Travel through the fertile foothills where most of the country's vineyards and the orchards of the Phassouri citrus groves are found and past Kolossi Castle, a well-preserved stronghold standing three stories tall. You’ll arrive at the ancient ruins of the city of Kourion, an impressive Greco-Roman site where you can view remaining pavement mosaics.

Nearby is the Greco-Roman theater built in the 2nd century BC. Still used today for many performances, including ancient dramas, perched high on a cliff, this beautiful and unspoiled location offers spectacular views of the ruins and the sapphire sea below. A short distance away, you’ll find the Temple of Apollo with its stunning Cypro-Corinthian columns. The sanctuary is the largest and one of the most important religious centers on the island.

Leaving the Kourion area, you'll proceed to what is considered by many to be the most beautiful and picturesque of the old villages in Cyprus, Omodos Village, which is still preserved in its original state. Here explore the monastery of the Holy Cross with its wood carvings and old icons and see the restored wine press Lino. Visit some of the local homes, experiencing the history associated with them. Enjoy some free time to wander down the narrow streets and visit the quaint local shops, famous for their vitraux and hand-made pieces of traditional stained glass.

Nicosia, the largest town in Cyprus and capital since the 11th Century AD, has the distinction of being the last divided capital city in the world after the fall of the Berlin Wall. This remarkable city which is encircled by the old city walls, has managed to successfully blend its bustling modern day business and cultural centers with its historic heart while retaining its charming character.

Visit the Neolithic settlement of Choirokoitia, dating back to the 7th and 4th millennium BC. This very unique and well-preserved site consists of a cluster of dwellings situated on the slope of a hill overlooking the Maroni river valley and is considered one of the most important prehistoric sites of the eastern Mediterranean, the site is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. Continue on to the Cathedral of St. John, built in 1662 by the Archbishop Nikiforos. View the 18th century frescoes that embellish the walls with colorful biblical scenes.

Drive by the Green Line checkpoint at Ledra Street where you’ll view the Turkish side, which occupied half of Nicosia and the northern territory of Cyprus. The tour proceeds through the impressive Venetian Walls into the old city via the Paphos Gate. Enjoy some free time in the restored 19th century neighborhood called Laiki Yitonia. The quaint, narrow pedestrian streets in this neighborhood are lined with traditional houses, craft shops, taverns and galleries, making for a delightful stroll or souvenir shopping.

Nicosia, the largest town in Cyprus and capital since the 11th Century AD, has the distinction of being the last divided capital city in the world after the fall of the Berlin Wall. This remarkable city which is encircled by the old city walls, has managed to successfully blend its bustling modern day business and cultural centers with its historic heart while retaining its charming character.

Stop at the Cathedral of St. John, built in 1662 by the Archbishop Nikiforos and see the 18th century frescoes that embellish the walls with colorful biblical scenes. Leaving the cathedral, continue on to the Cyprus Archaeological Museum, where the most significant collection of Cypriot antiquities is housed. Perhaps the most famous exhibit is the statue of Aphrodite from Soli - now the symbol of Cyprus.

Drive by the Green Line checkpoint at Ledra Street where you’ll view the Turkish side, which occupied half of Nicosia and the northern territory of Cyprus. The tour proceeds through the impressive Venetian Walls into the old city via the Paphos Gate. Enjoy some free time in the restored 19th century neighborhood called Laiki Yitonia. The quaint, narrow pedestrian streets in this neighborhood are lined with traditional houses, craft shops, taverns and galleries, making for a delightful stroll or souvenir shopping.

Delve into a world of ancient history with this primarily panoramic tour that makes photo stops at some of the sacred sites in the jasmine-scented Cypriot countryside.

Delve into a world of ancient history with this primarily panoramic tour that makes photo stops at some of the sacred sites in the jasmine-scented Cypriot countryside. You’ll arrive at Petra tou Romiou for a photo stop, legend tells us it was here that the goddess of Cyprus, Aphrodite, was born from the foam of the sea and carried by the sea's waves to the coast of Cyprus.

You’ll continue on a drive through a landscape of citrus groves and vineyards to several other significant sites from antiquity. There's the Apollo Hylates, known as the Sanctuary of Apollo of the Woodlands, which was severely damaged in a 3rd-century earthquake. Its enormous Roman columns make for an impressive picture.

