The chapel of Agios Georgios Arperas is situated about 2km from Larnaka (Larnaca) in the village of Tersefanou, where the Medieval village of Arpera once stood.

The chapel was built by the Dragoman Christofakis Konstantinou in 1745 and has a fresco depicting himself and his family as founders, as well as many icons signed by the painter Ioannikios. The family painting is believed to show the Dragoman offering the church to Saint George as thanks for the successful completion of the difficult project of Larnaka’s aqueduct ‘Kamares’, of which he was in charge of.

The office of Dragoman was introduced in Cyprus at the start of the Ottoman Rule and was abolishedduring the Greek Revolution against the Ottoman Empire in 1821. Dragomans acted as liaisons between the Pasha (high ranking military official) and the local people. They were the most important political figures after the Pasha.

Agios Antonios Church is located 9km west of Larnaka (Larnaca) in the village of Kelia, and is one of the most important Byzantine churches of Cyprus, possibly dating back to the 9th century.

The building is a three-aisled vaulted basilica which once had a dome, and the church contains significant wall paintings from the 9th, 11th and 13th centuries.

This 11th century Byzantine church of Angeloktisti (which means ‘built by angels’ in Greek) was erected over the ruins of an Early Christian basilica of the 5th century.

The original apse of the basilica has survived along with one of the finest pieces of Byzantine art on the island – a rare 6th century mosaic of the Virgin Mary and Child between the two archangels Michael and Gabriel, which rivals the mosaics of Ravenna-Italy. Such mosaics from this period have only been discovered in Cyprus and Mount Sinai.

After the 11th century, additions were made. The Franks added a new facade and bell tower. The sanctuary houses a very old and unique icon of the 10th century, that depicts the Virgin Mary, Saint Lazarus and the Evangelist Loukas. According to legend, the three were family friends and all met in Kition during the island’s first difficult Christian years.

The archaeological site of Choirokoitia is a remarkably well-preserved settlement from the Neolithic Age that has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.

Remains from all phases of the Neolithic Age are evident in the settlement, and provide an insight of living conditions in the region during prehistoric times, as well as how the Neolithic culture was spread throughout the region.

Five characteristic cylindrical shaped dwellings have been reconstructed near the settlement, using the same construction methods and materials used in Neolithic times. The dwellings are fitted with replicas of household objects found inside the original dwellings, thus providing a vivid representation of how they actually were in the past. The vegetation around the dwellings consists of native plants and trees that have grown in Cyprus since Neolithic times.

Choirokoitia Neolithic Settlement – Audio Guide 

Perched on a rocky peak, 750 metres above sea level, legend tells that Stavrovouni Monastery was founded in the 4th century by St. Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, who left a relic of the Holy Cross at the monastery.

The monks have strict rules akin to those at Mount Athos in Greece. Women are not permitted to enter the monastery, nor is the use of camera or video permitted. Men visiting must be appropriately dressed.

In contrast, the monastery of Agia Varvara on the foothills of Stavrovouni is accessible to all visitors, and the monks here are known for their iconography skills.

An impressive annual ceremony and festival is held at Stavrovouni Monastery on September 14 to mark the day of the Raising of the Holy Cross.