Cyprus promotes winter tourism via rural Christmas festivities

Breakfast in the spacious dining room of the City of Dreams Mediterranean, located on the outskirts of Limassol is reminiscent of a similar experience at a leading resort hotel in Eilat. Israeli families chat loudly. Others exchange “What are you doing here?” taunts. The hotel’s staff from all over the world is accustomed to the sight and occasionally even responds with greetings in Hebrew. The notable difference, apart from the fact that it is Cyprus, is that the gigantic sunlit restaurant is located below the lobby level, which is entirely devoted to gambling tables and slot machines. These are spread out over a monumental area that is as close as two drops of water to a Las Vegas experience. The hotel, which officially opened in July, is a huge luxury resort and casino complex built with an investment of over €600 million. It offers over 500 luxurious rooms and suites, an outdoor amphitheater, a variety of restaurants, a family adventure park and a large spa complex with outdoor and indoor pools. The hotel is relatively far from the sea, but within walking distance of the city’s modern shopping mall. Israelis love it.

This is undoubtedly a game changer in the Cyprus tourism strategy, known for its wide beaches and blue waters in the summer season. This neighboring island state is certainly aiming high and wants to captivate tourists all year round, and Israel is high on the list of preferred market shares. In addition to flexibility in investments by foreign corporations, there is also originality in thinking about increasing incoming traffic at the airports in Larnaca and Paphos even in the winter season.

We traveled to the friendly island to get acquainted, among other things, with an original project of Christmas markets in 7 traditional villages, mainly spread in the Troodos Mountains, but also in a variety of towns. With the great anxiety of visiting Christmas markets in European city centers for security reasons and the growing anti-Semitism, Cyprus is close, accessible, welcoming and now offers a Christmas experience that personally I was not aware of.

This visit included rural interiors, calm and authentic areas, far from the hustle and bustle of the casino and the city buzz. I accompany Louisa Varaclas, Director of the Cyprus Tourism Board in Israel – the most Israeli Cypriot I know – for an uplifting and surprising experience. The island inspires and expands the heart. The vehicle swallows up distances on the narrow roads with the frequently changing landscapes. One moment the blue sea shores sprout and the next green mountains and valleys. Sometimes olive groves are abundant and then they are replaced by fir trees, spread in the Troodos Mountains. Cyprus has been blessed with a variety of divine gifts and it is understandable why the island –  located between Europe, Asia and Africa – has been a desired destination for superpowers, conquerors, sailors and in recent decades for travelers and tourists.

We focus on the ‘Heartland of Legends’ route, which passes through the heartlands of Cyprus. The route brings visitors closer to nature here and provides an opportunity to get to know the local traditions and experience the Cypriot way of life. It includes not only a variety of attractions and authentic spots, but also places to stay, restaurants, small businesses, communities and other areas that offer different and alternative experiences.

In the village of Letymvou we meet Sophia who runs a special traditional Cypriot tavern with her husband Andreas. The friendly hostess shows us how she makes her own halloumi cheese, white cheese, local yogurt and bakes her own fermented bread every day in a wood-fired oven. The menu is based on raw materials from the village and the surrounding area. The space of the small tavern is designed like a ‘small museum’ with traditional objects and costumes. The homemade food she prepares, in addition to the cheeses, is simply delicious.

In the village of Kilani, Sofoκlis Metaxas produced wine and spirits from his vineyards 100 years ago and sold them to the surrounding villages. Theofanis Vlassides, who married  Sofoκlis’s daughter, replanted the vineyards on an experimental basis with international varieties such as Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. He was one of the few who dared to do so. He created a multi-varietal vineyard with endless possibilities. His son Sofoκlis further improved the winery and built a modern visitor center in the heart of the vineyards. We spent magical hours there, tasting his diverse and special varieties, under the Vlassides brand. A special experience for lovers of quality wine in a winery that is three generations old.

The village of Omodos is stunning in its beauty and has successfully preserved the authenticity of the Cypriot past. It is famous for its excellent wine, beautiful lacework, charming narrow alies, ancient stone buildings, a beautiful cobbled square and a unique holy monastery. Stou Kir Yianni, the authentic restaurant of Stavros Zenonos, who also owns a country guesthouse, is a unique gastronomic experience. The smiling Stavros offers a Meze meal (starters and many meat dishes) including halloumi cheese, dolma, kopafia (stuffed grape leaves), pork or chicken souvlaki on charcoal accompanied by sheftalia – sausages seasoned with herbs, minced pork or lamb on the grill. We especially liked the taro root dish (Kolokasi), a dish that is not known in Israel. The taro is cut into small pieces and cooked in a tomato sauce with onions, herbs and chicken. An unforgettable meal.

City of Dreams monumental hotel, as close as two drops of water to a Las Vegas experience (photo by Motti Verses)

Vlassides Winery, a special experience for lovers of quality wine (photo by Motti Verses)

In the village of Letymvou, Sophia makes her own halloumi cheese (photo by Motti Verses)

Stavros Zenonos, in the Stou Kir Yianni restaurant, offers a unique gastronomic experience (photo by Motti Verses)

The taro is cut into small pieces and cooked in a tomato sauce with onions, herbs and chicken (photo by Motti Verses)

The picturesque village of Agros is diverse in its unique and surprising small businesses and should not be missed. Niki Agathocleous has set up a traditional sweets factory opposite her house that uses only natural fruits. Her specialty is spoon sweets, marmalade and also types of syrup, in which carob and grapes stand out. We especially liked the preserved nut jam that you can’t stop tasting. Niki employs the villagers at times and hours that are convenient for them and has become the leading employer in Agros. A comfortable downhill 3 walk and we are already at the small rose factory of the Tsolakis family, who have been cultivating their own rose bushes for 75 years. The “Rosa Damascene” species grows in Agros only in May and it’s the core of their business. The family produces rose water, candles, perfumes, soaps and other beauty products. A particularly fragrant visit. Nearby,  the Kafkalia family produces traditional smoked sausages with a passion that has been passed down from generation to generation. The smoking process uses red wine produced in the village. It is recommended to visit the smoking room, especially when the wood is burning and to take a look at the sausages cooking. Meatatarians and carnivores will not miss it, and vegetarians should stay away.

