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Villa Raquel
Polis
- Paphos
(please click on
photos to enlarge)
A
superb newly built 4 bedroom villa located 5
minutes drive from the traditional village of
Peristerona and only 10 minutes from the
cosmopolitan town of Polis famous for it village
square, cobbled streets, local tavernas and
coffee shops as well as an abundance of
restaurants, bars and small shops. Polis is a
great place to holiday for those seeking the
true Cypriot experience where modern
civilisation meet in harmony with a more
traditional way of life. There is also many
activities for the children including waters
sport, boat hire, beach, go-karting, play areas
and donkey farm.
This
villa is built on an elevated position taking
advantage of the wonderful views over the
neighbouring field, Everatou Dam and orchards.
Set in a large plot of land. Beautifully
decorated throughout with wooden comfortable
furniture and well equipped with satellite TV,
DVD and music system. Large American Style
Kitchen complete with dishwasher, washing
machine, toaster, kettle, microwave oven, fridge
freezer, iron and ironing board.
2 downstairs bedrooms one double
with private en-suite facilities.
The second down stairs bedroom offer
2 large single beds with a separate
shower room, wash basin and toilet.
2 bedrooms on the second floor both
with private en-suite bathrooms,
balconies offering spectacular
views, built in wardrobes.
Air-conditioning is available
throughout the villa and is included
in the rental rate.
The terrace and sunbathing area
offers a large pool 10x5 meters with
a separate baby pool. Traditional
Kleftiko oven, built in barbecue
shaded terrace, sun beds and
parasols.
To summarise this villa is built to
a high standard accommodating all
modern convinces for villa rental.
With downstairs bedrooms and splash
pool this villa is ideal for
families and persons with
disabilities. Car hire is essential
with this villa.
TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS
Troodos
Mountains
 Well
maintained trails wind up through the slopes of these
ancient mountains past Byzantine churches and black pine
trees. Surrounding the area, you will be able to enjoy the
sights and smells of nearby cedar and pine forests.
All of the
painted churches of the Troodos are little gems of
craftsmanship set in breathtaking scenery. Panayia tou Araka
- the church of Our Lady of the Pea - is a superb e xample
and one of ten painted churches on the UNESCO world heritage
site list.
The church
itself is tiny and is dwarfed by its snow proof roof and the
wooden trellis that surrounds it. However, when you walk
inside, the vibrant colours and the number of frescoes takes
your breath away. In winter Mount Olympus plays host to
hundreds of skiers.
Kourion/Kolossi Castle
 Ancient
Kourion and the castle at Kolossi are both in the Limassol
area and can be visited together in a day. They are just two
examples of the wealth of history to be found in Cyprus.
Kourion is one of the most spectacular archaeological sites
on the island.
This ancient
city kingdom has many ancient treasures including the Greco
Roman theatre dating from the second century BC, which has
been fully restored.
Other sites
include baths, houses - some with beautiful mosaics and a
stadium. The ruins at Kourion are to be found in
breathtaking scenery overlooking the sea. As it is one of
Cyprus's most popular tourist attractions, it worth arriving
early in high season. Kolossi Castle - here you will
encounter a military site that once stood as a Crusader
fortress of the Knights of St John, dating back to the 13th
century.
Baths of
Aphrodite
This is the
natural feature carved from limestone. Legend states that
Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, used to take her baths
here. This is where you will encounter a natural pool
surrounded by plenty of land to explore.
Tomb of the
Kings
These tombs bear
a strong resemblance to Egyptian tombs. Carved out of solid
rock with pillars and frescoed walls. The Tomb of the Kings
is a large necropolis situated a little over a mile north
west of Paphos Harbour.
Spread over a
vast area, these impressive underground tombs date back to
the 4th century BC. They are carved out of solid rock with
some being decorated with Doric pillars. High officials
rather than Kings were buried here, but the magnificence of
the tombs gave the locality its name.
Larnaca Fort
This small fort
served as a prison during British occupation. It was
however, originally built by the venetians in the 15th
century, to protect the harbour. If you climb the wall you
will get an excellent view of the town. There is also a
small museum below the wall.
Limassol
Castle
Built on the
site of a Byzantine fort in the 14th century, this was where
the marriage between King Richard and Queen Berengaria took
place.
Paphos Harbour and Castle
 The
harbour at Paphos attracts visitors all year round, who take
the opportunity to walk along the quay and maybe visit one
of the fish restaurants, tavernas or cafes. The view is
superb with lots of colourful fishing boats bobbing in the
harbour.
The castle is in
fact all that remains of a much earlier castle dating from
1391, which was demolished by the Venetians. The Ottomans
used it as dungeons and the British as a warehouse for salt!
It can be reached via a small bridge over a moat and is
worth a visit for the view from the top.
Choirokitia
 To
go right back to Cyprus's earliest history, you need to
visit the remains of stone age settlements at Choirokitia,
better preserved than most other Neolithic sites in the
eastern Mediterranean.
The settlement
dates back to sixth and seventh centuries BC - although the
site was discovered in 1936, serious excavation did not
start until the 1970's.
It is perhaps
one of the earliest human settlements on the island and is a
UNESCO world heritage site. He people of Choirokitia lived
in beehive shaped one storey houses - more than sixty such
houses can be seen at the site, as well as the original
streets and lanes and a larger chieftain’s mansion.
The Paphos Mosaics
 A
must for all visitors are the colourful and intricate Roman
mosaics to be found in Paphos. They were discovered by
accident in the 1960's - further excavation revealed a
number of Roman houses all with spectacular mosaics,
depicting scenes from ancient mythology.
