Swinging round the endless switchbacks that lead to the summit of the Troödos Mountains, you'll be more than happy to have scored one of our cheap holidays to Cyprus; you could even be forgiven for thinking you're in the foothills of the Alps.
Instead of the usual Cypriot whitewashed sugar-cube houses, vineyards, goats and baked earth, there are pine forests, meadow flowers and higher up, ski slopes and snowy peaks. But, as all over Cyprus, there are also a surprising number of Byzantine churches designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites around the bends.
Over the past 3000 years Greeks, Egyptians, Romans, Crusaders and Apostles have been visiting the island, leaving behind them an architectural legacy of forts, catacombs, churches, art, trinkets and, at Paphos, some of the world's finest Roman mosaics.
The British added some roads and roundabouts, but more recently all of Europe seems to have contributed to the coastal sprawl of high-rise hotels and beachfront apartments and the emergence of cheap holidays to Cyprus certainly hasn't hurt.
Since partition in 1974, Nicosia (Lefkosia), the island's historic capital has been split in two by the Green Line. Unsurprisingly, the north has a distinctly Turkish flavour with its slender minarets, domes and bathhouses while the Old Town's 16th century Venetian walls to the south, enclose sights and architecture belonging to its Christian past.
Take advantage of the cheap holidays to Egypt on offer and stay close to the coastal resorts; bask in the sun, frolic in the water parks and become an expert on local wines named after Greek gods in the harbour-front tavernas.
Escapists should head for the isolated coves and trails of the Akamas peninsula, north of Paphos.
Image: copyright (c) 2003 Cyprus Tourism Organisation
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