For anyone interested in Cypriot religious artwork, the Byzantine Museum contained within the Makarios Cultural Foundation is an important stop in the city.
Here, you'll find a staggering collection (220 pieces) of Christian icons that range in age from the beginning of the Byzantine era up until the 19th century. For many people with a special interest in this artwork though, the highlight of the museum is the Kanakaria Mosaics on display.
After the 1974 Turkish occupation, these highly-priced pieces of art were stolen from a church in North Cyprus' Karpaz Peninsula, and in a story that could have been ripped straight from an art world thriller novel, involving dodgy art dealers and an Interpol sting operation, were returned to the Republic of Cyprus in 1991.