The mosaics give
a clue to the wealthy and opulent lives of some of the Roman
Paphiots. The main sites are the House of Dionysos, the
House of Aion and the House of Theseus. The mosaics can be
found near the lighthouse and fortress of Saranda Kolones
situated in close proximity to Paphos Harbour.
Akamas National Park
Studded with sandy bays, deep gorges and home to over 500
species of plants, 168 types of birds plus a host of other
animals and insects this is a nature lover's paradise.
Akamas Peninsula in the summer is frequented by turtles,
which makes it extremely popular.
Shopping
Lacework and
embroidery, pottery and woodwork, jewellery … the artistic
heritage of Cyprus is a reflection of the islands h istory
and traditions that have endured for centuries. Most of the
raw materials used in crafts, from copper to silk and
cotton, are native to Cyprus. Since 1975 the government has
actively strived to preserve local craftworks by creating
the Cyprus Handicraft Service. They provide goods to the
large Cyprus Handicraft Centre (Lefkosia) and official craft
shops.
Cypriot lacework
is prized for its quality and artistry and it is one if
Cyprus’s most famous exports. The village of Lefkara is very
well known for its embroidery, called Lefkaritika, take a
wander around the streets and you will be invited into the
many of the shops.
Embroidered
lace, worked on off white linen or cotton, makes for highly
decorative tablecloths, curtains, doilies, placemats and
dresser sets. A specialty of Paphos is Pafitika, fabric
embroidered with geometric designs.
Pottery has been
made in Cyprus continuously for thousands of years.
Attractive pots come in all shapes and sizes. Terra cota
pieces with white decorations, copies of museum pieces are
popular gifts, as are copper wares, hand painted gourds and
handmade baskets and jewellery with motifs from antiquity.
The smaller
villages of Cyprus are the best places to pick up
handcrafted Cypriot lace at a good price. Bargaining is
accepted, be polite but firm. Always shop around and don’t
display too much enthusiasm.
Getting Around
One can travel
around Cyprus either by bus, by taxi or private car. There
are no trains in Cyprus. One of the most inexpensive ways of
travelling is by bus, which costs approximately €1. Buses
are available every half an hour throughout the area. Almost
all villages are connected with the nearest town by buses.
There are
numerous places of interest in remote areas, if you like to
explore then driving in Cyprus is a must. Fairly good
surfaced roads complying with international traffic
requirements link the towns and various villages. Use of a
mobile phone is strictly prohibited. Visitors in Cyprus can
drive using a valid international driving license or their
national driving
 license
provided it is valid for the vehicle class they intend to
drive. Driving is on the left as in the UK. There are many
places that you can hire a car from. Always use a reputable
company.
If you don’t
want to drive yourself, communal service taxis are another
option. They provide connections between all major towns
every half hour. Regular taxis are reasonably priced and are
especially good options for airport transfers.
Nightlife
Cyprus has a lot to offer in terms of nightlife. You will
find traditional entertainment – folk music and dancing – at
numerous tavernas and restaurants in cities and villages.
There are many fish and specialty or themed restaurants and
many places are family friendly.
Eating Out
Everyone knows
that Cyprus is famous for its food; the cuisine is a blend
of flavours gathered from all over the eastern
Mediterranean. Cypriots cook with less oil than their
Mediterranean neighbours. The cuisine is healthy apart from
their love of syrup soaked pastries. All food is cooked
fresh on a daily basis. The quality of fresh produce is
excellent and the local salads are delicious.
One of the most
popular dishes in Cyprus is a Meze. You are served up to 20
different saucer sized dishes, ranging from local cheese
like halloumi and feta, meats like pork, chicken and fish.
Some of the most
popular meals are:
Kleftico – lamb
or goat roasted with vegetables in an outside oven
Shish Kebab –
marinated lamb skewered and grilled over charcoal
 Souvla
– Lamb or goat cooked on a rotisserie
Souvlaki – Pork
grilled on a skewer
Sheftalia –
small rissoles of mince, onions and spices wrapped in a
'skin' of gut rather like small sausages
Mousakka –
slices of aubergine and potato overlaid with mince and white
sauce.
Sports
 There
are some fantastic golf courses in Cyprus and a couple
luxury golf resorts are under development in Paphos.
Pissouri is situated close to two popular courses, Tsada and
Secret Valley.
Hiking is very
popular in the mountains and the climate is cooler on higher
ground. There are beautiful unspoilt views from the
mountains.
Sea sports are
also very popular due to the calm clear waters surrounding
the island. There is jet skiing, water surfing, various boat
excursions, diving and many more. There are trained
instructors ready to assist for all levels of divers. There
is also the wreck of Zenobia which is the fourth largest
wreck dive in the world and this is for experienced divers
only.
From January
until March you can ski in the Troodos Mountains! So Cyprus
really does have something for everyone.
For the family
Everyone agrees
that Cyprus is a fantastic place for children. The long
sunny days and sandy beaches are an irresistible holiday
combination. Be sure to think about alternative plans if
weather is a factor in what you want to do. It can be very
hot in the middle of the day in high season and it does
occasionally rain in the winter months. The good news is
that Cyprus has a variety of attractions for all ages.
Coral Bay
Karting - Go karts for adults and children. There is also a
games centre and a children’s playground.
Aphrodite water
park Paphos - Offers a very high level of safety and hygiene
and has a variety of slides and fun activities there are
also a couple of bowling alleys in Paphos and themed cruises
with indoor shows and meals.
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