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EUROPE
Cyprus from Wine to Water
For centuries, the island of Cyprus
has had a turbulent history that
shaped its character. Its location
on the sea route to the Aegean
made it vital to traders as widespread
as Asia Minor, Mesopotamia,
Egypt, Greece and Byzantium. There’s
hardly a stone that can’t be traced to an
elegantly styled edifice, artifact or statue
of historical significance.
JAXFAX toured the island, stopping at
the old harbor in the city of Lemesos
(Limassol), to visit the Cyprus Medieval
Museum, a 16th century fort, which was
constructed on the site of a Byzantine castle.
While walking past the ground’s shaded
gardens to adjacent streets lined with
restored buildings, it was apparent that the
lifestyle and culture of this thriving city is
linked inexorably with its past. The renovated
municipal market has become a
popular venue for concert, dance, art and
theatrical events, including a wine festival
in September, a ten-night, consume-asmuch-as-you-want
wine-tasting affair.
Educating Palates
To educate visitors and locals about one
of the oldest alcoholic beverages in history,
the Cyprus Wine Museum in neighboring
Erimi conducts lectured tours about Cypriot
winemaking. Exhibited are centuries-old
jars and vessels on loan from the Cyprus
and Pierides Museums, in addition to early
documents, which illustrate how grapes
were cultivated, and the wine produced,
stored and enjoyed. www. cypruswinemuseum@cytanet.com.cy.
The wine producers at Antoniades
Story and photos by Denise Mattia
Winery (www.antoniadeswinery.com)
in Lemesos (Limassol) have been given
documentation, which proves that Cypriot
wine dates to 3500 B.C.E., and, at the
charming hillside village of Omodhos,
JAXFAX was shown a 50-foot long
ancient wine press. In June 2006, the
Cyprus Tourism Organization developed
and announced The Wine Routes of
Cyprus, a project to attract special interest
tourism. Scheduled to begin later this
year, the excursions will be offered to
wine devotees in America and abroad.
Thirteen tours will cover the five vine
producing areas of Laona, Vouni Panagia-
Icon in Agios Neophytos Monastery in Pafos
Ampelitis, Commandaria, Pitsilia and
Lemesos (Limassol). Two special routes
will be devoted to Commandaria, the
sweet, dessert wine, created – so the
story goes – by the Crusaders under
Richard the Lionheart, and said to have
been made at the Cyprus Medieval Castle.
Participants will be able to visit
museums and archaeological sites and
attend cultural events as well. For more
information, a special website, DVD,
maps and tour guides for the routes are
available from the CTO.
The intercontinental Hotel – Aphrodite Hills
Mainliners Berthing
Today, Limassol (Lemesos) is the
island’s main gateway for cruises destined
for ports in the east and west. In addition
to weekly ferries to Greece (summer
only), there are several cruise ships that
sail to Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Greece and
the Greek islands. These affordable, family-friendly
cruises range from three to 11
days and are aboard modern ships with
comfortable staterooms, restaurants, casinos
and spacious lounge and entertainment
areas. Among the cruise lines are
Louis Cruises, www.louiscruises.com;
Salamis Tours Ltd, www.salamistours.com
and Paradise Cruises,
www.paradise.com.cy.
Cruise passengers can also choose
from major U.S. cruise lines, which offer
stopovers to this popular destination in
conjunction with their Mediterranean and
European itineraries. Among the big-name
cruise liners are: Holland America,
www.HollandAmerica.VacationsToGo.c
om; Celebrity Cruises, www.Celebrity
Cruises.com; Oceania, www.oceania
cruises.com; and Silversea, www. Silversea-Cruise-Line.com
Continued on page 37 ☛
24 JUNE 2008 WWW.JAXFAX.COM