Cypriot village wins European Destination of Excellence award

According to a European Commission press release, Kalopanagiotis, located by thermal springs visited in late Antiquity by King Solomon and the Byzantines, is an idyllic Cypriot hill village clinging to the rugged hills of the Troodos mountain range. “A real get-away-from-it-all tranquility pervades the atmosphere of this stunning town. Its ancient chapels, monasteries and residential buildings have undergone careful renovation, and now house impressive collections of Byzantine art and museums of local history”. Visitors come to be soothed by the healing waters, enjoy a peaceful natural setting all year-round and the walking the trails that surround Kalopanagiotis, is added.

The other 20 European Destinations of Excellence 2011 are the city of Gmurd in Austria, Marche-en-Famenne in Belgium, Pustara Visnjica in Croatia, Slovacko in Czech Republic, Lahemaa National Park Manors in Estonia, Roubaix in France, Delphi in Greece, Mecsek in Hungary, Stykkisholmur in Iceland, the Great Western Greenway, Co Mayo in Ireland, Montevecchio in Italy, Ligatne in Latvia, Rokiskis in Lithuania, Gharb in Malta, Veenhuizen in the Netherlands, Zyrardow in Poland, Faial Nature Park in Portugal, Idrija in Slovenia, Trasmiera Ecopark in Spain, Hamamonu-Altinda in Ankara, Turkey.

'European Destinations of Excellence' is a European Commission initiative promoting sustainable tourism development models across the European Union. The project is based on national competitions that take place every year and result in the selection of a tourist “destination of excellence” for each participating country.