The point at which the West and the Greek worlds met, Cyprus was the heart of a magnificent ancient civilisation which drew its wealth from copper reserves. The Greeks and Romans turned it into an island rich in monuments. However it was during the Crusades that it became the bridge between the Latin and Byzantine worlds, between Catholicism and Christian Orthodoxy. Nowadays, visitors can divide their time between exploring these great historic moments and relaxing on the coast or in the rural setting of the island's mountains.