Other ruins await you at nearby Kourion, an archaeological site famed for its 2nd-century Greco-Roman theater. Fully restored, it looks over the Mediterranean and provides an inspirational setting for modern-day musical and theatrical performances. Following this photo stop, you’ll return to Limassol, stopping briefly at Kolossi Castle, a medieval fortress once occupied by the Kings Templar before returning to your ship.

This tour brings you to the scenic seaside town of Paphos, a small harbor town and popular holiday resort, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll arrive at Petra tou Romiou, where legend tells us it was here that the goddess of Cyprus, Aphrodite, was born from the foam of the sea and carried by the sea's waves to the coast of Cyprus.

In the small harbor and popular holiday resort of Paphos, a UNESCO World Heritage listed site, you’ll discover colorful Dionysos mosaics renowned throughout the Mediterranean, picturesque churches, medieval monasteries, museums, countless antiquities and a charming harbor guarded by a small castle.

While in Paphos, visit the House of Dionysos, famous for the mosaics unearthed during the excavation of a Roman nobleman's villa from the 3rd century AD, and mosaic floors showing Roman legends and characters mostly representing scenes from Greek mythology. The mosaics here are considered to be the finest mosaics in all the Mediterranean. Enjoy free time in the Limanaki area where you’ll find a wide array of international merchandise, or simply relax and enjoy the town's vibrant atmosphere.

Travel through the fertile foothills where most of the country's vineyards and the orchards of the Phassouri citrus groves are. You’ll arrive at the ancient ruins of the city of Kourion, an impressive Greco-Roman site where you can see remaining pavement mosaics. Nearby is the Greco-Roman theater built in the 2nd century BC. Still used today for many performances, including ancient dramas, perched high on a cliff, this beautiful and unspoiled location offers spectacular views of the ruins and the sapphire sea below.

You’ll visit the Kolossi Castle, a well-preserved stronghold standing three stories tall that was built by the Crusaders in the 13th century. Your guide will share with you how the castle served as both the Grand Commander of the Knights of St. John's Order of Jerusalem, as well as the Knights Templar.

Arriving back in Limassol, enjoy free time for shopping before returning to the pier. The wide array of shops that line the streets carry a variety of both international and local merchandise including jewelry, leather goods, clothing and local artifacts.

View astonishing remnants of antiquity in the seaside town of Paphos and at the ancient ruins of Kourion, enjoying a typical Cypriot lunch in Pissouri Village. Glide through vineyards and the Phasouri citrus groves to stirring Petra tou Romiou, symbol of Paphos and the legendary site where Aphrodite, ancient Greek goddess of Beauty and Love, was birthed from the foamy waves. You’ll discover that modern-day Paphos is a quaint resort town, but in Hellenistic and Roman times, it was the grand capital of Cyprus. Moving from the picturesque fortress guarding the harbor to the enchanting mosaics in the 3rd-century House of Dionysos, you’ll quickly learn why this is a revered UNESCO World Heritage site. Savor free time to shop or explore picture-perfect Paphos before a lovely lunch of Cypriot specialties near the ancient city of Kourion, blanketed with intricate mosaics, which also boasts a superb Greco-Roman theater built in the 2nd century BC, still in use today. You’ll appreciate the spectacular views of the ruins and sapphire seas from the theater’s cliff-top location, an ideal vantage point from which to contemplate Cyprus’ vital role in the classical age.

Explore the lifestyles in the two vastly different sides of Nicosia by crossing the demilitarized zone that separates the Greek side from the Turkish side. Your immersion into local life will begin in Laiki Geitonia, a traditional Greek Cypriot neighborhood in the south. Many of the sandstone buildings date to the 18th century and have been beautifully restored. Then, after stopping for coffee and a sweet known as bougaza, you will walk to the Green Line, the long United Nations Buffer Zone that has divided the entire island since 1974. On the Turkish side of the line, you explore Buyuk Han, a Ottoman-designed 16th-century caravansary that has been restored for merchants to sell their wares once again. This snapshot of local life, along with watching whirling dervishes, will show you that some aspects of Nicosia have changed little. To further understand the divisions within Nicosia, you will converse with two local journalists—one a Greek Cypriot, the other a Turkish Cypriot.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Experience life on both sides of Nicosia, Europe’s only divided capital.
• Explore a Greek Cypriot neighborhood with restored 18th-century buildings.
• Cross the Green Line that separates Nicosia and enter the Turkish side.
• See whirling dervishes and speak to two journalists—one Greek, the other Turkish.

