Tamassos, the royal tombs of a kingdom on the plain

About 19 km from Nicosia as the crow flies, on the plain rising towards the Machairas forest, lies one of Cyprus’s ancient kingdoms. Tamassos doesn’t have the fame of Paphos or Kourion, and for me that’s its charm. Below is what you can see and how to visit, using what the Nicosia Tourism Board publishes. The rest of the area is in Nicosia district.

What has been found

The Tourism Board describes a large site that has uncovered a temple of Aphrodite, two sizeable royal tombs and several smaller ones. The tombs are the most striking part, with an entrance carved in stone to look like a doorway, as the photo shows. The board also counts it among the island’s most significant ancient city-states.

The best-known finds are no longer here. Six oversized limestone statues from the 6th century BC, when Cyprus was under Egyptian rule, are on show in the Cyprus Museum in Nicosia. The second photo on this page shows stone lions and sphinxes found beside the royal tombs.

Hours and entry

According to the Tourism Board’s museum guide, it opens Monday to Friday only. In the winter season, to 15 April, hours are 8:30 to 16:00, then 9:30 to 17:00 in the summer months. It’s closed at weekends. The same guide lists entry at €2.50.

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Around and about

Tamassos sits beside the village of Politiko, home to 420 people at the 2021 census. The Tourism Board suggests a 14.8 km bike route starting at the seat of the bishopric of Tamassos, with its Russian and Romanian churches, passing the site and Agios Irakleidios Convent and reaching the Tamassos dam. At that reservoir, the board says, flamingos are often seen during migration, and there’s a picnic area by the water near the village of Pera.

The bishopric museum next door

Close by, at Episkopeio, inside the palace of the bishopric of Tamassos and Oreini, is its Byzantine Museum. The Nicosia Tourism Board says it displays Byzantine and post-Byzantine pieces from the 5th to the early 20th century, icons, liturgical objects, vestments, manuscripts, coins and pottery, mostly from the communities of the diocese. It’s a good add-on for the same day if religious art interests you, and it lies between the site and the capital. The board’s bike route also starts at the bishopric, passing its Russian and Romanian churches before reaching the tombs.

So you do not lose the morning at the ticket office, browse tickets and tours in Tamassos on GetYourGuide.

Building a day round it

I’d see the statues in Nicosia first and come out here on a weekday afternoon. From here the road climbs into the forest towards Fikardou and Machairas Monastery, which makes for a good day inland. Further east, at the foot of the same forest, is Lythrodontas. If ancient kingdoms of the plain appeal, the other one is Idalion, at Dali. The rest, from Kourion to Choirokoitia, are in archaeological sites in Cyprus.

If you would rather go at your own pace, see the car hire deals in Nicosia: the earlier you book, the more cars are left to choose from.

If you are staying the night, see the best hotel deals in Nicosia for your dates: the well-placed rooms go fast.