The Omeriye Mosque standing tall in the city of Nicosia

Though in modern Cyprus, Islam is practiced by only 18% of the population, near the Main Municipal Market in the walled city of Nicosia lies another cultural and religious heritage of of the country - the Omeriye Mosque - one of the many influences of the faith.

Ironically, the Omeriye Mosque was identified as the original church of the Order of the Augustinians which was dedicated to St. Mary. The discovery of the several numbers of tombs where the Augustinian hermits finally laid to rest proved the assumption that the Omeriye Mosque was once a cradle for the Augustinian Order.

Above: Bus in Cyprus

While 2.5 million visitors travel to Cyprus each year, it is believed that this modest figure could improve if it were not for the impression most people hold that getting there is more difficult and expensive because of change of flights. But this fact should not put you off if you wish to enjoy what Cyprus has to offer. There are different ways of getting there that will cater to any traveler.

Traveling by air

Above: Cyprus Airways

Above: Cyprus Island, from aerial view

• Aphrodite Rock If you are off for the perfect sunset then we suggest that you go to the most photographed rock in Mediterranean and probably the most cradling place for the romantics and the likes. They said that you can swim around the rock seven times to be granted eternal youth.

• There’s a Black Rock diving school that is based on the main road that is down the beach. There are a couple of surf hire/ car hire watersports and some shops catering for visitors and tourists.

Above: Birdwatching activity in Cyprus

It starts from a small school of birds to huge flocks that clutters across the sky. An Array of different colors and sizes, this amazement has viewed in the journey streak in Cyprus itself and it’s an experience that one cannot encompass in a typical day or mode. Accumulating up to 350 different bird species that pass by in their southward migration happens in the middle of March and May and the travel of the birds northward migration that happens in the middle of August and October. Cyprus seems to be the very main tourist destination for the thousands of birdwatchers across the globe to witness this natural high of fascination that crosses amidst the air. Individuals, groups or parts of organized trips, glaze the Cyprus Island to avail of this scenery.

• In recent times, Cyprus is known as one of the most religious countries in Europe, with the majority of its population being members of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Cyprus. Therefore, it is interesting to note that Cyprus, as mentioned in the Bible in Acts 13, was the Apostle Paul’s first destination when he was first sent by the Holy Spirit into a missionary journey.



Above: Apainting that portrays the Apostle Paul writing his epistles

• Born in Tarsus, Silica under the name Saul (he changed his name to the Greco-Roman name “Paul” upon leaving Cyprus), the Apostle Paul together with the Apostle Barnabas went down to Seleucia before sailing to the island of Cyprus.

• On the flag of the Republic of Cyprus, aside from the two olive branches and the white background that symbolize peace, one very important feature is the copper-yellow-colored geographic depiction of this Eurasian island country.

Above: The flag of Cyprus displaying the country’s land area

• With its design originally proposed by painter Ismet Guney (Turkish Cypriot painter), the flag of Cyprus is the only flag in the world with the country’s land area displayed on it (comprising 44% of the flag); it was a result of a design competition and was first used in August 1960 (under the Zurich and London Agreements).

Above: A spectacular sunset at the Rock of Aphrodite

When you do need to get away from work, riging phones and the strain of daily grind, then a drive to the Petra Tou Romiou may be the thing for you.