Jewel of the Med

By Mark Kebble on February 21st 2011

March is an ideal time to plan a hot getaway. Winter isn’t quite over in this country, and getting through February is tough by anyone’s standards. Consider Cyprus for several reasons: it tends to be hotter than other parts of Europe; there’s far more to the island than the hedonistic resort of Ayia Napa and it’s (reportedly) the birthplace of the goddess of love.

Set in the Bay of Pissouri – on a two-kilometre long beach – the Columbia Beach Resort is an ideal base for your Cypriot adventure. It’s a taste of (five-star) sheltered luxury on the south coast of the island. The architecture and design recreates the feel of a typical Cypriot village, yet it lacks little in luxury.

The resort recently renovated the spa, and gym so you can keep your fitness levels up without leaving the bay. For those looking to see a bit more of the island while keeping active, you can sign up to a walking tour and the resort will provide a guide and transport where needed. The Troodos Mountains offer visitors a challenging terrain and cycling  tours are a great way to explore the mountains. Our cycle ride was cut short due to a thunderstorm approaching – a hazard of the mountains we were unlucky enough to experience – but not before we’d scaled some steep hill and tried out the acoustics of an old amphitheatre. So we felt like we’d earned our lunch – though be warned: portions are large and lunch meze plates will keep coming.

Cypriot wine is also worth sampling; it’s becoming more widely recognised outside of the local community, where independent wineries have been cropping up in recent years taking advantage of the grape-growing conditions of the island. Walking tours in the Troodos Mountains that take you through vineyards are a top-choice for wine connoisseurs. We visited the family-run Zenon winery on a tour to the Byzantine village of Omodos, where our host Zenonas Zenonos walked us through his wines (and zivania, an astonishingly strong - 45 per cent proof – locally produced spirit.) The only downside was that it was before 10am, and we were yet to start our tour. Taking into account the incredibly relaxed nature of Cypriots, and the island as a whole, perhaps this is the way to do it. After all, when in Rome… [ENDS]

Where to eat

Apollo Taverna, Columbia Beach Resort, Pissouri

The Columbia Plaza in Limassol’s old town

Kir Yiannis Taverna, Omodos

Dionysos Restaurant, Columbia Beach Resort, Pissouri

Fact file

Classic Collection Holidays (www.classic-collection.co.uk, 0800 294 9320) offers 7 nights at Columbia Beach Resort from £1120 this April. Price is per person based on 2 adults sharing a junior suite with garden view on a bed & breakfast basis, and includes return flights from London Gatwick to Paphos and private resort transfers.

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