4Wedding in Cyprus, wedding in Pafos - a dreamful alternative

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6A resplendent alternative

8A magical journey full of aromas and sensations

1212Marvellous Moments

1414When art becomes faith

2222Travel through time to the abandoned villages of the blue land

2626Only one of its kind

2828Break the myth ...have your vacations off season

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Wedding in Cyprus, wedding in Pafos - a dreamful alternative

Cyprus is an island in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and a top class destination for tourists all over the world. In the last few years, the island has advanced to an ideal venue for thousands of couples desiring to exchange vows and experi-ence a romantic honeymoon.The island of Cyprus is a dreamful alternative for those who seek to spend the most precious days of their life on the island where Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of Love and Beauty was born. Located in the western coast of the island, the town of Pafos is the most popular wedding and holiday venue of the country.A town of history and culture, a place of unique beauty, a cosmopolitan resort, a hospitable lo-cality, Pafos is a challenging option for the most demanding visitor. Whether you are committing for a lifetime, or reaffi rming your love, Pafos pro-vides the perfect backdrop with some of the most beautiful and romantic locations of the world. With the sun high in the sky at anytime in the year, you are guaranteed a perfect wedding day and honeymoon!The couple has an option of two types of ceremo-nies civil and church, or both. They are perfectly legal and recognized worldwide. The same pa-perwork is required for either ceremony venue.

Procedure to be followedBook your wedding date via telephone, facsim-ile or email. No physical presence is necessary. Possess legal identifi cation (passports and birth certifi cates) and the required legal documents. Failure to have the correct legal paperwork will result in nullifi cation of wedding. Present your-self at the Town Hall of the Municipality of Pafos at least one day prior to the wedding with all the required legal documents to fi ll in an application. Application hours are Monday to Friday 8.30 a.m. 10.30 a.m.(local time). No prior appointment is required for application. Fill in, sign and submit to the Marriage Offi cer a joint application called Notice of Marriage indicating your will to marry each other and containing your particulars on the basis of your passports. At the time of application each of the two parties must make a declaration on oath or affi rmation that they know of no im-pediment or other lawful hindrance to their mar-riage and that any necessary consent required for the marriage has been obtained, or that no such consent is required.The contracting of civil marriage in Cyprus is valid since 1923. As the procedure is simple many cou-ples from all over the world come to celebrate their marriage in Cyprus and combine this event with holidays and honeymoon. The Municipality of Pafos is a leading wedding venue in Cyprus tak-ing on more than 1500 weddings every year.The Marriage Law 104(I) of 2003, provides that any person wishing to celebrate a marriage in Cyprus may only apply in person, upon arrival in Cyprus, to the Marriage Offi cer of the Municipal-

ity located at the Pafos Town Hall, in order to go through certain formalities which are necessary prior to their marriage. Presence of the couple is mandatory for the completion of the application procedure.Pay the prescribed fees in cash. Make a wedding appointment (upon availability) in case the wed-ding was not booked in advance.The wedding is celebrated on the booking date in the presence of two witnesses over 18 (pass-port numbers are required). Civil ceremonies at the Town Hall are held Monday to Friday from 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. Other types ceremonies are held Monday to Friday from 2.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m working days. A Certifi cate of Marriage is provided immediately. One or more certifi ed copies can be provided at the prescribed fees of 13,67 Euro.A certifi ed copy of the Certifi cate of Marriage is forwarded to the Embassy or Consulate in Cyprus of the respected home country/ies of the couple. In case a couple wishes to celebrate a religious marriage instead of civil, the same procedure prior to the wedding should be followed at the Munic pality. Once the paperwork is completed, the couple is immediately given a “Certifi cate of the notice and fi xing date and place of the cel-ebration of marriage” allowing to contract a reli-gious ceremony at a church within the municipal boarders.It should be noted that the ministers of any re-ligion or any other denomination must be regis-tered/recorded in a special register kept by the

Ministry of Interior. This information can by pro-vided by the Municipality. The couple can choose where to have a religious ceremony, either at a charming hotel chapel or a church ceremony.The chapels or churches in Pafos where you can contract an Anglican or Catholic Wedding are the following:Agia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa (The church by St. Paul’s Pillar)St. George chapelReligious ceremonyVirgin Life Giving Source chapel (at the Elysium Hotel)St. Savvas (at Kefalos BeachTurist Village)For an Anglican Wedding contact Helen SmithMobile: +357 99212627Fax: +357 26 952486Email: anglicancofe@cytanet.com.cyFor a Catholic Wedding contact Suzie AllenMobile: +357 99212627Fax: +357 26931640Email: yohannan@cytanet.com.cyFor any further clarifi cations prior to the celebra-tion of a civilmarriage the interested persons are encouraged to contact theCivil Marriages Offi ce of the Municipality of Pa-fos. Working hoursare Monday to Friday 7.30 a.m. To 2.30 p.m. (lo-cal time).Tel : +357 26822353, + 357 26822350Fax: +357 26822364Email: civil.marriages@pafos.org.cy

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Protaras is the tourist resort of the Paralimni district, in the south east of Cyprus. The town of Protaras can easily be explored on foot. Additionally, it has a fairly comprehensive local bus service, although the frequency of buses varies. A handy local route runs from Agia Napa to Paralimni via Protaras. Longer distance buses link the town to Larnaca, the Larnaca Airport, Limassol and Nicosia.Before becoming a tourist resort, Protaras was essentially uninhabited; the area was mostly covered by a multitude of windmills, some of which still stand, adding to the char-acter of the Protaras landscape. Protaras be-came an idyllic holiday resort largely due to the beautiful sandy beaches in its vicinity. There are several excellent beaches, each developed to appeal to a particular type of holidaymaker. For instance, the main beach called “Fig Tree Bay”, which is regarded as one of the most popular beaches on the is-land, offers a wide range of watersports, while to the north of the coastline, the tran-quil waters of “Skoutari Beach” make for great snorkelling. Many of Protaras’s shops are unashamedly geared towards holidaymakers and stock everything from beachwear to silver handi-crafts, ceramics and woodcarvings. The re-tail experience in the nearby town of Agia Napa is more eclectic, with good jewellery stores and shops selling designer clothes joining the mix. Protaras’s myriad bars and nightclubs keep the beautiful town buzzing into the early hours of the morning, espe-cially during the summer time. The sea caves along the Protaras coastline are brilliant for those who like to explore. There are unique rock formations, arches and hidden coves to appreciate and photograph. While some can only be classed as small crev-ices, others are ample caverns that you can actually go into. In addition, there are also little islets just off the shoreline to admire and one in particular is big enough to serve as a retreat for those who prefer to avoid crowded beaches, or to enjoy swimming, as the sea by the main beaches can be packed with people taking part in watersports. The coastal location of Protaras lends itself to various interesting daytime activities. Boat trips to Capo Greco, the south-eastern-most point on the island is defi nitely worth to experience. The “Sea Caves” area of Capo Greco, where the sea has eroded parts of the limestone cliff and has created arches and caves, is great for swimming and especial-ly for a romantic sunset. Arguably the “Sea

