Lace: The famous ‘Lefkaritika’ embroidered linens are handmade lace pieces produced in the mountainous Larnaka (Larnaca) village of Lefkara since Venetian times. The linens are made in a very specific way in a process that is both intricate and time-consuming, making them highly prized. You can purchase the highly decorative tablecloths, curtains, placemats and dresser mats at local shops, or they can be made to order for something truly unique. Only lace made in the traditional way is considered to be authentic and is included on the UNESCO Intangible World Heritage List. Legend has it that the famous painter, Leonardo da Vinci himself visited the village in 1481 and bought a lace altar cloth, which he donated to Milan cathedral.

Another form of lace embroidery – that of narrow knit lace – is also practised in many traditional villages, and makes a lovely souvenir to take back home, or as a gift.

Woven goods: The practise of weaving was highly developed during Byzantine times and is still traditionally practised in the Pafos (Paphos) village of Fyti, which makes colourful geometric textured designs on un-dyed cotton cloth – particularly rectangular napkins, tablecloths and bed covers. The pieces can be found in Fyti, as well as in the Handicraft Centres and some souvenir shops.

Pottery: Pottery is a very ancient craft on the island, with the red clay vessels constituting an integral part of daily life in olden times when they were used to store and transport liquids such as wine and water, as well as for the storage of agricultural products. The tradition of pottery making prevails in the villages of Kornos [Larnaka (Larnaca) region] and Foini [Lemesos (Limassol) region], or you can find authentic pieces at the Cyprus Handicraft Centre.

Copperware: Cyprus is traditionally the island of copper, and the base metal was an important export for the island during ancient times. Coppersmiths still make copper pots and kettles today, as well as long-handled pots ‘mbriki’ for ‘cooking’ Cypriot coffee which are available from workshops and souvenir shops. If you are taking back a packet of Cypriot coffee, it is advisable to take a mbriki back too!

Silverware: The art of filigree, known as ‘trifouri’, is a delicate craft that twists fine silver wire into beautiful hand-made jewellery such as earrings, pendants and brooches, as well as decorative cutlery and tableware, with a resulting ‘cobweb’ effect. This traditional craft is still practised mainly in Lefkara, although you can find filigree pieces in jewellery shops and souvenir shops too.

Basketry: Basket making dates from ancient times, when baskets were made to serve a range of specific practical purposes from carrying agricultural produce to dressing bottles to avoid liquids leaking. Baskets are still traditionally made in the Pafos village of Ineia, the Lemesos village of Akrotiri, and the Famagusta villages of Xylotympou and Avgorou, as well as at the Handicraft Centre and other workshops. They come in all shapes and sizes, with the colourful, flat ‘Talari’, most commonly used as a wall decoration in modern times.

Decorated Gourds: The gourd is a vegetable of the marrow family that hangs from a climbing vine and comes in a range of shapes and sizes. The dried vegetable has been decorated and used for practical purposes on the island for many years, with the bottle-shaped gourd the most useful; traditionally used as a wine carafe, candlestick and container for salt or olives. The custom of decorating gourds with geometric patterns or animal and flower motifs is done by knife or with a hot poker, and is still practiced in villages today. Decorated gourds can also be found in souvenir shops.

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The park begins in front of the city centre, and continues for an area of 65.000 square metres up until the old harbour, having continued from the coasts of Olympion and Enaerios. Included along its length are a cycle path – that connects the Olympion coast with the luxury Marina; the linear park of Garyllis; three cafeterias; enhanced pedestrian roads; playgrounds; areas for skateboarding; a small theatre; ponds and fountains; trees and bushes, modern lighting and the Lemesos Sculpture Park, amongst others.

The Sculpture Park is comprised of 20 modern sculptures commissioned by the municipality, and is located on the seafront promenade. Created by local and foreign artists, the sculptures are the result of sculpture symposiums held from 1999-2001.

The backdrop and views of the Mediterranean Sea have been incorporated into the area’s design, with a pedestrian road that runs parallel to the sea and a cycle path alongside it, three docks for walking, a large crescent-shaped, multi-purpose platform and a pier.

