Two tours are offered - a full day tour on Wednesday 25 September, and a half day tour on Saturday 28 September.
You can find more Information about each tour in the tabs below. Optional tours can be booked during registration.
Full Day Tour to Kourion - Apollon Hylates - Amathounda
Approximate Starting time: 09:00hrs / Finishing time: 16:30hrs
‘This tour to Ancient City of Kourion, Apollo Hylates Sanctuary and Amathus Archaeological Site, takes us on a historical, visual and a mythical journey.’
The tour begins with the Ancient City of Kourion. Located on the outskirts of Limassol, Kourion is considered to be one of the most important Archaeological sites all over Cyprus, as it was one of the 11 cities that were established by the surviving Myceneans from Argos Peloponnesus, that found refuge in Cyprus around the 12th BCE. Today, amongst other excavation, Kourion holds the 4th Century AD House of Efstolios – an estate that has extraordinary Proto-Christian mosaics, along with the Roman-styled baths where the ancient floor heating system is still visible to this day.
Furthermore, during the Kourion tour, the group will have an opportunity sightseeing the Ancient Greek Theatre that was constructed at the end of the 2nd BCE, during the Ptolemy rule over the island and it’s still in use, where every summer the Department of Antiquity in association with the Cypriot Theatrical Organization organizes ancient Greek tragedy and comedy theatrical plays. After the city of Kourion, the tour will continue to the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates.
Apollon Hylates, God of the woodland, was the protector of Kourion and it is believed that he was worshipped at the site from the 8th BCE up until the 4th AD. His Sanctuary was an important religious center and underwent many extensions and alterations in different periods. During the Roman period the site was extended with the additional buildings that were used for the display of votives and the accommodation for the worshippers. The majority of the monuments as they can be seen today, belong to the 1st AD roman restorations, and these restorations consist of Apollo’s Temple, Pilgrim Halls, the ‘Palaistra’ – a place where the athletes exercised and played games in honor of the entity, a Bath complex and a Holy Precinct.
Lastly, on our way back to the hotel, we will visit the Archaeological Site of Amathus Ancient City. Amathus is one of the significant ancient city-kingdoms of Cyprus where, according to mythology, Greek hero Theseus left the pregnant Ariadne to be attended by local women. It was also an important site of worship of the Goddess Aphrodite-Astarte. There are various, rich archaeological finds at the site, including the Agora, the public baths, the Temple of Aphrodite, early Christian basilicas and several tombs. Return back to the Hotel.
Tour Price per Person: 50.00 Euros
Tour Package Price Includes
- Transfers with a 55-seater bus from the Hotel according to the above itinerary.
- Entrance Fees to the places of visit (Kourion, Apollo Hylates & Amathus Site).
- Licensed English-speaking tour guide.
Half Day Tour to Choirokitia - Lefkara
Approximate Starting time: 14:00hrs / Finishing time: 18:30hrs
‘A tour though time and culture: explore the island’s Historical and Cultural heritage.’
The Journey starts to the place where the civilization of Cyprus began – Choirokitia, where the oldest settlement that dates back from the Neolithic Age is located. The archaeological site of Choirokitia 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. After the archaeological site, the tour will continue to Lefkara Region.
What makes Lefkara famous though is their Cypriot lace embroidery known as “Lefkaritiko”. The tradition of Lefkaritiko embroidery began during the Venetian period (15th-18th century). During this period, Lefkara was a popular summer holiday resort for the Venetian ladies who taught the women of the village embroidery. Over the years, the women of the village enhanced the lace designs by incorporating local characteristics inspired by nature. Legend has it that the famous painter, Leonardo da Vinci, himself visited the village of Lefkara in 1481 (during the reign of Katherine Cornaro, queen of Cyprus). He was so impressed by the Lefkara laces that he bought a lace altar cloth, which he donated to the Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milan). On 19 October 1986, the Mayor of Lefkara presented the Milan Cathedral, in honor of the 600th anniversary of its foundation, a new altar cloth on which three lace makers from Lefkara village had worked full-time for six months. After Lefkara depart to the hotel.
Tour Price per Person: 55.00 Euros
Tour Package Price Includes
- Transfers with a 55-seater bus from the Hotel according to the above itinerary.
- Entrance Fees to the places of visit (Choirokitia & Wine Tasting).
- Licensed English-speaking tour guide.
