Come for the coastline and three millennia of history — but head to the interior to find the island’s soul

Located in the Mediterranean, Cyprus is an island covered in olive trees, figs, and carob trees; miles of beaches; and unspoiled views around every corner. The island has long been a honeypot for holidaymakers lured by the irresistible promise of sea, sand, and sun all year round. The mythological birthplace of Aphrodite is rich with history and Roman ruins, has lots of UNESCO World Heritage monuments and vibrant nightlife. Only a few miles away from the coastline, the Cyprus countryside is a diverse pattern of traditional villages, rustic vineyards and wineries, fresco-painted churches and lush forests teeming with native flora and fauna. This is the Cyprus of imagination, engendered by the warmth and welcome of a people.