Caves” area is considered to be the most beautiful spot on the Capo Greco, therefore it absolutely worth’s a visit. Despite the sudden commercial development of Protaras, hiking is still a popular daytime activity at this resort as the rugged coast-line towards Capo Greco remains mostly un-touched. There are a couple of nature trails from Protaras which are worth undertaking. The longer trail of the two is 8.5 kilometers long, taking approximately 3 hours to com-plete. The trail begins at the limestone cha-pel of Prophites Elias, which was re-built in the 1980s on the foundations of an ancient church. The chapel’s lofty location, on the summit of an enormous rock, offers breath-taking views of the entire town of Protaras. The trail then moves south along the coast ending at “Konnos Beach”. The second trail is 2.3 kilometres long, taking approximately 45 minutes to complete. The trail is circular and therefore begins and ends at the chapel of Agioi Anargyroi. Exotic plants are the most memorable feature of this trail, particularly the fragrant shrubs of Phoenician Juniper. In addition, Protaras offers delicious tradi-tional Cypriot meze (local dishes that include vegetables, meat and fi sh). You may also fi nd in Protaras Thai, Italian, British, Indian, Chi-nese, Japanese and American restaurants, which provide a high-grade service. Most eateries have outdoor terraces for an enjoy-able view that overlooks the Mediterranean. Protaras also includes high-quality hotels with a fi rst-rate service, such as the luxuri-ous Capo Bay Hotel, that will surely provide you with an unforgettable experience. The Capo Bay Hotel is exceptionally located in the heart of Protaras. Modern features and amenities blend in with the traditional ex-cellence in service and holiday accommoda-tion. This beach hotel emphasises on an aura of tranquillity - beautiful gardens with run-ning waters and fi sh ponds that lead down to the waterfront. The Capo Bay Hotel has earned an enviable reputation with Cyprus holiday makers for its style and attention to detail within the guest accommodation and quality of service. The weather in Protaras is warm all year round, the summers are long and hot and the winters are very mild. Even during spring and winter, you will surely experience tempera-tures of around 18C and benefi t from around six hours of sunshine per day. Moreover, the Mediterranean Sea is still warm enough to swim in right up until November.

A resplendent alternative

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Cyprus boasts an extensive range of health and welfare spas, which offer a broad range of traditional and alternative treatments and therapies. It is after all, the birthplace of the Goddess Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, thus it is quite reasonable for Cyprus to be a “vigorous paradise”. By luxu-riating in these oases of tranquility that are situated at some of the island’s top hotels, where beautiful surroundings overlook the lush gardens or stunning views, you may be pampered to your heart’s content. The myr-iad of facilities designed for your absolute wellbeing include: indoor and outdoor pools, freshwater and saltwater pools, whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms, hammams, fully-equipped gyms, aerobics studios, treatment rooms and beauty salons. Friendly and at-tentive staff will fulfi ll your every need, by revitalizing and energizing you with beauty and health treatments to tone your body and clear your mind. You will be given coun-seling and fi tness assessments that fi t your own specifi c requirements and personalized sessions to make you feel special. You are bound to feel rejuvenated with the wide ar-ray of services on offer.Below is a description of some of the magnif-icent and purifying treatments that are of-fered at the spa hotel “Le Méridien Limassol Spa & Resort” in Cyprus, which was voted as the best Spa in Europe and in the world. The palm trees and swimming pools with rocks, where the water fl ows like a waterfall, cre-ate an exotic landscape and the perfect set-ting for your ultimate renewal. The Jewel in the resort's crown is the 3,000-square metre “Le Spa” with seven elegant mosaic indoor-outdoor seawater pools, each with its own temperature and salinity, 34 treat-

ment rooms, discreet and personal atten-tion, tranquil environment, relaxing area with breathtaking views of the sea, ham-mam, saunas and a state-of-the-art health club facility with a heated indoor pool.

ThalassotherapyThalassotherapy comes from the Greek word “Thalassa”, which means sea. This treatment is considered to be the medi-cal use of seawater as a form of therapy. The properties of seawater are believed to have benefi cial effects upon the pores of the skin. In thalassotherapy trace elements of magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium and iodide are found in seawater and are believed to be absorbed through the skin. The benefi ts to your health are amazing - improved circulation, boosting of the im-

mune system, reduction of cellulite, toning of skin, detoxifi cation, muscle relaxation, improved sleep and increased energy.

WatsuThis unique treatment is performed in the high-density pool of Le Méridien Spa and Resort, where the body is supported by the natural buoyancy of the water and the ca-pable hands of the masseur. The treatment takes the form of mobilization and stretch-ing movements to return the skeletal sys-tem to a natural balance, whilst applying both pressure and manipulation techniques to the meridian lines and points in the body thus encouraging the circulation of energy within 40minutes.

Four Hands Harmony MassageFrom Hawaii, traditional Lomi Lomi Massage movements sweep the length of the body like a synchronized dance. The experience of having two intuitive therapists working at the same time is the closest that one could imagine to such a mystical experience of the sublime. Four expert hands complement and follow each other to caress and comfort your body's energy fl ow, resulting in the ulti-mate experience of the power of touch.

Journey of the Senses From the Mediterranean shores of Cyprus, warm, volcanic stones are used to give bal-ance, energy and relieve tension. Cypriots traditionally use the riches of the island to protect, nourish and moisturize their sun-kissed bodies, conditioning their skins with the most exotic aromas and textures imag-inable. Drench yourself in the natural nour-ishment and sensuality of milk and frangi-pani scented oil and take your senses on a journey of pure indulgence.

