Byzantine Art
The ancient Greek heritage
Between 330 and 1191 AD, after the division of the Roman Empire, Cyprus came under the Eastern Roman Empire, known as Byzantium, with Constantinople as its capital. The Byzantine art was a continuation of the ancient Greek heritage. What make the Byzantine Art of Cyprus so interesting are the church architecture, the beautiful coloring of church interiors and the remarkable development of exquisite mosaic work. Nine Byzantine churches in the Troodos mountains are included in the official UNESCO list of the world heritage.
>Perhaps the most impressive tours organized by the members of ACT are those related to Byzantine art. 
The Byzantine Empire began at the end of the 4th century and was vast as it included Russia, Bulgaria and Asia Minor. It lasted a thousand years, and succeeded the old Eastern Roman Empire soon after Greece became Orthodox in its religion. Later, its demise was marked by the capture of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453. The empire left a rich legacy of beautiful religious art that can be found in churches and monasteries throughout Greece and the islands. Today visitors to Cyprus can enjoy the very distinct frescoes and marvel at the clarity of their colour despite their age.
Those churches along with the monasteries nestling in lonely mountain valleys, the icon collections, the mosaics as well as the Byzantine museum of Nicosia make such tours a great experience.