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The farmers sell the freshest of seasonal, local produce – mainly fruit and vegetables – with bargains to be had, all in the historical setting of the Ottoman mosque that was built in honour of the flag carrier who first climbed on to the walls of Lefkosia during the siege of the city by the Ottoman troops in 1570. The name of the mosque comes from Turkish word ‘bayrak’, meaning ‘flag’ or ‘military trophy’.

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The park consists of a permanent open-air sculpture exhibition – with stone pieces of varying sizes by artist Savvas Koulendros, the Liasidion Amphitheatre, the Archontariki – where various exhibitions are hosted, and a small stone church.

The 8,5 metres high sculpture of Petreos, the man that was born from the stone, dominates over the entire park, whilst the gardens themselves are picturesque with their different cactus species and other flowering plants.

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The sculpture park consists of a large collection of pieces by over 50 artists from around the world who have participated in the annual Sculpture Symposium held by Agia Napa Municipality. The expansion of the collection is an ongoing project that is continually being added to, and in 2015, artists from around the world created their sculptures on-site over a period of three weeks, turning the park into an open-air workshop.

The Park of Mediterranean Plants, Cacti and Succulents is an extension of the sculpture park and is also an ongoing project to showcase the various cacti and dried plant varieties of the island.

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According to an inscription above the west entrance, the church was built and decorated in 1513, and 14 villagers undertook the financial responsibility of painting the church. The structure is aisle-less and timber-roofed, with the roof extending to form a portico in the shape of the Greek letter ‘pi’ (like a square ‘u’).

The church’s interior is covered with frescoes that are in generally good condition and are divided into two tiers. On the upper tier there are scenes from the Christological cycle, while on the lower tier the standing figures of saints are depicted under painted arches. In the apse of the bema, the Virgin Mary is shown between the Archangels Michael and Gabriel. The wall paintings on the external side of the north wall include scenes from the Second Coming, the Root of Jesse and the eight Ecumenical Synods.

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The exact date of the foundation of the monastery is not known, but it is believed to have been established immediately after the iconoclastic era by a hermit who resided there during the years of the iconoclasm. The church, as well as the monastic buildings, belong to a later period and can be dated to the end of the 18th or the 19th and 20th centuries.

The monastery is a retreat for prayers, and as such it is closed for visits, although the church is open to visitors.

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The church was originally a single-aisled domed structure, built around the middle of the 12th century, and may have been the church of a cemetery. It was destroyed under unknown circumstances, and the present form of the church is the result of several additions and alterations, carried out throughout various periods, with only the original apse surviving.

According to an inscription in the apse, the original wall paintings date to 1171 / 1172 with fragments of the decoration preserved on the apse under the layer of the 14th century frescoes. The main part of the church was decorated during the second half of the 14th century by at least two artists.

The north aisle served as a private chapel for the family of the Latin feudal lord of the area, Ioannes Lusignan (1353 – 1374 / 1375), and the village itself was once the property of Jean de Lusignan, son of the Lusignan King of Cyprus, Hugh IV.

Church of Timios Stavros – The Holy Cross – in Pelendri – Audio Guide 

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Its name derives from the word ‘Agiasma’ (-atos) which in Greek means ‘sanctified water, spring or well near a church’. The church used to be a monastery church, but only traces of the cells of the monastic buildings remain to the south of the church.

The surviving structure is a single-aisled building with a steep-pitched timber roof covered with flat tiles that extends beyond the main structure to form a portico on all four sides – a feature that is unique in Cyprus. According to an inscription, the building was built with the donation of a priest named Petros Peratis and his wife Pepani, who are both depicted on a fresco offering a model of the church to Jesus with the mediation of the Virgin. Also noteworthy is the extensive and multi-person Last Judgment scene, which unfolds up to the far end of the gable where Jesus Christ is depicted.

Whilst the year of the church’s erection is not known, it is generally accepted that its decoration was completed in 1494.

The Church of the Holy Cross of Agiasmati in Platanistasa – Audio Guide

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