A magical journey full of aromas and sensations

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The south coast town of Limassol is regard-ed as the island's largest seaside resort. The Troodos Mountains are considered to be a magnifi cent backdrop to the city that spread for ten miles along the coast and whose fertile foothills are fi lled with most of the island’s mouth-watering grapes. Since the Middle Ages, Limassol has been known to traders for its wine and sugar cane. At pres-ent, this second largest city of Cyprus, with a population of around 200.000 is the cen-tre of Cyprus’s wine-making industry and an important commercial and tourist centre. The town's carefree holiday atmosphere, with wide seafront promenades and bus-tling little shopping streets, is matched by the amusement and lively character of its people. By keeping hold of a fun-loving rep-utation and the best nightlife on the island, only Limassol stages some of the island’s best-known festivals: the annual Wine Fes-tival, which takes place during the end of August beginning of September, when the various wineries offer free samples of their products for ten days (the ten day pre-Lent-en Carnival with masquerade parties, balls and grand parades), the Limassol Festival in summer and the ancient Drama Festival at Kourion. Kourion or otherwise Curium was an ancient city, where there were baths (fi fth century BC), fi ne pavement mosaics and a theater (50 - 175 AD), where performances of music and drama took place. Nowadays, the Kourion Theater is used for summer con-certs and theatrical productions.Another archaeological site is the ancient city of Amathus, which was considered to

be one of the most ancient royal cities in Cyprus. Amathus was built on the coastal cliffs with an amazing view to the sea. It fl ourished and became a rich kingdom since the early years of its settlement. During the Post Phoenician Era (800 BC) a port was also constructed there, which served the trade with the Greeks and the Levantines. High on the cliff a temple was built, this became a special worship site to Aphrodite, the God-dess of Beauty and Love. The excavators discovered the Temple of Aphrodite, which dates approximately to the fi rst century BC. Presently, you may visit the remains of this ancient city on the southern coast of Limas-sol, in front of Agios Tychonas, but unfor-tunately they are not as well-preserved as those of Kourion.On the eastern side of Limassol, all types of holiday accommodation have been built close to the sea. These range from luxury hotels, to delightful apartments and villas. Near them are a wide range of taverns, pubs, discos and nightclubs. There are numerous beaches to choose from, some very popular during midsummer with the convenience of changing rooms, showers, cafes and bars, others quite uncrowded, particularly those on the outskirts of town, such as the sandy beach known as "Ladies Mile', west of the new harbour. Limassol also has an attractive marina that is located next to and owned by the St. Raphael Resort in Limassol and which is equipped with every facility for the yachtsmen. As an exceptional shopping centre, Limas-sol offers the full gamut from ultra-modern

to traditional and handmade. At busy St. Andrew’s Street, not far from the seafront promenade, you may fi nd traditional lace and souvenirs and enjoy a fascinating trip with quaint buildings and overhanging ter-races. Other important shopping streets are Makarios Avenue and Anexartisias, where many prestigious boutiques and showrooms are located, as well as small shops of every type.Near the old port is the Limassol Castle, where Richard the Lionheart allegedly mar-ried Queen Berengaria of Navarre in 1191 and crowned her Queen of England - the fi rst Coronation and Royal Marriage to take place outside England. Its grounds house the Medieval Museum of Cyprus with in-teresting pottery and tombstones amongst its numerous exhibits. Limassol also has an Archaeological Museum, with fascinating statues and pottery fi ndings, the municipal Art gallery as well as a Folk Art Museum, where specially staged room-sets display the old clothes and utensils to their best. The Municipal Gardens, which also include a small zoo, offer a pleasant stroll amidst lush trees, plants and shrubs.The hilly and mountainous areas of the coun-tryside of Limassol are rich in vegetation. The main kinds are Pinus Brutia, the Pinus Nigra and a kind of Cypress tree known as “Juniperus Oxycedrus”, which grows at an altitude of about 1200 – 1500 metres. The plane trees grow in the valleys of Troodos, while a kind of oak tree named “Latzia” and the “Trimithia” grow on the slopes of the hills. The most frequent kinds are the wild roses, the theme and the lentisk (bush). The inhabitants of the rural area of Limassol are occupied with agriculture, fi shing and indus-try – handicraft. The main cultivations in-clude citrus trees and other fruit trees such as cherry trees, pear trees, peach trees, plum trees, fi g trees, apricot trees, pome-granate trees, avocado trees, kiwis and ba-nana trees, vineyards, olive trees, almond trees, walnut trees, vegetables, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, melons, water-melons, carrots, beetroots, cucumbers, pulses such as legumes, beans, broad beans, chickpeas, lentils, cereals such as wheat, barley and oats. The face of Limassol by autumn 2012 will change as the island will welcome the new luxurious Limassol Marina. The Limassol Ma-rina will be conveniently situated near the centre of Limassol and will be carefully de-signed to blend with the surrounding area of the Old Harbour, the Old Town and the Medieval Castle. The aim of this new deluxe invention is to become the most exclusive resort and Marina in the Eastern Mediterra-nean.

From an ingenuous beauty to an ultra-modern elegance

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Agia Napa is one of the most popular tourist spots in Cyprus. The city has developed into a popular pick for holidays, due to its beau-tiful clear blue beaches with golden sands and to its many tourist attractions. Agia Napa has become one of the world’s most popular destinations and has been visited by numerous people from all over the world. In addition, this stimulating town has also become very well-known for its outstanding nightclubs and bars. However, this cosmo-politan town is not only all about bars and

the area, thus setting the perfect scene for a romantic meal or a stroll along the har-bour. The harbour is also the venue for cel-ebration and festivity throughout the year, especially during “Kataklysmos” in June, when folk music, performers, dancers and fi reworks are the usual fare for tourists and locals alike.

Agia Napa Water World Water ParkAgia Napa is home to the largest themed water park in Europe. The park has a Greek theme to it and models of ancient Greek Gods and ancient buildings are situated around the park. The water park covers a vast area and is packed with slides and wa-ter attractions.