The picturesque village of Lefkara is known for its goldsmithing and lace work and its unique architecture. Its name is taken from a combination of the Greek words “lefka” (white) and “ori” (chalk), after the chalk mountains on which the village is located. Handmade lace has been produced here for centuries. The lace-making process involves drawing a pattern on a piece of linen or cotton fabric, and then hand-stitching the pattern with white thread. The result is a delicate and intricate lace that is highly appreciated by collectors, especially.

Agros and Lefkara are particularly spectacular now due to their prominent Christmas markets. Christmas in the villages of Cyprus are decorated with stalls and fir trees, colorful lights, a Santa Claus harnessed to a carriage, dolls and decorations. It is a slightly different experience from the big and familiar cities of Europe. The official launch event for this unique project was held in the Christmas village of Kalopanayiotis, where trees are also decorated in corners of the forest as we cross a sparkling bridge over a stream, towards the small and colorful market. There we met charming Deputy Minister of Tourism Costas Koumis, who inaugurated the project. “This is a unique initiative in our villages and we seek to invite authentic experiences for tourists and locals as part of a broader effort to upgrade the tourism product of Cyprus and make the island a tourist destination throughout the year,” he explains. “Christmas villages in remote areas were partly funded this year by a government grant. The markets offer local products and handicrafts for sale, experiential workshops and wine and gastronomy, nature activities such as walking along forest trails and cycling, guided tours of villages and other surprises,” he adds. It is important to remember – these markets across Cyprus are active until January 6th.

We especially loved the Christmas celebration in Fikardou. This ancient settlement has preserved its traditional medieval characteristics and is almost completely abandoned. Among other things, it became famous when it was declared a World Heritage Site. It is fascinating to watch how a deserted site can be revived with a Christmas market, a rock band with only women dressed in red, a drumming group marching through the partially paved streets like an upgraded Adloyada. Dancers specializing in fire stunts add to the unique experience.

Nicosia, the capital, joins the festivities in Laiki Geitonia, the  traditional neighborhood inside the city walls. It preserves the traditional character of the old town and to utilize the area by adding new spaces for the creation of a center that promotes the folk art and culture. A lovely Christmas market dominates the neighborhood as well. It was great after the joyful evening to enjoy the city’s Hilton hospitality. State of the art sleeping quality and friendly staff. Its certainly matter where you stay.

Niki Agathocleous has set up a traditional sweets factory that uses only natural fruits (photo by Motti Verses)

It all started like this – the Tsolakis family, produces rose water, candles, perfumes, soaps and beauty products (photo by Motti Verses)

The Kefkalia family produces traditional smoked sausages with a passion that has been passed down from generation to generation (photo by Motti Verses)

The picturesque village of Lefkara handmade lace has been produced for centuries (photo by Motti Verses)

Lefkara’s goldsmithing, tradition at its best (photo by Motti Verses)

Christmas celebration in Fikardou with a drumming group marching through the partially paved streets (photo by Motti Verses)

Dancers, specializing in fire stunts, add to the unique experience of the Christmas celebration in Fikardou (photo by Motti Verses)

In Kalopanayiotis trees are decorated for Christmas in corners of the forest (photo by Motti Verses)

The Santa Claus harnessed to a carriage in the Christmas village of Kalopanayiotis (photo by Motti Verses)

The Columbia Beach Resort with the distinctly Cypriot architecture was a marvel (photo by Motti Verses)

Kalopanayiotis inauguration ceremony, with Deputy Minister of Tourism Costas Koumis(right), Louisa Varaclas, Director of the Cyprus Tourism Board in Israel and the writer (photo by Motti Verses)

Israeli airlines are aware of the potential celebration. Sundor by El Al Group is increasing its flight schedule. In addition to 12 weekly flights to Larnaca, the flight route to Paphos, which was only active in the summer months, is also being activated, with two weekly flights.

We spent our last night before our departure from Paphos by the Pissouri Bay on the southern coast of Cyprus. The Columbia Beach Resort there, with its 169 luxurious suites and the distinctly Cypriot architecture was a marvel. A true finale to a trip to cherish.

“How do you explain this tourist honeymoon between Israel and Cyprus,” I ask Varaclas.. With 26 years of experience in her role, she points out the reasons. “When I started, approximately 30,000 Israelis visited Cyprus. In the ten months of this year, our data indicates that 384,000 Israeli tourists stayed in Cyprus for at least one night. This is the second largest market on the island,” she says. “I believe that the COVID pandemic has become a key point of change. Israel is a tourist country addicted to duty-free shopping and trips to a foreign country. Cyprus is the closest destination and it is always easy and inexpensive to travel there and return home easily when an urgent need arises. COVID and wars also raise concerns, but the geographical proximity is reassuring. This trend is even more pronounced since the current war began,” she explains. “Tourists from Israel are very popular in Cyprus, because they always stay in 4-5 star hotels, spend money in the casino and not give up extensive shopping. But another significant and equally important factor is that Israelis are discovering today that Cypriots are true friends in every situation, unlike other countries that have become travel destinations that carry risks״.