Nicosia and Kerynia tour in Romanian

We begin our excursion in Larnaca. The town's first bishop was none other than Saint Lazarus, who chose to spend his "second life" there after Jesus had raised him from the dead. We visit the impressive church of Saint Lazarus built on the spot where his remains were said to have been found. From there we will drive to Lefkosia (Nicosia), the only divided capital in the world. Here we enjoy a stroll in the narrow alleys of Laiki Yitonia, the so-called Old City 19th quarter, within the walls of the city. We proceed to the Troodos Mountains where we will visit the church in Asinou, which stands under the protection of UNESCO. It is an early 12th century church dedicated to the Virgin Mary with frescoes of the 12th century and later periods, considered to be among the finest examples of Byzantine mural paintings on the island. We will then enjoy a traditional lunch in a nearby restaurant. Following lunch, the excursion will take us through vineyards and idyllic mountain villages unchanged from generations. We will reach the picturesque Omodos village, a village rich in cultural history and its famous Monastery of the Holy Cross standing by the stone-paved square. Over the centuries, many items of incredibly ecclesiastical value have found their way to the monastery for safekeeping, among them the skull of Apostle Phillip, the remains of 26 Saints and at least three wonderful and ancient holy crosses. The tranquility of the cobbled streets of the village, the local traditional architecture and the relaxed attitude of the local people, give you the impression that time has stood still - at least for a few decades!