Agia Napa MonasteryAccording to the locals, Agia Napa was found-ed around the 11th century. At that time, it was a heavily wooded area with many natu-ral springs and its abundant wildlife made it a favourite hunting ground among villagers, who were living in the surrounding regions. One day, a hunter and his dog were in pursuit of a wild hare, which led them to a cave. Upon entering the cave, the hunter found a Virgin Mary’s icon that was illuminated by a miraculous light. When the nearby villagers received news of the discovery of the icon, they decided to build a shrine in the cave, which they named “Agia Napa”. Soon, the shrine became a well-known place of pil-grimage for Orthodox Christians.Archaeological fi ndings show that the shrine was transformed into a church sometime around the 14th century and it was later expanded into a monastery with 2 separate sections. During the time of the Venetian Oc-cupation, around the beginning of the 16th century, a wealthy woman from the distin-guished Famagusta family sought refuge in the monastery. She renovated the monas-tery and added a number of new buildings, a fountain and a sycamore tree. The mon-astery became her place of residence until her death and her tomb was later on found

in the courtyard. The Agia Napa monastery gained importance throughout the duration of the Venetian Occupation and it was men-tioned in many manuscripts from that era.

Macronissos TombsThe “Macronissos Tombs” is an ancient buri-al site situated west of Agia Napa, which was discovered in 1989 and is a Unesco World Heritage site. The site consists of 19 excavated tombs and possibly more to be explored in the future. The tombs were used during the Hellenistic and Roman Pe-riod. Pyres were found on the surface of the tombs, as this was a characteristic of Greek burial customs. The tombs consist of a stepped path down to the entrance. There is room for at least four occupants in each crypt. Furthermore, there is a rectangular trench in the middle and three benches at the side in most of the chambers. To the east of the tombs lies a small sanctuary, which is a simple rectangular enclosure made of large irregular blocks. Adjacent to the tombs is an ancient quarry.

Marine Life MuseumThe Marine Life Museum is situated at the Agia Napa’s town hall. It is the fi rst natural museum of its kind in Cyprus and it exhibits past and present marine life and promotes the study and research of marine life, while also emphasising the importance of preserv-ing the marine environment. The exhibits in-clude a reconstruction of a dinosaur seabed, fi sh fossils, shells, sea urchins, sea turtles, sea plants and much more. Every year, the Marine Life Museum is visited by thousands of tourists and locals.

Water SportsAgia Napa offers a range of water sports including scuba diving, water-skiing, wind-surfi ng, sailing and canoeing. The waters that surround the island are warm and clear, thus divers can visit undersea prehistoric ar-chaeological remains and explore magnifi -cent rock gardens.

Marvellous Moments

clubs. If you look closely, you will discover that Agia Napa is full of history and tradi-tion.

Agia Napa Square The centre of the town is built around a me-dieval monastery. This has been well-pre-served over the centuries and a visit there will surely make u feel as if you are stepping back in time. Just to the side of the main square, traditional folk dancing takes place during the summer time. Towards the end of September, the Agia Napa Street Festival occurs and includes enjoyable singing and dancing performances. Furthermore, one of the most beautiful lo-cations to visit in Agia Napa is the pictur-esque fi shing harbour. A lot of money has been invested over the last couple of years to revitalise this area. The entire harbour has been made into a pedestrian zone, with superlative cafés and seafood taverns. At night, beautifully designed lights illuminate

The location of Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean gives it a special religious signifi cance. The island keeps hold of reli-gious icons, mosaics and arti-facts, as well as ecclesiastical architecture, such as Byzantine churches with important iconog-raphy and rare icons, chapels and monasteries that speak for the intense dedication to tradi-tions and the close interconnec-tion of art with religious wor-ship, throughout the centuries. The Orthodox Church of Cyprus is the predominant Church on the island. The overwhelming majority of Cypriots belong to the Orthodox Church of Cyprus. The presence and the contribu-tion of the Orthodox Church are signifi cant to the historical, cul-tural and social life of Cyprus.Byzantine Art and Architecture

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Byzantine art and architec-ture is featured widely in many churches and monasteries in Cy-prus. A window mural or a mural wall-painting will relate a story. The frescoes were created origi-

nally for the poorer community, many of whom were unable to read and write. The icons hold a very religious signifi cance and some of the religious art work are even believed to possess mi-raculous powers. Pilgrimages are made to certain sites in order to be able to light candles and pray before the icons and some of the larger monasteries still provide overnight accommodation facili-ties to the pilgrims. Examples of Byzantine art and architecture are displayed in churches that are found on the Troodos Moun-tains. Ten buildings are found on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

THE TEN BUILDINGS ON UNES-CO’S WORLD HERITAGE LIST

Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis at Ka-kopetria The church of Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis "Saint Nicholas of the Roof", near the village of Ka-kopetria, belonged to a mon-astery. It is completely painted with murals dating back from the 11th to the 17th centuries and it is considered to be one of the most interesting Byzan-tine churches on the island. The church took its name from the steep pitched timber roof that was built to protect it from the weather.

Agios Ioannis Lampadistis at KalopanagiotisOriginally a monastery, this com-

plex consists of three churches – Agios Herakleidios, Ioannis Lam-padistis and a Latin chapel, all of which share a single enormous timber roof. The monastery is situated centrally in the region of the Troodos Mountains, just off the village of Kalopanagiotis. The core monastery church, which dates back to the 11th century, consists of an arched cross-in-square structure. The Agios Ioannis Lampadistis chapel was built in the 12th century to the north of the fi rst church and rested on the tomb of the Saint. Later on, the chapel collapsed and was for its most part rebuilt in the 18th century. A new cha-pel was constructed to the north of that of Agios Ioannis during the second half of the 15th cen-tury. It later became known as the “Latin chapel” as it was be-lieved to have been built for the Latins. The timbered roof that completely covers the roofs of all the three churches and that gives the complex its unique ap-pearance was added at a later date. Furthermore, the Agios Herakleidios church has excel-lent 13th and 16th century fres-coes.

Panagia tou Araka at Lagoud-eraThe 12th century church of Pa-nagia tou Araka stands just out-side the village of Lagoudera and boasts some of the fi nest

When art becomes faith

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frescoes of the late Comnenian style (1192). Together with the churches of Panagia Asinou and Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis, it is considered to be one of the most important Byzantine churches on the island. Visitors should ask for the priest - who can be found on the premises next to the church - to escort them to the church.

Panagia Asinou at NikitariThe famous Byzantine church of Asinou has some of the fi n-est examples of Byzantine wall-painting on the island. Asinou comes from the Greek “Asine”, which is an ancient city that was founded by immigrants from the Greek city Argolis, in the 11th

century BC. The church dates back to the early 12th century and the murals inside date back from the 12th century to the 17th century. Visitors should ask for the priest of the Nikitari vil-lage to escort them.

