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TRAVELLER
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77
FEATURES
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CYPRUS
HEWEARS
Above
Panama hat, Paul Smith, £130; glasses, Ray Ban, £135; neck-tie, Wrangler, £50; bag, D.S. Dundee,
£199; chinos, Topman, £34; vest, Topman, £7; gardening gloves, Amazon, £4.95; boots, stylists own;
Previous page
Hat, stylist’s own; sunglasses, Ray Ban, £135; top, Tommy Hilfiger, £60; shorts, Gap, £32.95; boots, stylist’s own
SHEWEARS
Headscarf, The Kooples, £70; sunglasses, Cutler & Gross, £299; shirt, Paul Smith, £110; shorts,
Tommy Hilfiger, £100; belt, Tommy Hilfiger, £45; gloves, G-Star RAW, £69; sandals, Toast, £95; backpack,
Belen Echandia, £425; bangle, Pebble London, £45
Left
Sheltering from the
sun behind the Kourion’s
Greco-Roman theatre
;
right
The Tombs of the
Kings are best explored in
the morning when the
temperature is cooler
KOURION
The highlight of a visit to the
Kourion archaeological site is,
without doubt, its Greco-Roman
theatre. Built in the 2nd century
BC by the Greeks, it regularly
played host to 3,500 or more
spectators. The acoustics created
by the steepness of the semi-
circular tiered seating means that
even those at the back can hear
the performers’ words booming
back, which is surely why opera
and Shakespearean plays are
still performed here today. Once
a commercial, cultural and
religious hub, the ancient city-
kingdom of Kourion can trace
its history back more than 5,000
years. You can see the remains
of the
agora
(the central meeting
place) and many homes and
churches, including a triple-aisled
cathedral and a remarkably well-
preserved building with arches
and chapels that would have
been the bishop’s palace. Nearby,
the remains of a wealthy noble’s
home, the House of Eustolios,
contains some of the finest
mosaics on the island.
The best way to reach the site
(also spelled Curium) is to head
out of Paphos by car towards
Limassol for about 40 minutes
and then follow the signposts.