Cyprus has been at the crossroads of civilizations for millennia and is among the most diverse and fascinating places in the Mediterranean Sea. Located on the edge of Europe, the island has been influenced by traditions, religions, and cultures from three different continents.

Due to its complicated recent history, the country is divided into two parts, that are inherently different yet surprisingly similar. For the traveler, Cyprus offers an abundance of ancient sites, spectacular natural scenery, vibrant cities, tasty food, and friendly, welcoming people.

In this travel documentary, I’m traversing Cyprus, visiting some of the most beautiful and interesting places, in both the Southern and Northern part. The video was made in November 2022, when I had the chance to travel around Cyprus for 2 weeks.

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Copyright of all footage: Hoffer Media

Here’s a brief overview of the content in this video:

We start this journey in Nicosia, the vibrant capital city of Cyprus, also known as the ‘last divided capital in the world’, symbolizing the island’s complicated political situation. We explore both the South and North, and witness some of the contrasts and similarities. While the narrow streets of the old city offer some incredible historic monuments, we also visit some newer parts of Nicosia.

After renting a car, we drive through the Troodos mountains, a spectacular region with picturesque villages, rugged mountain landscape, and hidden monasteries that contain colorful frescoes. Some of the highlights include Mount Olympus, Agros and Kykkos Monastery.

Our next destination is Paphos, a friendly tourist center that boasts the mesmerizing ‘Pafos Archaeological Site’. Following the coastline, we briefly stop at Aphrodite’s Rock (or Petra tou Romio), a mythical landmark surrounded by pretty beaches.

We visit the ancient city-state of Kourion with its striking location on the Mediterranean, before catching a break on the coastal promenade of Limassol (or Lemesos), a cosmopolitan city and important business and entertainment hub.

Driving back inland, we come across one of the oldest and best-preserved pre-historic sites in the region, Choirokoitia, before arriving in Lefkara. Surrounded by steep valleys, this photogenic village is famous for its historic embroidery, lace, and silverware production. Although the industry has diminished over the years, you can still witness artisans at work in the narrow cobble-stone alleys.

Larnaca is a laidback city and gateway to the island, providing a good introduction to Cypriot daily life and culture. It’s our last stop before arriving in Cape Greco peninsula and national park, the Easternmost point in the European Union. It’s a beautiful place with rugged scenery, full of walking trails.

We return to the North of Cyprus, visiting the intriguing walled city of Famagusta. The historic center provides a great insight into this former stronghold, with narrow alleyways, crumbling churches, and the massive Lala Mustafa Mosque. Just outside central Famagusta is Varosha, where we are tragically reminded of Cyprus’ complex political situation. This abandoned neighborhood used to be a thriving beach resort but has now turned into a ghost town.

Traveling further North, we visit Bellapais, with its imposing Abbey, and arrive in Kyrenia, the most visited city in Northern Cyprus, partly due to its connection with Turkey. The skyline is dominated by the massive castle, but the city also offers a pretty old town and lively harbor with restaurants and cafes.

Not far from Kyrenia is our final destination, St Hilarion Castle. Built on a craggy mountainside, it’s a captivating place to explore, with crumbling towers, tunnels, hidden courtyards, and sweeping vistas of the surrounding landscape.

Timestamps / video chapters:

0:00 Introduction
2:21 Nicosia
11:36 Troodos Mountains
17:22 Paphos
20:31 Aphrodite’s Rock
21:09 Kourion
22:27 Limassol (Lemesos)
24:15 Choirokoitia
25:28 Lefkara
28:11 Larnaca
30:31 Cape Greco
31:30 Famagusta
35:17 Varosha
38:52 Bellapais
40:21 Kyrenia
43:34 St Hilarion Castle
45:18 End