Panagia tou Moutoulla at Mout-oullas The tiny 13th century chapel of Panagia tou Moutoulla is found in

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the Moutoulla village. This cha-pel of the Virgin Mary has rare frescoes of Saint George and Saint Christopher - both arrayed for battle in Byzantine armour - and of the Virgin Mary and the infant Christ. As yet unrestored, they are redolent of history. The church is one of the earliest dated examples of its type, with a steep pitched wooden roof. Visitors can obtain the key from the adjacent house.

Archangelos Michail at Pedou-lasThe church of Archangelos Mi-chail at Pedoulas was built and decorated in 1474. It is a very small building with a usual slop-ing mountain roof. The church is completely decorated on two levels, with 11 compositions from the Festival Cycle on the top and depictions of the saints at the bottom. The Crucifi xion and the Ascension are depicted in the pediments. It is an exam-ple of post-Byzantine paintings, 15 years before the Venetian rule. The key can be found at the adjacent house.

Timios Stavros at PelendriThe church of Timios Stavros is situated in a central area of the Troodos mountain range, at the south end of the village of Pelendri, which is attested in the sources since the late 12th cen-tury. The 14th century church of Timiou Stavrou is decorated with exquisite wall-paintings of the Paleological period.

Panagia Podithou at GalataThis church is situated near the village of Galata, in Troodos. Furthermore, the church was erected in 1502 and it once be-

longed to a monastery. Its paint-ings are of the Italo-Byzantine style, which appeared on the island towards the end of the 15th century.

Stavros tou Agiasmati at Pla-tanistasaThe 15th century church of Stavros tou Agiasmati is situated about 3 kilometres outside the mountain village of Platanista-sa. The church retains the most complete cycles of mural paint-ings of the second half of the 15th century in Cyprus. The key to the church can be obtained from the village priest.

Metamorphosis tou Sotiros at PalechoriThe Metamorphosis tou Sotiros Church (Transformation of the Saviour) is an early 16th century chapel, which is found on a hill overlooking the beautiful old vil-lage of Palechori, in Troodos. Its interior is completely painted with one of the most complete series of murals of the post-Byz-antine period, in Cyprus.

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Explore the mountain shelters of Crete

The words hiking and mountain climbing excite the people that love nature and have the passion to explore mountains, rivers, wa-terfalls, islands and ancient civi-lizations. In parallel, it is consid-ered to be a great way to leave from the stress of everyday life. Due to the fact that mountain climbing is a physical activity that uses walking as a means of recreation and fi tness, we must make it clear that this term does not only refer to diffi cult routes that require specialized knowl-edge and climbing mountains, but also refers to simple walks of nature.By seeking an ideal place for mountaineering, research has led us to Crete. It is regarded as an island that has mountains, ideal to satisfy even the most demanding hikers. The White Mountains, Psiloritis, Mount Dik-tis, the Asterousia Mountains and Madara isolate the beaches

from the inner parts by forming a chain from west to east. A num-ber of shelters, which seem like eyries, are found on these aston-ishing mountains. By being warm

and hospitable, these shelters offer to climbers and travellers intense surprises with sounds, colours and a variety of aromas that are found in nature. Choose a route and rest in one of the astounding mountain shelters. Feel the emotions that these ad-ventures offer and get to know a way of life that is more dynamic and has no compromises, fi lled with clean air and amazing natu-ral images from the mountains of the island.

Kallergi ShelterThe Kallergi Shelter is considered to be the “gem” of the White Mountains. It is found above the National Forest of Samaria and the plateau of Omalos. In order to get there, one and a half hour of walking from Omalos is re-quired or 5 kilometres, by driv-ing on an uneven agricultural mountain road. With an altitude of 1.680 metres, it has a unique view of the Samaria Gorge, in the White Mountains. This shel-ter was constructed in 1970, has 50 places for climbers and is open from April to October.

Katsiveli Shelter – SvourihtisThe Katsiveli Shelter is a small and picturesque refuge that is situated at an altitude of 1.970 metres, at the footsteps of Svourihtis, in the centre of the White Mountains. In order for anybody to arrive to the shel-ter, they need 6 hours of walk-

ing from the Kallergi Shelter and 7 hours from Xiloskalo. There is however, an alternative route from Anopoli Sfakion with 6 hours of walking. This can be re-duced if we use the agricultural mountain road through which, you may complete the journey in approximately 3 hours. Further-more, the shelter was construct-ed in 1992 and holds 25 places for hikers.Volika ShelterThe Volika Shelter is the fi rst mountain refuge that was built in 1958, in Crete. It is found in the area of Volika Keramion, in the White Mountains, at an al-titude of 1.450 metres and has the capability to host 40 hikers. To access the shelter, 3 hours of walking are required on an as-cending path from the village of Kambi or 1 hour of walking, if the agricultural mountain road from the Madaros village is cho-sen. Furthermore, the shelter has a view over the ancient town of Falasarna.

Tavris ShelterIn 1992, the Tavris Shelter was inaugurated. This refuge is found above the village of Ammoud-ari, in the plateau of Askyfou Sfakion, at an altitude of 1.200 metres. The agricultural road is found 7.5 kilometres away from Askyfou. The path that connects the village with the shelter is one of the most beautiful places in

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Crete and is worth walking there through a dense forest of cypress trees that cover the village and ascent towards the mountainous region of Tavris. The route on foot takes around 1.5-2 hours. The shelter may host 45 people while in the summer months, camps for children as well as for other ages are in operation.

Toumpotos Prinos ShelterAt an altitude of 1.500 metres, to the west slope of Psiloritis, overlooking the White Mountains and the Livic Sea is found the shelter of Toumpotos Prinos of the Alpine Club of Rethymno. It is 3 hours and 45 minutes away from Fourfoura, while the ac-cess to the shelter is possible via the village of Kouroutes. In addi-tion, the refuge has 28 rooms for hikers and climbers. From here starts the European Hiking Path E4 that begins from the Pyrinaia

Mountains, passes through the European Mountains, mountains of Greek origin and ends up in the White Mountains of Crete. This trail is considered by hik-ers, but also by mountain lovers, as the most appropriate path to reach the peak of Psiloritis.

