Champion Rent a Car, Car Rental in Larnaca, Cyprus

CYPRUS - THE ISLAND OF VENUS

9000 Years of History

The cultural heritage of a people is its most important asset, its identity and a continuation through time. Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean and standing as it does at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa it has a tumultuous history. The Mycenaeans Achaeans brought their civilization here, establishing the first Greek roots 3,000 years ago. Many others passed through, including Phoenicians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, Romans, Crusaders, Venetians, Ottomans, and the British. The apostles of Christ walked this land. The splendour of Byzantium, founded by Constantine the Great at Constantinople, encompassed the island of Cyprus. Here the prehistoric settlements, ancient Greek temples, Roman theatres and villas, Early Christian Basilicas, Byzantine churches and monasteries, Crusader castles, Gothic churches and Venetian fortifications. In the villages, old customs and traditions are still kept alive. Young girls still engage in lacemaking in the beautiful village of Lefkara just as their grandmothers did before them. Potters still create wondrous anthropomorphic shapes to decorate their earthenware vessels at picturesque Foini and the sound of handlooms can still be heard at Fyti, home of the attractive hand-woven materials, whilst, men in traditional baggy trousers, 'vraka', still congregate at the coffee shop for a game of backgammon.

Agios Lazaros Church, Larnaca

In Cyprus the 20th century rubs shoulder with a civilization 9,000 years old. There are festivals whose origins stretch back into antiquity; like Carnival and Anthestiria organised in honor of god Dionysos; At Kouklia, where the temple of Aphrodite once stood, a church was known as 'The Church of the Virgin Mary Aphroditissa'. The aura of the Great Goddess of Cyprus is still present in Paphos, and all over 'The Sweet Land of Cyprus' in the beauty of the landscape, the mildness of the climate and the charm of the people. The immortal words of Euripides and Sophocles ring out on warm summer evenings at the Ancient Kourion Theatre and the Paphos Odeon during performances of ancient Greek drama.

And in September wine flows free and the spirit of Dionyssos, god of wine and merriment, is present throughout the Wine Festival. The Medieval folk songs are still sung in Cyprus keeping alive the legends of Digenis, the unconquerable border guard of Byzantium, and of his beautiful Queen, Rigaina. In the narrow streets of the walked city of Lefkosia the coppersmith works with the metal as did his ancestors 5,000 years ago. In the shade of old houses with their overlooking balconies, the flavour of the past lingers among the old typical stone houses.

In Cyprus the past lives side by side with the present in the unique tapestry of living history.

Kolossi Castle near Limassol

A Commercial And Economic Centre

Cyprus, is located at the South-Eastern corner of Continental Europe and it is established as a commercial and economic centre in Eastern Mediterranean a base of about 8.000 offshore companies. It is used by international companies for the promotion of their products in the markets of neighbouring countries,due to facilities offered, such as highly developed telecommunications and transport system.
Besides being an International business centre, Cyprus, thanks to its wonderful climate and tourist attractions is the preference of more than 2 million visitors every year, a number which is expected to increase rapidly due to the construction of a new and modernised airport. Cyprus is known worldwide for its warm hospitality towards its tourists.
As it aspires to join the ranks of the European Union the island's infrastructure in trade, as well as the services, are succesfully being harmonised with the demanding legislations stipulated by Europe.