With green mountains and wide beaches — as well as ruins (废墟) from the days of the ancient Greeks and Romans — the island nation of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean offers a large number of eye-catching places to visit. Here are just a few.
Painted Churches in the Troodos Mountains
The Troodos Mountains, on the southern side of the island, are popular for walker and winter sports fans. But they’re also famous for a group of churches whose inside walls are covered with colorful paintings from as far back as the 11th century. From the outside, the buildings may not look very special, but step inside and almost every stone tells a story of the ancient past.
Ayia Napa
On the east coast, Ayia Napa is the island’s party capital — but that’s not all there is to do. In 2021, the Museum of Underwater Sculpture opened around 200 meters from the beach. Visitors must book with a local diving company in order to see the sculptures, of which there are more than 90. According to artist Jason deCaires Taylor, the idea of the museum is to make people think about the way that humans and nature live together.
Northern Cyprus
The Turkish-speaking northern part of the island — which has called itself an independent state since 1983 — is quieter than the south. But there is lots to see both in the back streets of Girne and Lefkosa — also known as Kyrenia and North Nicosia — as well as the ancient city of Salamis, with its 2,000-year-old outdoor theater.
【小题1】What are the Troodos Mountains known for?| A．Huge stones. | B．Strange buildings. |
| C．Ancient churches. | D．Dangerous sports. |
| A．Its location. | B．Its history. | C．Its size. | D．Its collection. |
| A．A historical novel. | B．A science report. |
| C．A geography book. | D．A travel magazine. |