Prinos ShelterThere are many choices to choose from so as to reach to the mountain shelter of Prinou, which is found in the mountains of Psiloritis, at an altitude of 1.100 metres. In addition, there are two routes that you may take in order to approach the refuge. The fi rst one is a small path that

starts from the village of Ano Asites and the second one is by driving a car through the village of Kato Asites. The route via the small path until the shelter takes 1.5-2 hours. By driving a car, you will arrive at the Gor-golaini Monastery and then, you will continue on the dirt road to Xerokampos, where you will fi nd a cement water tank. There, you will have to leave your car and walk for around 20 minutes in order to reach the shelter. The shelter can accommodate 25 people and is heated by two wooden heaters. From here, you can reach a few of the peaks of Psiloritis, like “Kouthouni”,

which is at an altitude of 1,860 metres and “Giristi”, which is at an altitude of 1,779 metres.

Limnakarou ShelterAbove the Lasithi, in the small and picturesque mountain range of Limnakarou with a wild and outstanding nature, at an alti-tude of 1.350 metres, lies the mountain shelter of Limnakarou, with a view of the mountain tops of Diktis. The shelter has 15 rooms and the nearest village is Avdou. The small mountain range of Limnakarou is also usable by people who paraglide as they can easily takeoff and land.

Cyprus is best-known for its clear blue beaches, its sun and its entertainment. By going just a few kilometres inland, however, to the villages of the country you will fi nd an entirely another Cyprus, one better suited to travellers who like to discover and capture the original spirit and come in contact with the past. By travelling through time and by getting acquainted with the abandoned vil-

Travel through time to Travel through time to the abandoned villages the abandoned villages

of the blue landof the blue land

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lages of Cyprus, it will surely be an experi-ence that you will never forget!

FikardouThe village of Fikardou was deserted at the beginning of the 19th century and was then declared as an ancient monument. Subse-quently, it was carefully restored to preserve the 18th century houses with their remark-able woodwork and folk architecture. Two of these houses were turned into museums that contained rural items and other items associ-ated with rural life.

Mathikoloni There are many abandoned villages in Cy-prus but Mathikoloni, relatively closer to Li-massol, is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful ones to explore. To go to Mathikoloni, you will have to take the Agios Athanasios exit on the Linopetra roundabout. You will then have to cross the Agios Atha-nasios area and go up towards Mathikoloni, which is around 11 kilometres away. After-wards, you will have to descend towards the old cobbled street, through the ruins of the village and then take the concrete track downhill. There are various sidetracks, but you will have to keep near to the main one in order to continue downwards. You will have to continue right towards the only signifi cant fork and then descend through the terraced country. At the bottom you will fi nd a stream bed, where tall canes rustle in the breeze.

AndrolikouAndrolikou is not a village that you will pass through on any normal journey you will take during your usual ‘running about’, as this abandoned village is situated between Neo Chorio and Innia, on the Akamas mountains.

By driving into the village square, there are two large trees that dominate the derelict buildings and strangely enough, there are two brand new picnic tables placed there – no coffee shop exists though. By then con-tinuing through the deserted graveled lanes you will see the collapsed cottages, which fl anked on both sides, along with the goats that will glance at you as you pass through, since they are the only inhabitants of these properties.

EvretouTo the north of Paphos, just off the road to Polis, you will fi nd the village of Evretou. The abandoned village is now home to numerous goats but still posses its beauty. The setting is magnifi cent and the ruined houses will be a good opportunity for you to walk and discover the lesser-known and more peace-ful places on the island, which are hidden in nature. Near to the village, you will also admire the Evretou dam, the third largest dam in Cyprus and the largest rock-fi ll dam on the island, which lies at an altitude of 165 metres.Many species of fl owers and fl ora can be found around the area including some of the more rare orchids. It is also considered to be a ‘bird watchers paradise’. Recent sight-ings have also included Storks and Bonelli’s Eagles.

TheletraThis area is particularly beautiful in Febru-ary, when the almond trees are in blossom. By going to the right, you will see a sign say-ing ‘The village of Theletra’, which is tucked under a cliff. This village was abandoned several years ago because of landslides. By walking and experiencing the wind that whis-

tles around the ruined houses and streets, you will feel the magic that covers up the village. Theletra is located near the village of Kathikas.

Korfi Korfi is approximately 17 kilometres away from Limassol. The original Korfi settlement was built approximately 2 kilometres north-east from the present village, on a steep mountainside. During the heavy rainfall of January 28 1969, there were many landslides that caused a lot of destruction to the houses. The area was considered dangerous and the inhabitants were moved to a settlement that was built on a higher area, at 550 metres above sea level, which was considered safer.

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Greece, a diverse land rich in archaeology, with beautiful islands that are surrounded by crystal clear blue waters and with hillside villages that are basking in the sun, beckons visitors to share its antique man-made won-ders.

Parthenon (Athens)Parthenon is the temple of the Greek god-dess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their protector. Its construction began in 447 BC and was completed in 432 BC on the Athenian Acropolis, although deco-rations of the Parthenon continued until 431 BC. It is the most important surviving build-ing of Classical Greece, generally considered to be the culmination of the development of the Doric order. Its decorative sculptures are considered some of the high points of Greek art. The Parthenon is regarded as an endur-ing symbol of Ancient Greece and of Athe-nian democracy and one of the world's great-est cultural monuments. The Greek Ministry of Culture is currently carrying out a program of selective restoration and reconstruction in order to ensure the stability of the partially ruined structure.

The Temple of Hephaestus (Athens)The Temple of Hephaestus, in central Athens, is the best-preserved ancient Greek temple in the world, but it is far less well-known than its illustrious neighbour, the Parthenon. The temple is also known as the Hephaes-teum or Hephaesteion. It is sometimes called the Theseum, due to a belief current in Byz-antine times that the bones of the legendary Greek hero Theseus were buried there; in fact the bones alleged to be those of Theseus were buried in the 5th century BC at anoth-er site nearer to the Acropolis. The temple of Hephaestus was built in about 449 BC on what was then the western edge of the city

An antique man-made sensation

of Athens, in a district which contained many foundries and metalwork shops. It was there-fore dedicated to Hephaestus, the god of blacksmiths and metallurgy. It was designed by Ictinus, one of the architects who worked on the Parthenon. Furthermore, it stands on a slight rise and in ancient times commanded a fi ne view of the Agora.

