To describe briefly Cyprus I like to use these words:
Caribbean sea, Greek inland and Anglo-Saxon prices.
Having said that, let's talk about the trip .... arrive in Cyprus with the Cyprus Airway plane departing from Rome Fiumicino and arrival at Larnaca (approx 3 hours of flight) nothing to say about service on board, good food (it was the first time I ate on an airplane heated food !) and film entertainment (strictly in English with subtitles in greek).
PS: by plane to the channel 10 radio it was possible to hear (thanks to headphones served by staff) a course of English - greek!
Landed to Larnaca we go to the baggage - claim where there is a small information office, so you can enjoy the road map of Cyprus and hours of public transport, and an ATM where you can pick the Cypriot pound (1 LYC = EUR 1.73 !!!!!).
Leaving the airport take a taxi (where possible) to Protaras with a pause to Village Agios Elias (Louis, known local hotel chain). Protaras is a village (poorly connected) less chic than the most famous Agia Napa near the beautiful Albero di fico beach (perhaps the most beautiful of the whole island)
On the trip we went to Paphos where we visited the sanctuary of Apollo (not to miss Pollon ballet - known character of the cartoons - in the vicinity of the temple), the rock of Aphrodite (Petra tou Romiou) and mosaics of the house of Dionysus and Theseus. These Roman houses on the seashore were discovered during the last world war by British soldiers while dragging trenches.
From Protaras where we rest Paphos is the farthest point, then we recommend buying a tour rather than rent a car (even if the choice is more expensive) because it takes more than four hours of driving (left hand!) And if you hope to get there by local busses, forget about it! There is a bus, one day a week (Friday), starting at Protaras and arriving in Paphos. There are only two races with times very close together each and risk to get there (after hours of travel) to stay only a couple of hours!
And not to forget that to get to the rock of Aphrodite and the temple of Apollo there are no public transports available.
Even if during our visit the amphitheater of Kurion was closed for restoration, I strongly recommend it!
Another city to visit is Nicosia. For transport exists a coach service we booked days before the trip (LEOPA bus) that there "should" withdraw from your hotel to Nicosia in just 80-90 minutes .... I say "should" because in our case while booking from the reception (greek speaking) the day after the bus has not submitted because they had not registered our reservation!
However, if it happens to you don't panic, Nicosia can be reached by public transport (only two) by the following itinerary: Protaras (Paralimni) - Larnaca - Nicosia and Larnaca, in reality you could also take the bus to Agia Napa and then the direct Nicosia but scheduling is impossible. Regarding the return you should take the direct Nicosia - Agia Napa or Nicosia - Protars (Paralimni) at 15:00 on bastion Constance.
The city of Nicosia to tell the truth is ugly but are interesting museum of Cyprus, the archidiocesis (in which there is a fantastic church of St.Jhones) and the port of Famagusta.
Surely see the various barbed wires and the various checkpoints of turkish, Cypriot and UN soldiers. If you want to visit that part of northern Cyprus you have to move from chekpoint placed at Ledra Palace Hotel.
A tip: try to avoid it and not talk with Cypriots you will meet only indignation (there are few interesting places except Salamis - far - and considering the obligation to return to 17.00 ....)
Regarding the food taste the mezè, a collection of many small samplings of the various local dishes (the most Cypriot are stuffed vine leaves).
Greetings from Giancarlo and Manuela!