we will make a stop at Petra tou Romiou, the legendary birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite. A spectacular beach with aweinspiring views, this golden stretch of sandy coast is where the Greek goddess of love rose from wave and foam. A short break to admire the magnificent view and take some memorable photos. Return to the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.

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Ajax Hotel - Classic Room

Morning after breakfast at the hotel, our guide will meet the guests at the lobby of the hotel to set off for today’s tour. Kykkosis the richest and most significant monastery on the island. Founded in 1100 and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it possesses one of the three surviving icons ascribed to St. Luke. Its famous ecclesiastical museum houses icons and objects from the Byzantine era. Not far from Kykkos we will take a short stroll to Throni, to visit the tomb of the late Archbishop Makarios III amidst the dense forest. Covered in dense pine and cedar forests and dotted in picturesque villages, the Troodos mountain range and Mount Olympus stand at 1,952 meters above sea level. It is a unique geological complex which dominates the central and western part of the island. Troodos is home to beautiful native wild flowers and vegetation. Our excursion takes us to Omodos village, where our guests can enjoy their lunch at a traditional local tavern. Omodos is a traditional Cypriot wine-producing village, once the property of Sir John De Brie, Prince of Galilee. The village is also renowned for its Monastery of the Holly Cross standing by the stone-paved square. The village has a long tradition in wine making. A traditional wine press known as Linos is preserved, where we will stop and sample the local wines and liqueurs, the famous Commandaria desert wine and of course Zivania. At the end, visitors can stroll around the village’s winding streets and mingle with the locals, walk around for some shopping at the various small shops selling traditional Cypriot items such as crafts, lace and local delights. Return to the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Hotel/Other Details

Ajax Hotel - Classic Room

Morning after breakfast at the hotel. Full Day at Leisure for the guests to relax and enjoy the hotel’s facilities and spa, or explore the city on their own. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Hotel/Other Details

Ajax Hotel - Classic Room

Morning after breakfast at the hotel,our guide will meet the guests at the lobby of the hotel to set off for today’s tour. Nicosia, or Lefkosia, lies roughly at the centre of the island, with a rich history that can be traced back to the Bronze Age. Today, it blends its historic past brilliantly with the bustle of a modern city. The heart of the city, enclosed by the 16th century Venetian walls, is dotted with museums, ancient churches and medieval buildings preserving the nostalgic atmosphere of years past. The famous Famagusta Gate still stands today, proudly protecting the still-ancient town within from the modern city without. From there, we will drive to the cathedral of St. John the Evangelist and its 13th and 18th century wall paintings; depicting scenes from the Bible and the discovery of the tomb of St. Barnabas in Salamis. Enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the capital of Cyprus with a visit to the prominent Archaeological museum (closed on Mondays) with its fascinating collection of Cypriot antiquities and treasures from the Neolithic age to the Early Byzantine period. After a passing the Venetian walls of the old city, we arrive at Laiki Geitonia and stroll at leisure down its stone paved streets where lunch can be served. Return to the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Hotel/Other Details

Ajax Hotel - Classic Room

Morning after breakfast at the hotel, our guide will meet the guests at the lobby of the hotel to set off for today’s tour. On our way to Larnaca, our guests can visit Choirokitia, the oldest Neolithic settlement in Cyprus. The site is one of the best-preserved prehistoric sites of the eastern Mediterranean. Our excursion takes us to the city of Larnaca, built on the ruins of Kition, as the town used to be known, which was one of the several ancient city kingdoms of the island. After a short city tour, we visit the cathedral of St. Lazarus, the first bishop of Kition, originally built in 900 AD. With three large domes and decorated with an impressive iconostasis; tradition says that the place of Lazarus' tomb was lost during the period of Arab rule beginning in 649. In 890, a tomb was found in Larnaca bearing the inscription Lazarus the friend of Christ. Emperor Leo VI of Byzantium had the Church of St. Lazarus erected over Lazarus' tomb in the late 9th century. Thereafter we continue to the Pierides private museum where over 6,000 exhibits present the 10,000-year history of the island. Lunch in a local tavern. We pass by the Tekke Mosque of Hala Sultan, an important place of pilgrimage for the island’s Muslims. Last visit will be the village of Kiti, which hosts the church of Angeloktistos with its magnificent mo saics dating to the early Christian period believed to be built by Angels. Optional and time permitting stop at Lefkara village. Return to the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Hotel/Other Details

Ajax Hotel - Classic Room

Morning breakfast at the hotel. Full Day at Leisure for the guests to relax and enjoy the hotel’s facilities, or explore the city on their own. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Hotel/Other Details

Ajax Hotel - Classic Room

Morning breakfast at the hotel. End of our services with departure transfer to the airport to board flight for your onward destination.

Hotel/Other Details

Ajax Hotel - Classic Room