Knossos (Crete)Knossos also known as Labyrinth or Knossos Palace is the largest Bronze Age archaeologi-cal site on Crete and probably the ceremo-nial and political centre of the Minoan civili-zation and culture. This palace appears as a maze of workrooms, living spaces and store rooms close to a central square. Detailed images of Cretan life in the late Bronze Age are provided by images on the walls of this palace. Today, it is considered to be a tourist destination as it is near the main city of Her-aklion and has been substantially restored by archaeologist Arthur Evans.

The Epidaurus Amphitheatre (Pelopon-nese)The Hellenistic theatre of Epidaurus, on the Peloponnese in Greece, attracts thousands of visitors every year who are all amazed by the fact that sound coming from the middle of the theatre reaches the outer seats, ap-parently without too much loss of intensity. The theatre, renowned for its extraordinary acoustics, is one of the best conserved of its kind in the world. It was used for musical and poetical contests and theatrical performanc-es. The presented numerical study reveals that the seat rows of the theatre, unexpect-edly play an essential role in the acoustics - at least when the theatre is not fully fi lled

with spectators. The seats, which constitute a corrugated surface, serve as an acoustic fi l-ter that passes sound coming from the stage at the expense of surrounding acoustic noise. Whether a coincidence or not, the theatre of Epidaurus was built with optimized shape and dimensions.

The White Tower (Thessaloniki)The White Tower is a defensive structure that is dated back to the 15th century. Later on, it was used as a guard's quarters by the Janissaries and as a prison for those who were convicted to death. It was built on the place where an older Byzantine tower once stood. This Byzantine tower connected the east wall of the fortifi cation of Thessaloniki (the part preserved today) with the sea wall, which was demolished in 1866. The museum in the White Tower contains various collec-tions of sculptures, frescoes, fragments of mosaic fl oors and wall mosaics, icons, coins, inscriptions, pottery, glass and metal items.

The Acropolis of Lindos (Rhodes)Lindos is a town and an archaeological site on the east coast of the Greek island of Rhodes, in the Dodecanese, in south eastern Aegean Sea. It is about 55 kilometres south of the town of Rhodes and its fi ne beaches make it a popular tourist and holiday destination. Above the modern town rises the acropolis of Lindos, a natural citadel which was forti-fi ed successively by the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Knights of Saint John and the Ottomans. This makes the site diffi cult to excavate and interpret archaeologically. The acropolis offers spectacular and magnifi -cent views of the surrounding harbours and coastline.

The village of Maroni is found in the Larnaca district, between mountain and sea, on the route to Limassol - Larnaca. The vil-lage’s main church is called Saint George, which was built in 1878. The people who had built this lo-cal church are not known, but it is certain that they were from the district of Nicosia. The church was not inaugurated until 1901 and the inauguration ceremony was performed by the Bishop of Kition, Kyrillos the First. Before this church was built, there was an older church of Saint George, which can still be found near the village’s cemetery and which ac-tually existed since the Byzantine period. Both of these churches were dedicated to Saint George as it is said that he once saved the village and its people from an outbreak of cholera. A couple of

miles outside the village, near to the sea, is a small church named Saint Anargyroi. Furthermore, about a mile south of the village, are some ruins of Saint Nicholas’s Church, which is now considered to be an archaeological site. Maroni and its surrounding ar-

eas have been famous for their archaeological fi nds. Several ar-eas have been excavated, such as Tsaroukkas, which is found on the coast, where it is believed to be the scene of the British Mu-seum’s excavations in the 1890s. Discoveries there include a 13th century BC building complex that contains small storage jars, loom weights, bronze fragments and slag. Several tombs have been found there, most of which have already received the attentions of the British Museum or looters at some time in the past, but the remaining fi nds throw light on the local culture and its international connections. Another excavation area is Aspres, which is found be-tween Vournes and Tsaroukkas, where another Late Bronze Age building has been found.The village of Maroni has a resi-dent population of about four hundred people, including around sixty or so expatriates. Further-more, Maroni enjoys its status as a village; development there is restricted and thus, huge com-plexes will never hide the vil-lage’s beauties. At hand, there is a bank, a medical centre, ga-rage services and a range of typi-cal shops that offer quality goods and services within easy reach. Additionally, the Maroni Beach may provide you with a refreshing swim in the sea as the sand begins to lose its heat after the sun of the day. After the swim, you may enjoy a luscious barbecue with lo-cal wine on the warm sandy beach of this outstanding village.Maroni keeps hold of its tradition-al architectural style to a great degree with narrow roads and houses built with local stone. In order to keep the cultural heri-

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Only one of its kindtage alive, a large portion of the village has been deemed histori-cal and many buildings have been redecorated to the traditional style. One of these is the dor-mitory called “The House of the Teacher” that has been renewed according to the Cypriot tradi-tional prototypes and which has been added to the agro tourism of the island. If you want to take a break on one of your tours to enjoy the villagers’ way of life by taking part in their everyday tasks then “The House of Teacher” will offer you the hospitality and com-fort you may require. In the fi ve rooms of the house, a range of traditional wooden furniture is elegantly positioned. All 5 rooms include a comfy kitchen that will surely assist you in making deli-cious, gratifying and romantic meals or snacks. What will im-press you the most however, are the old metallic beds that have been kept from long ago. All the rooms are interconnected with an amazing stone-paved garden, which in the corner has a large traditional oven. In this special place, you can sit down and enjoy the peace and quiet of both the sea and sky, while taking plea-sure in drinking your coffee and tea. Occasionally, the staff of the “House of the Teacher” will pro-vide you with a few scrumptious dishes of the local meze, which you can surely enjoy with a glass of wine or even zivania, an al-coholic beverage, which is made from the residue of grapes. The House of the Teacher is regarded as a magical and captivating place to have your own dreamful wed-ding or to even indulge yourself in a restful, enchanted and mythical honeymoon.

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Break the myth ...have your vacations off season

You have surely heard from your circle of friends the fol-lowing words: “Have you been on summer vacations? With all those people? What a night-mare, we are going for vaca-tion in autumn, winter or even spring where it is much quieter. The rooms in those periods will be cheaper, the beaches more empty, taverns will serve fresh fi sh and the sea will surely be cleaner.”You know the myth... vacations are only during the summer months. Have you ever won-dered if organising your vaca-tions in another season, outside the months of July and August, if you would have had a better

time while spending less? I do not know if you have ever no-ticed, but in Cyprus there is also a very good weather from March

until December. It may not be a hot summer as expected, but 20 degrees are more than enough for an excellent and enjoy-able holiday, without excessive heat. Let us therefore see what op-portunities you will have to enjoy and live in all its glory, if you go on vacation at an off peak period as opposed to what people usually do. You just need to think about it!

