Cyprus
Historic Island of Cyprus
Cyprus has a long and illustrious history spanning more than 10,000 years. It has been influenced by periods of Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Venetian, Ottoman, British and most recently Greek-Turkish rule.(The name of this enchanting Mediterranean island came about because the Romans named it after copper – aes Cyprium – the metal of Cyprus).
An island of great contrasts, each town has a vibrancy of its own!
Nearby wineries on the gentle south-facing slopes of the Troodos Mountains produce some of the island’s best Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, sweet Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache, along with a sweet Cypriot speciality, Commanderia. This port-like liqueur contains twice the amount of local grapes required to produce a bottle of ordinary table wine, and is a delight not to be missed. Likewise the local fire water, Zivania, is a strong, clear spirit guaranteed to wash down the local cuisine!
Food
The old staples, moussaka, stifado, kebab and Greek salad will be much in evidence. The Meze can contain up to 30 different small dishes and can pursue a fish or meat theme. Lamb is a common dish on offer, either chops or the more traditional kleftiko. Halloumi cheese is the main dairy product distinctive to the island – it is the food which the many expatriate Cypriots living in Britain claim they miss the most. Make sure you seek out traditional Greek desserts such as baklava and cadefi if you have some room to spare!