Cyprus’ ancient city-states were conquered by Achaeans, Phoenicians, Persians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Crusaders, Frankish, Genoans, Venetians, Ottomans, and the Brits. In 1960 Cyprus finally achieved its independence, only to be soon divided by Turkish forces that occupied the northern part of the island. Cyprus’ capital, Nicosia, is the last divided capital in the world. The Green Line, the borderline established by the Brits in 1963, is still dotted with machine-gun holes that let you peek into the other side through the rubble created by soldiers who once handled the posts.

Larnaka, once the city-state of Kition, used to command the sea trade after the famous larger port in Famagusta was destroyed by Persians during the battle of Salamis. Aphrodite’s birthplace is close to Paphos, a city full of royal tombs and mosaics. St. Paul’s influence helped in the establishment of the future Cypriot church. St. Barnabas, credited with the church’s founding, traveled here together with St. Mark the Evangelist and St. Paul and landed in Salamis, spreading the new belief. Deep in the forests of the Troodos Massif are many painted monasteries, lairs of a cult of the once-banned Christian belief.