Cheaper HolidaysIn off peak season holidays, you have the opportunity to com-bine or choose either mountain or sea. Near the coast, hotel owners will attempt to bring in tourists by lowering their prices. In the mountainous areas, for agro-tourist hotels, the off peak period is considered to be the commencement of the season, thus you can ensure relatively low prices.

Better ServicesAt hotels, restaurants and bars, in the non-summer months, people are plentiful but never to a great extent as in on-peak periods. Hence, you will be able to enjoy your food with greater ease, as the noise of too many people will not exist to a great extent. In addition to this, shop services are of a higher standard and food is usually of a higher quality.

A Superlative PeriodIt is an ideal period for those who want to be impressed by

the beauties of nature and to explore different areas and sites. It is a period where the weather may not be particularly hot, but on the other hand not cold either. It is the best time for visitors, who want to take long walks or to try some type of sports such as cycling, ar-chery or even horse riding. Dur-ing the off peak season, you will defi nitely relish these kinds of sports to a greater degree with-out getting very sweaty.

Greater RestOff season vacations are for those people who require peace, calmness and rest. With a view of the waves or a pic-turesque village, you may relax by reading a good book or even sleeping. Furthermore, take ad-vantage of the opportunity to look after yourself by having pu-rifying and relaxing therapies, which are provided by many su-perior hotels in Cyprus.

Exploring the PlaceIn this period apart from your vacations, you will have the chance to truly get to know the area that you are staying at. Discover the history, traditions and customs of Cyprus, which you will surely fi nd very inter-esting. Come into contact with the people of the island, who during this period have greater amounts of time to demonstrate their hospitality. Additionally, it is not at all unusual during the off season vacations to gain new friendships and build a social network.

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Wine has been made in Cyprus since at least 3500 BC making the Mediterranean island one of the oldest wine-producing countries in the world. Paphos is one of the key wine-produc-ing regions in Cyprus along with Limassol and the Troodos region. There are about fi fteen local and sixty import-ed varieties of vines. Of the local grapes, two namely the red “Mauro” and the white “Xynis-teri” are used in making the world's oldest pro-duced wine, the "Commandaria". The “Mauro” and “Xynisteri” grapes are dried in the sun for about two weeks leading to the shrivelling of the grapes, which in turn concentrates their sugar and intensifi es their aroma. The grapes are then crushed and pressed. The juice is fer¬mented in large open tanks, where the high sugar content of the grape juice causes the fermentation to stop at around 18% of al-cohol. The large wineries then buy the wine and take it to their cellars in Limassol, where alcohol is added for conservation. The wine is then left to mature in large wooden casks. Commandaria is a sweet dessert wine, which is made in a designated region; in the foot-hill mountain villages of the southern Troodos range. Commandaria derived its name from the Grand Commandarie, a huge estate at Co-lossi. Richard the Lionheart enjoyed the wine so much that he called it “The Wine of Kings and the King of Wines”. The fi rst reference to Cypriot wine is in the Bible. In Solomon’s “Song of Songs” Chapter 1, Verse 14, it is stated that: “My beloved in unto me as a cluster of Cyprus in the vineyards of Engadi”. Furthermore, King Richard the Lion-heart - who had liked the wines of Cyprus very much - had captured the island in 1191. In the

A glorious wine escapadesame year he sold the island to the Knights Templar, who set up their headquarters or “Grand Commandaria” in the district. Hence, ever since, the best known wine of Cyprus, “Commandaria”, was being produced. The wine of Cyprus was fi rst introduced to Eng-land by King Richard in the same year, 1191. In addition, the Cypriot wine was considered to be so pleasant that the Pharaohs of Egypt, the ancient Greeks and later on, the Romans placed orders for it. The mosaics at the House of Dionysus, God of wine, in Paphos - a private house with over 40 rooms that was believed to have belonged to a member of the Roman nobility - depicts the colourful history of the Cyprus vine and its mythological origins.Another famous traditional alcoholic bev-erage, which is made from the residue of grapes, is Zivania. This distilled clear drink has been produced for centuries in Cyprus and has played an important role in the everyday life of Cypriots. Since 2004, Zivania has been protected under EU regulations as a product unique to Cyprus, thus it cannot be produced

in any other country or marketed under that name. Zivania is characterized by its typical taste and aroma. It is colourless and it has a pleasant alcoholic content with a light aroma of raisins. The typical alcohol content is 45% by volume. It is a pure drink that contains no sugars and has no acidity. Until 1949, wine producers used to sell zivania to merchants of wines and spirits. In that year, a colonial decree made the distribution of zi-vania by wine producers, illegal, thus sending production underground. As a result, zivania was produced domestically in small quantities for private consumption or it was sold to the government. The above-mentioned colonial decree was abolished in 1998 and ever since, the production of zivania has been legal, al-lowing producers to market it under its proper name. Quality control has been ensured by the Vine Products Commission according to the Rules and Regulations of 1998 for the control of zivania. These regulations have specifi ed the requirements for obtaining the licence to produce and bottle zivania. Zivania can only be produced in industrial units, which have received approval from the Customs Depart-ment of the Government and its distillation apparatus has been approved by the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the En-vironment. As a result of the new regulation, zivania’s quality improved signifi cantly, since it is now produced on an industrial basis and hence, consumption increased during the last decade.The Limassol Wine Festival: Every year, the Limassol Wine Festival usually starts from the 28th of August and ends on the 6th of Septem-ber. This festival is more than just the juice of the vine. During this period, the city fi lls up with a two-week programme that includes cul-tural events, which are loosely linked to the glorious theme of wine. The festival consists of wine-themed songs by singers and choirs. In addition, there are concerts, satirical reviews, comedies and magic shows. A fi reworks display gets things off with a bang from which point visitors can expect plenty to eat and drink in the grounds and pavilions of the Municipal Garden. Grape treading, Greek dancing and singing and copious amounts of free wine are enjoyed by up to 15,000 visitors, who attend the festival each year.