Cyprus is an island whose rich, dramatic history can be traced back over eight thousand years; an island so coveted over the centuries that it has been invaded and claimed by a fascinating mixture of civilizations from near and far, all of which have left their culture and shaped its character. An island whose archaeology stems from the Neolithic Age, the Ancient Greeks and the Roman period; where churches and monasteries still stand from Byzantine times, castles and palaces from the days of Crusaders and Frankish Lusignans, and splendid city walls from Venetian days.