on location: international ❖
he island nation of Cyprus is nestled between Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon and Syria in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The location helps explain the varied cultural and religious influences that have mixed here for over 10,000 years. It is the mythical birthplace of Aphrodite and Adonis and was on the missionary routes of Paul and other apostles. At various times it was governed by Greece, the Byzantines, France, Venice, the Ottomans and finally England. The Ottomans held Cyprus for 300 years and turned the churches into mosques. In 1960 the country gained its independence and in 1974 was divided after the Turkish invasion, al-
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Photos by John Kloster
john kloster
though the world only recognizes the government of the south. The lower two-thirds is ethnically Greek, and the northern area is controlled by Turkey. There’s a U.N. buffer zone along the peaceful border, and there are still two U.K. military bases. Leisure Group Travel had the chance to visit Cyprus this spring along with a small group of tour operators and travel agents who specialize in religious travel. We did not visit the Turkish-controlled area but did hit the tourism highlights of the south. We began with a flight from Athens into Larnaka, on the eastern end of the island. (City names have English, Greek and Turkish names and they’re usually not the same. For purposes of this article, we’re using the Greek name, as that’s
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CypruS Churches, monasteries and ancient ruins enchant groups touring this Mediterranean isle at the crossroads of three continents
Charming villages dot the countryside.
Kykkos Monastery, the most important in Cyprus, has a Byzantine museum.
22 August 2009
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