Gain an appreciation for some of Cyprus’ crafts and foods by visiting a traditional baker, beekeeper and basket weaver. Your first stop will be the village of Larnaca, where you will stop at the Byzantine church Agios Lazaros and at a bakery for a snack of koupes, a traditional street food stuffed with minced meat and spices. Cyprus is known for its extraordinary honey, which you will hear about from a beekeeper in the rustic village Valva. You will also taste the honey, which may reflect a bouquet of flora such as thyme, eucalyptus and orange blossom. Once you arrive in the village of Choirokotia, artisan Petros Nicolaou will demonstrate the art of basket-weaving, a trade he learned from his grandparents. It takes about three hours to make a single basket from water reeds, and it is a fascinating process. While observing Nicolaou’s artistry, you will sample local delicacies that include halloumi cheese made in a basket.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Stop in a historical village to snack on a traditional street food known as koupes.
• Sample honey that reflects the flavors of the local flora in another village.
• Watch a basket weaver demonstrate his prodigious talents as you snack on local cheese.

OVERVIEW

Visit three 21st-century projects that have reshaped the skyline of Limassol and the city’s vision for the future. Even from far away, you can recognize the Oval. It is not only the tallest office building in Cypress but also features an eye-catching double-curved shell clad with nearly 10,000 aluminum panels that gleam in the sunlight. One Limassol is just as dazzling as it is the tallest residential seafront tower in Europe and like the Oval engineered to be environmentally friendly. The Trilogy Seafront Limassol – a collection of three luxury towers – stands nearby. As you will discover, their design is extraordinarily innovative to withstand wind, vibrations between floors and even earthquakes. The way these new icons have changed the face of Limassol will be even more apparent after visiting Limassol Castle’s surroundings, a medieval-style fortification in the heart of the city’s historical district. Free time for dining on your own in Limassol Agora rounds out the experience.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Behold three ultra-modern building projects that have transformed Limassol’s waterfront.
• Gain an understanding of the projects’ innovative designs and construction challenges.
• Visit the 16th-century Limassol Castle for a historical perspective of the city’s architecture.
• Explore Limassol Agora, a repurposed and redesigned historical building, on your own

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Discover the lesser-known side of Limassol at attractions that will take on new meaning once you hear the stories behind them. You will first follow a local guide to Heroes Square, a former red light district that has been dramatically transformed with the addition of trendy cafés, street art and shops. The revitalization of the entire area is inspiring, especially since it has renewed interest in historical sites nearby such as Panagia Kathoki Church and the Agia Napa Cathedral. Despite public protests, the latter was constructed after the Ottoman rule ended in Cyprus. The origin of the name Agia Napa is also somewhat controversial as there are differing opinions of what it refers to. Browsing the exteriors of Lanitis House can shed light on Limassol’s history and architecture in the 19th century. Built as a consulate for foreign countries, it features a neo-baroque façade.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit attractions known mostly to locals and hear their fascinating backstories.
• Learn how Heroes Square has been transformed and revitalized the neighborhood.
• Gain an insight into the religious architecture of Limassol at a church and a cathedral.
• Browse the neo-baroque façade and surroundings of Lanitis House, a building that is an architectural work of art.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Recognize how Limassol’s architecture has evolved through the centuries by visiting the exteriors of landmarks that were built during different time periods. Although Limassol Castle was originally medieval, the Ottoman-built version that stands today dates to the late 16th century but still lends great insight into ancient fortifications. As you meander narrow Agiou Andreou – the city’s oldest and longest commercial street – you will come upon many neoclassical buildings from the 18th and early 19th centuries. Nearby Agia Napa Cathedral was constructed a bit later over the ruins of a Byzantine church. The urban landscape will turn dramatically modern along the waterfront, where you will find the Oval, One Limassol and the Trilogy Limassol Seafront, three bold projects that have come to symbolize the city’s vision for the future. Free time follows at Limassol Marina, another innovative venture that besides accommodating yachts has become a hub for shopping and dining.

HIGHLIGHTS

• View the exterior of landmarks with a guide that will describe their designs and historical significance.
• See an array of buildings constructed between the 16th and 20th centuries.
• Behold three ultra-modern building projects that have transformed Limassol’s waterfront.
• Spend free time shopping, dining or whatever you please at Limassol Marina.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.