Cyprus has long been a meeting place of cultures, with nations competing over the millennia to control its sunny shores and strategic position at the cross-roads of Europe, Asia and Africa.

From the earliest evidence of human habitation in the 10th millennium BC, through conquest by Alexander the Great in 333BC, annexation by the Romans in 58BC, 800 years of Byzantine rule, occupation by the Knights Templar in the Middle Ages, the Ottomans in the 16th century and British administration in 1878, Cyprus has a rich and varied history.

It is that history which makes the island such a unique destination.

Nowadays, Cyprus is proud to be a full member of the EU and uses the euro as its currency.  With 330 days of sunshine every year and a culture of uncomplicated, friendly service that puts the rest of Europe in the shade, Cyprus has become one of Europe’s favourite holiday destinations. The farthest western tip of Cyprus is dominated by the Akamas Peninsula, a wilderness of 90 square miles (230 square kilometres) accessible only via dirt tracks or the sea.

This area is home to some wonderful deserted beaches, which are breeding grounds for the endangered Green and Loggerhead Turtles, while the inland area of the Akamas Peninsula is home to some 530 plant species, 126 of which are unique to Cyprus.

Location plus design
Property development near the Akamas Peninsula has generally been sympathetic to the environment, and none more so than the award-winning Cap St Georges. Featuring low-rise villas set into a natural slope rising up from the sea, Cap St Georges combines a remote location, sandy beach, high quality design from London-based architect Georges Andraos and environmentally responsible building practices. Cap St Georges has won awards in both the Architecture and Development categories at the European Property Awards 2011, in association with Bloomberg Television and Google.

The villas themselves are light, spacious and airy. They are oriented so that every bedroom and living room faces towards the sea, which maximises the villas’ stunning views over the Mediterranean, particularly at sunset, and grants privacy, as no villa looks into the living or garden space of any other – just one of the details that Andraos believes is crucial to Cap St Georges.

The villas range from the three-bed Zeta to the four-bed Epsilon. All bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms and all villas an additional maid’s suite on the lower ground floor.

However, the real focus is on the large living rooms – 56m2 in the Epsilon – which open up fully onto swimming pool terraces at the front and enclosed courtyards at the rear of the properties to create huge living and entertaining spaces, seamlessly blending interior and exterior in true Mediterranean fashion.

The architecture is contemporary with strong traditional elements. The facades use a combination of local, natural stone, hand-carved by Cypriot craftsmen, exterior sun-shading and large expanses of low U-value glass, designed both to maximise interior light and to help keep the interiors cool during summer, reducing the energy required for air-conditioning. For winter, there is under-floor heating and insulation to UK standards, providing a comfortable living environment even in the colder months. And appropriately for a country with frequent water shortages, there is an on-site tertiary treatment plant, providing water to keep the gardens green through the hottest of summers.

Add in freehold ownership, a sandy beach, clubhouse, tennis court and concierge service by Thanos Hotels (owners of the Anassa, Almyra and Annabelle), and Cap St Georges qualifies as a remarkable holiday experience. Cap St Georges officially opens its gates in late summer 2011.

For viewing or enquiries, contact Tom Wiseman-Clarke on: tel: +44 (0)20 7352 6766
Email: twc@capstgeorges.com; www.capstgeorges.com