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Cyprus Blossoms and Moves Upmarket Without Neglecting Its Roots

Cyprus Cool

At the crossroads of Europe and the Middle East, Cyprus is undergoing a makeover. Luxury spa hotels, gourmet restaurants, agro tourism and designer golf courses are all on the menu.

Cyprus is asserting its cultural heritage and banishing its image of an identikit holiday island. It seems to ooze new confidence with English place names reverting to their original Cypriot versions, delicious traditional dishes flaunted in the restaurants and new boutique winemakers producing quality product. Villagers are being encouraged to restore their houses in the original stone and even traditional crafts such as lace making are coming back.

To the south west, near Paphos, is the delightful Columbia Beach Resort in Pissouri. This 5 star spa complex, surrounded by cliffs, on one of Cyprus’s most beautiful bays, feels cut off from the world, but not from luxury. There are only 94 garden suites and they all offer outstanding comfort and unforgettable views. Chef Ioannis Yiakoumides serves up outstanding examples of molecular cuisine in the Dionysos Restaurant but you can also dine on traditional Cypriot food, with its Arabic influences, in the Apollo Taverna.

Nearby are three golf courses including the brand new Elea, designed by Nick Faldo. Situated in rolling countryside, its 18 holes are surrounded by imposing weathered outcrops of limestone and mature carob and olive trees. If you’re interested in wine, then you may want to explore the Troodos mountains, crowned by Mount Olympus at 1951m. The southern slopes are perfect for vines and there are six designated wine routes – you have to remember just to taste and not to swallow, otherwise you may have problems negotiating the winding mountain roads.

If you really want to get away from it all, then head for the villages between Limassol and Larnaca. The most famous of these is Lefkara, noted for its centuries-old lace making tradition – on every corner you see women practicing their craft, whilst inside the men occupy themselves as silversmiths. Nearby is Tochni where Cyprus Villages has turned a number of local houses over to agrotourism. It’s a great idea since, although rustic on the outside, the facilities are state-of-the-art and some even have their own private pools. There’s a central bar and restaurant area which serves up great food, but you can also eat in the village tavernas. Bikes are provided and there’s also transport to the beach, if you fancy cooling off.

For sophisticated nightlife and shopping, Limassol or Lemosos, as it’s now called, should be your destination. Hotels like the Four Seasons, or the Amathus Beach, just outside the town, provide 5 star accommodation on a long sandy beach edging the calm waters of the Mediterranean. They both offer luxury spa treatments as well as traditional and international cuisine and you certainly get the sense that this is where the sophisticated choose to go, tourists and locals alike.

The town itself is only a few kms away and it’s well worth exploring the narrow streets of the old quarter and the ancient castle which now houses a small museum. The bustling central market is a great place to shop for Cypriot delicacies and it’s surrounded by traditional tavernas, great for a morning coffee or a meze lunch. Work has already started on a new yachting marina which eventually will accommodate up to 1000 vessels and offer fine dining and designer shopping for the Mediterranean’s jet set. It’s the icing on the cake of the new Cyprus.